UGC NET Sanskrit Syllabus 2026
Your complete guide to all 10 units of Paper 2 — from Vedic literature and Indian philosophy to grammar, linguistics, classical literature, poetics, Dharmashastra and epigraphy, with exam pattern, unit-wise weightage and the best books.
Sanskrit is a classical UGC NET subject with a rich and structured Paper 2 syllabus of 10 units (Subject Code 25). It ranges from the Vedas, Upanishads and the six systems of Indian philosophy to Paninian grammar, linguistics, classical kavya and drama, poetics (kavyashastra), the epics, Dharmashastra and the study of scripts and inscriptions. This guide breaks each unit into clear, scannable points, then follows with the exam pattern, a unit-wise weightage table, recommended books and a practical preparation strategy.
UGC NET Sanskrit Exam Pattern 2026
The exam has two objective papers held in one 3-hour sitting. There is no negative marking, so attempting every question is always to your advantage.
Key points: Each correct answer earns +2 marks. There is no negative marking. Paper 1 is common to all subjects, while Paper 2 tests Sanskrit only. Both are attempted in one 3-hour session.
Unit-Wise Weightage (Expected)
Based on previous years' trends, the approximate weightage of each unit is given below. Units 5, 6 and 8 (grammar, linguistics and the study of literary texts) are especially high-yield and deserve extra attention.
Paper 2: Sanskrit Syllabus — All 10 Units
Here is the full unit-wise breakdown of the UGC NET Sanskrit syllabus, with each unit's Sanskrit title and its key topics.
Unit 1 • Vedic Literature: General Introduction (वैदिकसाहित्य का सामान्य परिचय)
A survey of the Vedic corpus and its main branches.
- The date of the Vedas — views of Max Muller, Weber, Jacobi and Tilak
- Samhita literature and its structure
- The dialogue hymns (samvada sukta) — Pururava-Urvashi, Yama-Yami, Sarama-Pani
- Brahmana and Aranyaka literature
- The six Vedangas — Shiksha, Kalpa, Vyakarana, Nirukta, Chhanda and Jyotisha
Unit 2 • Vedic Literature: Special Study (वैदिकसाहित्य का विशिष्ट अध्ययन
Close reading of key Vedic and Upanishadic texts.
- Major Rigvedic hymns — Agni, Varuna, Indra, Purusha, Vak and Nasadiya
- Shukla Yajurveda (Shiva-sankalpa) and Atharvaveda selections
- Brahmana rituals — Agnihotra, Agnishtoma and the five great sacrifices
- Principal Upanishads — Isha, Katha, Kena, Brihadaranyaka, Taittiriya and Shvetashvatara
- Nirukta, Vedic grammar and Vedic accent (udatta, anudatta, svarita)
Unit 3 • Philosophy / Darshana (दर्शन-साहित्य)
The major schools of Indian philosophy.
- Charvaka, Jaina and Buddhist philosophy
- Nyaya and Vaisheshika systems
- Sankhya and Yoga systems
- Mimamsa philosophy
- Epistemology (pramana), metaphysics (tattva) and ethics (achara)
Unit 4 • Philosophy: Special Study (दर्शन-साहित्य का विशिष्ट अध्ययन)
In-depth study of key philosophical texts.
- Sankhyakarika — satkaryavada, purusha, prakriti and kaivalya
- Vedantasara — ajnana, the mahavakyas and jivanmukti
- Tarkasangraha / Tarkabhasha — padartha, pramana and prameya
- Yogasutra — chitta-vritti, samadhi, the yoga-angas and kaivalya
- Brahmasutra (1.1) and Sarvadarshanasangraha (Jaina and Buddhist views)
Unit 5 • Grammar & Linguistics (व्याकरण एवं भाषाविज्ञान)
Paninian grammar and the science of language.
- The grammarians — Panini, Patanjali, Bhartrihari and Bhattoji Dikshita
- Paniniya Shiksha and phonetics
- Definition and classification of language; classification of sounds
- Sound-change laws — Grimm's, Grassmann's and Verner's laws
- Semantic change; language vs. dialect; Vedic vs. Classical Sanskrit
Unit 6 • Grammar: Special Study (व्याकरण का विशिष्ट अध्ययन)
Detailed Paninian grammar and philosophy of language.
- Key definitions — samhita, guna, vriddhi, pada and savarna
- Sandhi — ach, hal and visarga sandhi
- Subanta and tinanta (noun and verb inflection)
- Samasa — avyayibhava, tatpurusha, bahuvrihi and dvandva
- Taddhita, krit, stripratyaya and karaka
- Mahabhashya and Vakyapadiyam — sphota and the word-meaning relationship
Unit 7 • Literature, Poetics & Prosody (संस्कृत साहित्य, काव्यशास्त्र एवं छन्द)
Classical authors, schools of poetics and metre.
- Major poets — Bhasa, Kalidasa, Ashvaghosha, Bhavabhuti, Banabhatta and Sriharsha
- Schools of poetics — Rasa, Alankara, Riti, Dhvani, Vakrokti and Auchitya
- Concepts of rasa and figures of speech (alankara)
- Western critics — Aristotle, Longinus and Croce
- An introduction to Sanskrit prosody (chhanda)
Unit 8 • Literary Texts & Poetics: Special Study (विशिष्ट साहित्यिक ग्रन्थ)
Prescribed kavya, drama, prose and poetics texts.
- Mahakavya — Buddhacharitam, Raghuvamsham, Kiratarjuniyam, Shishupalavadham, Naishadhiyacharitam
- Drama — Abhijnanashakuntalam, Svapnavasavadattam, Mudrarakshasam, Mrichchhakatikam, Uttararamacharitam
- Prose — Dashakumaracharitam, Harshacharitam and Kadambari
- Poetics texts — Sahityadarpana, Kavyaprakasha, Dhvanyaloka and Vakroktijivitam
- Natyashastra, Dasharupakam and major metres (Anushtup, Vasantatilaka, Mandakranta, Shardulavikridita, Sragdhara)
Unit 9 • Puranas, Dharmashastra & Epigraphy (पुराण, धर्मशास्त्र एवं अभिलेखशास्त्र)
Epics, law-texts and the study of inscriptions.
- The Ramayana — content, society and literary significance
- The Mahabharata — content, society and its akhyanas
- The Puranas — Mahapuranas, Upapuranas and cosmology
- Principal Smritis and an introduction to the Arthashastra
- History and origin of the Brahmi script; introduction to epigraphy
Unit 10 • Special Texts, Scripts & Inscriptions (विशिष्ट ग्रन्थ, लिपि एवं अभिलेख)
Close study of law-texts and historical inscriptions.
- Kautiliya Arthashastra
- Manusmriti (chapters 1, 2 and 7) and Yajnavalkyasmriti (Vyavahara chapter)
- Ashokan and Gupta-era Brahmi script
- Major Ashokan rock and pillar edicts; the Sarnath Buddha image inscription
- Rudradaman's Girnar inscription, Kharavela's Hathigumpha inscription and the Allahabad Pillar inscription
High-Yield Topics for Sanskrit
These recurring areas carry good weight in previous papers — prioritise them in revision:
Best Books for UGC NET Sanskrit
- Sahityadarpanam (Vishwanatha) and Kavyaprakasha (Mammata) for poetics
- Kalidasa Rachnavali and the prescribed kavya and drama texts
- Darshana Darpanam and standard texts on Indian philosophy
- Plays of Bhasa and other Chaukhamba Sanskrit series editions
- Standard grammar texts — Laghusiddhantakaumudi and Ashtadhyayi references
- A Sanskrit dictionary, previous-year question banks and standard UGC NET Paper 2 Sanskrit guides
Smart Preparation Strategy
- Give extra time to Units 5, 6 and 8 (grammar, linguistics and literary texts) — these carry the highest weightage.
- Read the prescribed primary texts directly and note key characters, themes and shlokas.
- Master sandhi, samasa and karaka rules thoroughly, as grammar questions are frequent and scoring.
- Prepare comparison charts of philosophical systems and schools of poetics with one-line definitions.
- Solve 8–10 years of previous papers and take sectional and full mock tests to fix weak units.
- Do not ignore Paper 1 — it adds a full 100 marks to your total score.
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