UGC NET Yoga Syllabus 2026

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

The UGC NET Yoga syllabus is prescribed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for candidates aiming to qualify for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Yoga. Paper 2 tests you across ten units that blend the philosophy, classical scriptures, science, therapy and practice of yoga. This guide breaks down every unit in simple language, shows you where the marks come from, and points you to the right books so you can prepare with a clear plan.

Good news: There is no negative marking in UGC NET. Each correct answer gives you +2 marks, so attempt every question after eliminating options.

Unit 1 • Fundamentals of Yoga: History & Schools

Traces the origin, meaning and philosophical roots of yoga across Indian traditions.

• History and development of yoga; meaning, definitions, aims and objectives
• Vedas, Upanishads and the Prasthanatrayee
• Purushartha Chatushtaya and the Shad-Darshanas (Samkhya, Yoga, Vedanta)
• Yoga in the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Smriti literature
• Contributions of Maharshi Patanjali and Guru Gorakshanath
• Jnana, Bhakti, Karma, Raja, Hatha and Mantra Yoga
• Yoga in Jainism and Buddhism; modern and contemporary traditions

Unit 2 • Yogic Texts I: Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita & Yoga Vasishtha

Covers the principal Upanishads and the yoga philosophy of the Gita and Yoga Vasishtha.

• The ten principal Upanishads (Ishavasya, Kena, Katha, Prashna and more)
• Mundaka, Mandukya, Aitareya, Taittiriya, Chhandogya and Brihadaranyaka
• Concepts of yoga in the Bhagavad Gita
• Karma Yoga, Sankhya Yoga, Dhyana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga
• Triguna theory, food classification and Moksha concepts
• Yoga Vasishtha, psychosomatic ailments and Jnana Saptabhumika

Unit 3 • Yogic Texts II: Yoga Upanishads

A focused study of the specialised Yoga Upanishads and their practices.

• Swetaswatara, Yogakundali and Yogachudamani Upanishads
• Trishikhibrahmana, Yogatattva and Dhyanabindu Upanishads
• Nadabindu and Yogaraja Upanishads
• Dhyana Yoga and Pranayama Siddhi
• Mantra Yoga, Laya Yoga, Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga

Unit 4 • Patanjala Yoga Sutra

The foundational text of classical yoga — the most heavily tested unit.

• Samadhi Pada: Chitta, Chitta Vrittis and Chitta Nirodha
• Abhyasa and Vairagya; types of Samadhi
• Ishwara and Ishwarapranidhana
• Sadhana Pada, Kriya Yoga and the Kleshas
• Karmashaya theory and Ashtanga Yoga (the eight limbs)
• Vibhuti Pada and Samyama; Kaivalya Pada and liberation

Unit 5 • Hatha Yoga Texts

Classical Hatha Yoga literature and its purificatory and energetic practices.

• Introduction to Hatha Yoga literature; Yoga Beeja and Goraksha Samhita
• Hatha Pradeepika, Gheranda Samhita, Shiva Samhita and Hatha Ratnavali
• Dasha Yama and Dasha Niyama
• Shodhana Kriyas and Ghatashuddhi
• Hatha Yoga asanas and pranayama
• Bandha, Mudra, Pratyahara, Dhyana and Nadanusandhana

Unit 6 • Allied Sciences: Psychology, Human Biology, Diet & Nutrition

Bridges yoga with modern science — another very high-scoring unit.

• Altered states of consciousness; sleep and sleep disorders
• Behavioural and cognitive psychology; personality development
• Mental health and mental disorders
• Human anatomy and the musculoskeletal system
• Digestive, excretory and nervous systems
• Cardiovascular, respiratory, immune and reproductive systems
• Nutrition, balanced diet, metabolism and the yogic diet

Unit 7 • Yoga and Health

Connects yogic concepts of health with holistic and preventive well-being.

• WHO concept of health; physical, mental, social and spiritual health
• Trigunas and Pancha Mahabhutas
• Pancha Prana, Pancha Kosha and Shat Chakra
• Preventive health care through yoga
• Causes of physical and mental ill-health
• Yogic diet, Mitahara, Pathya and Apathya concepts
• Yogic lifestyle principles and positive attitudes for well-being

Unit 8 • Therapeutic Yoga

Application of yoga for managing common lifestyle and clinical disorders.

• Yogic management of diseases and yoga therapy principles
• Respiratory and cardiovascular disorders
• Diabetes, thyroid, obesity and metabolic syndrome
• Pregnancy and women’s health
• Gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal disorders
• Neurological and psychiatric disorders

Unit 9 • Applications of Yoga

Yoga as applied philosophy and its role in education and teaching.

• Yoga as applied philosophy; consciousness in yogic literature
• Spiritual and scientific perspectives of consciousness
• Yoga in education and value-based education
• Teaching methodology and principles of teaching-learning
• Lesson planning, evaluation methods and classroom management

Unit 10 • Practical Yoga

The practical component — asanas, pranayama, kriyas and meditation.

• Shatkarmas and Surya Namaskara
• Standing, sitting, prone, supine and balancing asanas
• Pranayama techniques
• Meditation practices
• Bandhas, Mudras and contemporary yogic practices

High-Yield Topics to Master First

If you are short on time, secure marks from these repeatedly asked areas before anything else:

Smart Preparation Strategy

Start with the classical texts — the Yoga Sutra, Bhagavad Gita and Hatha Yoga scriptures — because they carry the highest weightage and their concepts recur across other units. Pair this with the Allied Sciences unit, revising anatomy and physiology alongside the yogic view of health so the two reinforce each other. Make one-page summaries of definitions, the eight limbs, kleshas, koshas and chakras for quick revision. Finally, solve at least 8–10 years of previous papers to understand how questions are framed, and take regular mock tests to build speed and accuracy for the 100-question Paper 2.

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