UGC NET Sociology Syllabus 2026
All 10 Units • Exam Pattern • Weightage • Best Books • Strategy
The UGC NET Sociology Syllabus 2026 is your roadmap to cracking Paper 2 of the National Eligibility Test conducted by the NTA. Sociology (Subject Code 05) is one of the most popular choices among aspirants aiming for Assistant Professor posts, the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), and PhD admissions.
The subject is organised into 10 units that move from classical and modern sociological theory to research methodology, core concepts and institutions, and contemporary themes like environment, technology, and culture. In this guide we break down every unit in simple language, highlight the areas that carry the most weight, and share a preparation plan and book list to help you study smart.
Exam Highlights at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
| Exam Name | UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test) |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Subject & Code | Sociology (Code 05) |
| Mode of Exam | Online – Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Total Duration | 180 minutes (3 hours), no break |
| Number of Units | 10 units in Paper 2 |
| Marking Scheme | +2 for every correct answer; no negative marking |
UGC NET Sociology Exam Pattern 2026
The exam has two papers held in a single 3-hour session. Paper 1 is common to all subjects and checks teaching and research aptitude, while Paper 2 is entirely on Sociology. There is no negative marking, so it always helps to attempt every question.
| Paper | Questions | Marks |
| Paper 1 – Teaching & Research Aptitude | 50 | 100 |
| Paper 2 – Sociology | 100 | 200 |
| Total | 150 | 300 |
What is in Paper 1?
Paper 1 covers ten broad areas: Teaching Aptitude, Research Aptitude, Comprehension, Communication, Mathematical Reasoning & Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, Information & Communication Technology (ICT), People-Development-Environment, and Higher Education System. It is scoring, so do not ignore it while focusing on Sociology.
Paper 2: Sociology Syllabus — All 10 Units
Unit 1 • Sociological Theory
The foundation of the subject — from classical thinkers to modern and Indian sociological traditions.
- Classical traditions: Durkheim, Weber and Marx
- Structure-functionalism & structuralism: Malinowski, Radcliffe-Brown, Parsons, Merton and Levi-Strauss
- Hermeneutic & interpretative traditions: Mead, Mannheim, Schutz, Garfinkel, Goffman and Geertz
- Postmodernism, post-structuralism and post-colonialism: Said, Bourdieu, Foucault, Habermas, Giddens and Castells
- Indian thinkers: Gandhi, Ambedkar, Radha Kamal Mukherjee, G.S. Ghurye, M.N. Srinivas and Irawati Karve
Unit 2 • Research Methodology and Methods
How sociologists study society — the philosophy, design and techniques behind social research.
- Conceptualising social reality; philosophy of science and epistemology
- Scientific method, objectivity, reflexivity, ethics and politics of research
- Research design; induction and deduction; fact, concept, theory and hypotheses
- Quantitative & qualitative methods: ethnography, survey, historical and comparative methods
- Sampling, questionnaire and schedule, statistical analysis, observation and interview
- Case study, data analysis and report writing
Unit 3 • Basic Concepts and Institutions
The core vocabulary of sociology and the institutions that structure social life.
- Social structure, culture, network, status and role, identity, community and diaspora
- Values, norms and rules; personhood; habitus and agency; bureaucracy; power and authority
- Institutions: marriage, family, kinship, economy, polity, religion, education, law and customs
- Social stratification: caste and class; gender, sexuality and disability; race, tribe and ethnicity
- Social change, modernization, development, globalization and social mobility
Unit 4 • Rural and Urban Transformations
How Indian villages and cities are changing — agrarian structures, migration and urban life.
- Rural and peasant society; caste-tribe settlements; agrarian social structure
- Land ownership, agrarian relations, de-peasantization, migration and peasant movements
- Inter-community relations in rural India
- Urbanism & urbanization: towns, cities and mega cities
- Industry, service sector and business; slums and ethnic enclaves
- Middle class, gated communities, urban movements and violence
Unit 5 • State, Politics and Development
The sociology of power, governance and development in the Indian context.
- Political processes in India; tribe and the nation state; bureaucracy and governance
- Development, public policy, health, education and livelihoods
- Political culture, grass-root democracy, law and society
- Gender and development, corruption and international development organizations
- Social movements, pressure groups, civil society, citizenship, NGOs and activism
- Reservations and politics
Unit 6 • Economy and Society
Economic sociology — how markets, labour and consumption shape social relations.
- Exchange, gift, capital, labour and market; mode of production debates
- Property relations, state and market, welfarism and neoliberalism
- Economic development models, poverty and social exclusion
- Factory and industry systems, labour relations and gender in the labour process
- Business and family; digital economy, e-commerce and global business
- Corporates, tourism and consumption
Unit 7 • Environment and Society
The relationship between nature and society — ecology, displacement and climate change.
- Social and cultural ecology; agriculture and biodiversity
- Indigenous knowledge systems and ethno-medicine
- Gender and environment; forest policies and Adivasis
- Ecological degradation, migration, development, displacement and rehabilitation
- Water and social exclusion; disasters, public health and disability
- Climate change, environmental policies and environmental movements
Unit 8 • Family, Marriage and Kinship
How the most intimate social institutions are structured and how they are changing.
- Structure-functionalist, alliance and cultural approaches to kinship
- Gender relations, power dynamics, inheritance, succession and authority
- Sexuality, reproduction, children, youth, the elderly and emotions
- Emerging family forms and changing marriage practices; care systems
- Family laws, domestic violence, crime against women and honour killing
Unit 9 • Science, Technology and Society
How technology reshapes communication, community and everyday social life.
- History of technology; time, space, flows and boundaries
- Virtual communities; print, electronic and social media
- E-governance, surveillance society and technology in politics
- Digital divide and inclusion; technology and the family
- Health systems, food technology and cyber crime
Unit 10 • Culture and Symbolic Transformations
Symbols, rituals and belief systems — and how culture, religion and identity interact.
- Signs and symbols, rituals, beliefs and material culture; moral economy
- Formal and informal education; religious organizations, piety and spirituality
- Commodification of rituals; communalism and secularism
- Cultural identity, politics, gender, body, art, aesthetics, ethics and morality
- Sports, pilgrimage, religious tourism and religion & economy
- Culture and environment; new religious movements
High-Weightage Areas to Prioritise
While all units matter, previous-year trends show that some areas consistently produce more questions. Give these your first pass and revise them the most.
| Focus Area | Why It Matters |
| Sociological Theory (Unit 1) | The backbone of the paper; questions on Marx, Weber, Durkheim and Indian thinkers appear every year. |
| Research Methodology (Unit 2) | Conceptually heavy and highly scoring; also helps in the JRF/research aptitude. |
| Basic Concepts & Institutions (Unit 3) | Builds the vocabulary needed to answer questions across every other unit. |
| Indian Society (Units 4 & 5) | Rural-urban change, caste, development and politics are classic exam favourites. |
| Family, Kinship & Contemporary Themes (Units 8–10) | Current-affairs-linked topics like technology, environment and gender are rising in weight. |
Must-Know Topics for Quick Revision
- Key ideas of Durkheim, Marx, Weber, Parsons and Merton
- Indian sociologists: M.N. Srinivas (Sanskritization, Dominant Caste), Ghurye, Ambedkar
- Qualitative vs quantitative methods, sampling and research design
- Caste, class, gender and social stratification
- Social movements, development and civil society in India
- Globalization, digital economy and the sociology of technology
Best Books for UGC NET Sociology
- Sociological Theory – George Ritzer
- Sociology: Themes and Perspectives – Haralambos & Holborn
- Handbook of Indian Sociology – Veena Das
- Social Change in Modern India – M.N. Srinivas
- Methodology & Techniques of Social Research – Ram Ahuja
- Indian Society & Culture – Ram Ahuja
- UGC NET Sociology Paper 2 previous-year question papers with solutions
Smart Preparation Strategy
- Start with theory (Unit 1) and concepts (Unit 3) — they unlock every other unit.
- Master research methodology (Unit 2) early; it is scoring and reusable in Paper 1.
- Prepare thinker-wise notes with one-line contributions for fast revision.
- Solve at least 10 years of previous-year papers and take regular mock tests.
- Since there is no negative marking, attempt every question in the exam.
- Revise contemporary themes (technology, environment, gender) with current examples.