UGC NET Social Work Syllabus 2026

A complete guide to all 10 units, exam pattern, high-weightage topics and the best books to crack Paper 2 for Assistant Professor & JRF.

The UGC NET Social Work syllabus is set by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for candidates aiming to become Assistant Professors or qualify for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Social Work. Paper 2 covers ten units spanning the history and methods of social work, human behaviour, research, welfare administration, social policy, human rights and the major fields of practice. This guide simplifies every unit, highlights the high-weightage areas and recommends the right books so your preparation stays focused and effective.

Good news: There is no negative marking in UGC NET. Each correct answer earns +2 marks, so attempt every question. The syllabus is identical for JRF and Assistant Professor aspirants.

Unit 1 • Nature and Development of Social Work

Foundations, history and the professional identity of social work.

• Basic concepts and philosophy of social work
• Historical development of social work in India and the West
• Emergence of professional social work
• Social reform movements and their contribution
• Fields and practice settings of social work

Unit 2 • Society, Human Behavior and Communities

Sociological and psychological base for understanding people and society.

• Social structure and social institutions
• Socialization and its agencies
• Theories of personality and human development
• Types and characteristics of communities
• Social processes and social change

Unit 3 • Social Work with Individuals and Groups

The primary methods — case work and group work.

• Social case work: principles, components and process
• Case work approaches and intervention techniques
• Social group work and group dynamics
• Leadership and group development stages
• Recording and evaluation in practice

Unit 4 • Social Work with Communities and Social Action

Community-level methods and mobilisation for change.

• Community organization: models and principles
• Community development and participation
• Social action and social movements
• Leadership development at community level
• Community mobilization strategies

Unit 5 • Research in Social Work

Research methodology — a consistently high-scoring unit.

• Quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods research
• Research design and the research process
• Sampling techniques
• Tools of data collection and analysis
• Research ethics in social work

Unit 6 • Administration, Welfare and Development Services

Managing welfare organisations and mobilising resources.

• Social welfare administration: concepts and principles
• NGO management and governance
• Fund raising and resource mobilization
• Types of welfare organizations
• Monitoring and evaluation of services

Unit 7 • Social Policy, Planning and Social Development

How social policies are formed and linked to development.

• Concept and models of social policy
• Policy formulation and implementation
• Five-Year Plans and welfare planning
• Social development and social indicators
• Sustainable development and social work

Unit 8 • Indian Constitution, Social Justice, Human Rights & Practice

The legal and rights framework underpinning social work.

• Constitutional provisions relevant to social work
• Concept of social justice
• Human rights and rights-based approaches
• Advocacy and legal framework
• Protection of vulnerable and marginalised groups

Unit 9 • Areas of Social Work Practice I

Specialised fields of professional practice.

• Medical social work
• Psychiatric social work
• Labour welfare and industrial social work
• Gender studies and women’s welfare
• Disability studies and rehabilitation

Unit 10 • Areas of Social Work Practice II

Further fields of practice, including welfare and disaster work.

• Family welfare and family dynamics
• Child welfare and child protection
• Social defence and juvenile justice
• Disaster management
• Environment and green social work

High-Yield Topics to Master First

Prioritise these frequently asked areas to secure quick marks:

Smart Preparation Strategy

Begin with the three primary methods — case work, group work and community organization — along with research methodology, since these units account for the largest share of questions. Build strong conceptual clarity on human behaviour and personality theories, then layer on social policy, welfare administration and the constitutional/human-rights framework. Prepare crisp notes on key theorists, models and definitions for last-minute revision. Finally, solve 8–10 years of previous papers and attempt regular mock tests to sharpen accuracy across the 100-question Paper 2.

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