Are you a history enthusiast? Do you like to read and research the Ancient History of India?
If yes, then UGC NET History Exam is perfect gateway for your academic and career journey.
This Exam is a national-level test conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to determine the eligibility of candidates for the prestigious roles of Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges.
For candidates passionate about exploring the depths of history and contributing to academia, qualifying for UGC NET in History opens numerous career opportunities in the education sector.
Here In the blog, we will cover the UGC NET History Syllabus, eligibility, exam pattern, preparation tips and books to help you excel in the upcoming UGC NET 2025 Exam. includes: -
Tips to Prepare for UGC NET 2025 in History
What are the Career Scopes after Qualifying UGC NET History?
UGC NET Exam 2025 is a gateway that helps you get closer to your dream of becoming a lecturer or a researcher.
But the career options after UGC NET are not limited to them. There are many other opportunities available for UGC NET qualifiers.
Following is the list of career scopes after UGC NET: -
Researcher in many of the historical research organizations in India
Civil Services in various ministries/departments like National Museum Institute, National Archives of India, Ministry of Culture
Career in Journalism, Law, Media, etc.
Political Scientist to develop theories for the public
Jobs in Defense, Police, Tourism, Railways, Publishing, Radio, etc.
Job as a Heritage Manager, Surveyor, Epigraphists, Archivist
If you want to know about other jobs along with their details, refer to the UGC NET Career Scope blog.
UGC NET History Eligibility Criteria
NTA has certain guidelines that shortlist the aspirants for the UGC NET exam. If you want to appear for the History Exam, then it's essential to know these details.
Education Qualification:
Candidates must have a Master’s Degree or equivalent in History or related subjects from a recognized university.
A minimum of 55% marks is required for General and General-EWS categories and 50% marks is applicable for candidates belonging to OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), SC, ST, PwD, or Third Gender categories.
Final-year postgraduate students can also apply, provided they complete their degree within two years from the result declaration date.
Age Limit:
For candidates applying for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), the upper age limit is 30 years as of the exam date and 5 years age relaxation provided for belonging to OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, and women applicants.
There is no upper age limit for candidates applying for the Assistant Professor role.
If you want to know complete eligibility criteria for upcoming June 2025 exam, you can check our UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2025 blog.
After proving your education qualification and age credentials for History Exam, then you are required to Apply for the UGC NET Exam.
Get Free UGC NET 2025 Study Plan & Boost your Learning
UGC NET History Exam Pattern
To start your exam preparation, you must check that complete UGC NET Exam Pattern 2025. This will help to Knowing the structure and marking scheme will help you plan your study strategy effectively.
The NET History exam consists of two papers conducted in a single session. Both papers include objective-type questions (MCQs) -
Paper-I (General paper, common for all subjects)
Paper-II (Subject-specific, for e.g. – History)
The following table provides the marks distribution and number of questions for both the papers. check the complete overview of exam pattern:-
| Particulars |
Paper 1 |
Paper 2 |
| Subject |
General Paper (Teaching & Research Aptitude) |
History (Subject-Specific) |
| Number of Questions |
50 questions all are compulsory |
100 question all are compulsory |
| Total Marks |
100 |
200 |
| Time Duration |
3 Hours (No Break) |
|
| Marking Scheme |
+2 Marks for Each Correct Answer |
|
| Nagative Marking |
No Negative Marking |
|
| Exam Mode |
Computer-Based Test (CBT Online Mode) |
|
UGC NET History Syllabus 2025
After understanding the exam pattern, it's crucial to get familiar with the Syllabus. It gives you the knowledge of the units and topics which will be asked in the exam.
The UGC NET History syllabus encompasses a wide range of topics covering Ancient, Medieval, Economy, and Modern Indian History, along with World History and there are 10 units in History.
The syllabus for UGC NET History is divided into two papers:
Paper 1: General Paper on Teaching and Research Aptitude (common for all subjects)
Paper 2: Subject-Specific Paper for History
You can check Revised UGC NET Syllabus of History and list of paper 2 important topics from the following table:-
| S. No. |
Topic |
| 1 |
Negotiating the Sources |
| 2 |
From State to Empire |
| 3 |
The Emergence of Regional Kingdoms |
| 4 |
Source of Medieval Indian History |
| 5 |
Administration & Economy |
| 6 |
Society and Culture |
| 7 |
Sources of Modern Indian History |
| 8 |
Colonial Economy |
| 9 |
Rise of Indian Nationalism |
| 10 |
Historical Method, Research, Methodology, and Historiography |
The understanding of the UGC NET JRF History Syllabus along with important topics will help you to strategize your study plan properly.
Best Books, Notes & Study Material for UGC NET History
Choosing the right study material and books is crucial for effective preparation and success in the NET History Exam. If you wish to achieve your goal, then you should refer to only top-notch UGC NET Study Material designed by exam experts.
Good material includes properly structured notes and quality practice questions. We advise you to select the UGC NET Books carefully. At Eduncle, we provide a study kit that is curated by the NET faculties and experts. You can check and download this kit from the following table:
| Download Free UGC NET Material for All Subjects [Trusted & Recommended by 6600+ Selected Students] |
| Updated Syllabus for All Subjects |
| Sample Theory Notes |
| Model Test Papers with Solution (Paper 1 & 2) |
| 5 Previous Exam Papers with Answer Keys |
| Complete Study Plan for Paper 1 |
| Paper Analysis by Eduncle Experts |
| Personalized Guidance by Subject Experts |
| Live Class (Free Demo Class) |
Below you can also check a list of highly experts recommended books for NET History that cover the syllabus comprehensively:
UGC NET/SLET (JRF & LS) for History by Sujata Ghosh
Trueman's NET History by Pramod Singh
A Brief History of Modern India by Bina Chandra
Ancient India by Upender Singh & R.S Sharma
Medieval India by Vipul Singh &Shekar Bandophadyay
How to Prepare for UGC NET in History?
Preparing for the JRF History Exam requires a strategic approach, dedication, and effective time management. To help improve your UGC NET Result, here are some expert tips to boost your preparation and improve your chances of qualifying.
Have a productive study plan after knowing the complete detail of the syllabus to a better understanding and learning process.
As per the exam pattern (objective type question), questions can be asked from any topic so you should practice each topic wisely and extensively.
You must have proper time management skills to complete the preparation of both Papers I and II.
As per the expert’s advice, Paper-II is more time-consuming than UGC NET Paper-I. It requires a deep understanding of History subject. So, it will be beneficial for you to clear the basics of History.
It is very important to revise topics regularly. We will advise you to spend at least 2 hours each day on the revision of the topics you have studied. For this, you can take the help of UGC NET Notes pdf.
Solving the previous year's question papers builds confidence for the exam. You can prepare with UGC NET History Solved Papers Free Download as it will give an idea to prepare for the exam.
for more tips & tricks, Please visit - How to Prepare for UGC NET
UGC NET December 2024 History Cut Off Marks
Following is the cut off of NTA NET History dec 2024 exam. You can refer to it to set your target.
| Category |
JRF |
Assistant Professor |
Phd Only |
| UNRESERVED |
206 |
184 | 162 |
| EWS |
198 |
172 |
148 |
| OBC(NCL) |
196 | 172 |
150 |
| SC |
188 |
162 |
144 |
| ST |
182 |
154 |
136 |
UGC NET History Sample Practice Question for Paper-II
If you are going to appear in the upcoming UGC NET June 2025 Test, then you must check the sample questions given below. These questions will help you understand the type of questions asked in the exam.
UGC NET History Frequently Asked Questions
Here you will find the most basic questions that are usually asked by many aspirants regarding the NET History test.
Check them out, in case you have a similar query. If your doubt is regarding the UGC NET exam, then refer to our UGC NET FAQ blog.
Question – What is UGC NET History Exam?
Answer – The NTA NET History Examination is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to determine the eligibility of candidates for the role of Assistant Professor and for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in the field of History.
Question – What is the minimum qualifying marks for University Grants Commission NET History?
Answer – History passing marks for both paper 1 and 2 are given in the table.
| Category |
Minimum Marks (%) to be obtained |
| General |
40% marks in both the papers together |
| Other Backward Class- Scheduled Tribe (ST)/Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL)/Scheduled Caste (SC)/ Persons with Disability (PwD) |
35% marks in both the papers together |
Question – Who is eligible to apply for the NET History Exam?
Answer – Candidates who have completed or are pursuing a Master’s degree in History.
Question – How to prepare for UGC NTA NET History exam?
Answer – To prepare for the NET History exam, you are required to build strong concepts. For this, you must follow the steps given below:
Know the History syllabus along with important topics
Refer to standard books and quality notes
After preparation, practice with previous year question papers and UGC NET Mock Test Papers
Revise all the concepts before the final exam.
Question – Can I download the NET History syllabus PDF?
Answer – Yes, the official History syllabus PDF is available for download in this blog.
Question – Which are the most important topics in History syllabus of UGC NET?
Answer – Some key topics include: Negotiating the Source, From State to Empire, Society and Culture, Modern Indian History, Historical Method, Research, Methodology etc.
Question – How can I download the previous year question papers for NET History Exam?
Answer – You can download the previous year's papers along with mock tests from the official website. Also, at Eduncle we have provided all the required papers with answer key for History Exam preparation. You can easily download them from here.
| S.No. |
Click to Download |
| 1. |
|
| 2. |
|
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
Question – What to do after qualifying NET History?
Answer – There are various career options after qualifying for the UGC NET exam. You can opt for JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) (if qualified for JRF) or you can apply for assistance professorship in top universities amongst the NET Coordinating Institutes.
Question – What is the date of UGC NET June 2025 History Exam?
Answer – The UGC NET June 2025 History exam will be conducted in second week of June 2025. You can check all the UGC NET Notification 2025 here.
Question – Can I clear UGC NET 2025 in History without coaching?
Answer – Yes, many candidates clear the exam through self-study. However, enrolling in online coaching can provide expert guidance, structured study plans, and access to mock tests, which can boost your preparation.
Join Eduncle UGC NET Online Coaching
Question – How many units are there in the UGC NET 2025 History syllabus?
Answer – The syllabus consists of 10 comprehensive units that cover different historical periods and themes.
We have covered all the UGC NET History information for 2025 exam in this blog and we hope that you will find it helpful for your exam preparation.
If you have any queries regarding the exam, share it with us in the comment box below. We will try to resolve it as soon as possible.
You can also join India’s No.1 Learning Community for UGC NET, where you will get a doubt solution for all your exam-related queries with the help of experts from all over India.To join the community, you can download the Eduncle app now.
Thank You
