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UGC NET Subject List 2025: Check Updated Codes, Eligibility & Trends

Last update: Jul 02, 2025

The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the UGC-NET twice a year in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode, covering 85 subjects across Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences, Commerce, and more. UGC NET June 2025 session was scheduled from 25–29 June 2025, with morning (9 AM–12 PM) and afternoon (3 PM–6 PM) shifts each day.

 

Before applying, candidates were advised to carefully go through the official Information Bulletin and refer to Appendix II, which listed all subjects and their four-digit codes. It was important to choose a subject that matched their postgraduate qualification. Choosing the wrong subject or code could lead to application rejection or misaligned preparation.

 

Understanding the UGC NET Subject List 2025 and its codes is the very first step toward a targeted study plan and a successful exam day.

 

Table of Contents
  1. What is the UGC NET Subject List 2025?
  2. UGC NET 2025 Subject List with Codes
  3. Subjects with Highest Registration in the UGC NET Exam (2022–2024)
  4. UGC NET Subjects with High Cut-Offs
  5. Low Competition Subjects in UGC NET 2025
  6. How to Select the Right UGC NET Subject?
  7. UGC NET 2025 Subject List: Subject Selection Guidelines
  8. Wrapping Up

 

What is the UGC NET Subject List 2025?

The UGC NET subject list 2025 comprises 85 disciplines, spanning Humanities, Social Sciences, Commerce, Education, Science, and emerging interdisciplinary fields. For each subject, the NTA assigns a unique four-digit code; when registering, candidates must choose their Paper II subject exactly as it matches their postgraduate qualification. An incorrect subject or code at the time of application can lead to outright rejection or disqualification during document verification.

 

To give you a sense of the list, here are a few of the most-chosen subjects (as per Appendix II of the June 2025 Information Bulletin):

  • Economics – Code 01
  • Education – Code 09
  • English – Code 30
  • Geography – Code 80
  • Political Science – Code 81
  • Computer Science & Applications – Code 87
  • Psychology – Code 84

Remember, your selected subject must strictly correspond to your master’s degree. Choosing a subject unrelated to your postgraduate qualification will render you ineligible at later stages of the NET process.

 

UGC NET 2025 Subject List with Codes

The following excerpt is based on Appendix II of the NTA’s June 2025 Information Bulletin. Candidates must use these exact subject names and four-digit codes when choosing their Paper II subject during registration. Any discrepancy between your selected code and your postgraduate subject can lead to application rejection or cancellation at later stages.

 

UGC NET Subject List with Codes 2025

UGC NET June 2025 exam was conducted across five days (June 25to June 29) in two shifts daily, covering 85 subjects. From high-volume subjects like Commerce (Code 08), English (Code 30), and Political Science (Code 02) to niche papers like Dogri (Code 33) or Prakrit (Code 091), lakhs of candidates appeared depending on their domain.

Subject Code

Subject Name

001

Economics / Rural Economics / Co-operation / Demography / Development Planning / Development Studies / Econometrics / Applied Economics / Development Economics / Business Economics

002

Political Science

003

Philosophy

004

Psychology

005

Sociology

006

History

007

Anthropology

008

Commerce

009

Education

010

Social Work

011

Defence and Strategic Studies

012

Home Science

014

Public Administration

015

Population Studies

016

Music

017

Management

018

Maithili

019

Bengali

020

Hindi

021

Kannada

022

Malayalam

023

Oriya

024

Punjabi

025

Sanskrit

026

Tamil

027

Telugu

028

Urdu

029

Arabic

030

English

031

Linguistics

032

Chinese

033

Dogri

034

Nepali

035

Manipuri

036

Assamese

037

Gujarati

038

Marathi

039

French (French Version)

040

Spanish

041

Russian

042

Persian

043

Rajasthani

044

German

045

Japanese

046

Adult Education / Continuing Education / Andragogy / Non-Formal Education

047

Physical Education

049

Arab Culture and Islamic Studies

050

Indian Culture

055

Labour Welfare / Personnel Management / Industrial Relations / Labour and Social Welfare / Human Resource Management

058

Law

059

Library and Information Science

060

Buddhist, Jaina, Gandhian and Peace Studies

062

Comparative Study of Religions

063

Mass Communication and Journalism

065

Performing Art – Dance / Drama / Theatre

066

Museology & Conservation

067

Archaeology

068

Criminology

070

Tribal and Regional Language / Literature

071

Folk Literature

072

Comparative Literature

073

Sanskrit traditional subjects

074

Women Studies

079

Visual Art (including Drawing & Painting / Sculpture / Graphics / Applied Art / History of Art)

080

Geography

081

Social Medicine & Community Health

082

Forensic Science

083

Pali

084

Kashmiri

085

Konkani

087

Computer Science and Applications

088

Electronic Science

089

Environmental Sciences

090

Politics including International Relations / International Studies etc.

091

Prakrit

092

Human Rights and Duties

093

Tourism Administration and Management

094

Bodo

095

Santali

100

Yoga

101

Sindhi

102

Hindu Studies

103

Indian Knowledge System

104

Disaster Management

105

Ayurveda Biology

 

Subjects with Highest Registration in the UGC NET Exam (2022–2024)

Over the last three years of UGC NET cycles (both June and December sessions from 2022 through 2024), certain subjects have consistently drawn the largest applicant pools. High registration numbers in these disciplines tend to push cut-off percentiles upward, intensifying competition for Junior Research Fellowships and Assistant Professor eligibility.

 

Most Popular UGC NET Subjects by Average Registration

Subject Name

Avg. Registrations (per cycle)

Trend

Commerce

1.2 – 1.5 lakh

Rising

English

~1.1 lakh

Stable

Political Science

~95,000

Rising

Education

~85,000

Fluctuating

Hindi

~80,000

Stable

Key Takeaway:

  • Commerce and English top the list, with over a lakh applicants each session, indicating fierce competition.
  • Political Science registrations are climbing steadily, suggesting growing interest in social science research.
  • While Education sees ups and downs, it remains among the top five most chosen subjects.
  • Stable trends in English and Hindi reflect enduring demand in language and literature streams

Check: UGC NET Syllabus 2025

 

UGC NET Subjects with High Cut-Offs

Over recent NET cycles, Commerce has consistently demanded the highest score—around 62%—reflecting both its large candidate pool and stringent evaluation. English follows closely at 60%, underscoring tough competition in language and literature. Management requires roughly 58%, while Political Science sits near 57%, indicating that even small percentage differences can significantly impact qualifying status in these popular streams.

Subject Name

Average Cut-Off (%)

Commerce

~62%

English

~60%

Management

~58%

Political Science

~57%

Check: UGC NET 2025 Cutoff

 

Low Competition Subjects in UGC NET 2025

While most candidates gravitate toward high-demand streams, several niche subjects consistently see fewer registrations and correspondingly lower qualifying cut-offs. If your postgraduate specialization aligns with any of the following areas, you may face less intense competition.

  • Adult Education
  • Museology & Conservation
  • Forensic Science
  • Tribal and Regional Languages
  • Comparative Literature

Note: Candidates must still meet eligibility criteria via PG specialization.

 

How to Select the Right UGC NET Subject?

Choosing the correct subject is essential for both eligibility compliance and effective preparation. Incorrect selection may lead to application rejection or studying content that doesn't align with your academic background. Use the following criteria to make an informed decision:

Key Selection Tips

  • The subject must match your post-graduation stream exactly as per UGC and NTA norms.
  • For interdisciplinary degrees, refer to the official UGC NET Information Bulletin to verify permitted subject combinations.
  • Evaluate the availability of study material and coaching support, especially for niche or emerging subjects.
  • Prefer subjects that have a strong overlap with your PG or graduation syllabus, as this improves content familiarity and reduces prep time

 

UGC NET 2025 Subject List: Subject Selection Guidelines

Candidates holding integrated or interdisciplinary postgraduate degrees must carefully refer to the NTA’s Information Bulletin for official subject equivalence. NTA provides specific mappings for such degrees to ensure valid subject selection.

 

For instance, a candidate with a PG in Environmental Studies may be eligible to apply under Environmental Sciences (Code: 89), as officially recognized.

 

Avoid choosing closely related but technically incorrect subjects, such as selecting Geography when your degree is in Geoinformatics, unless explicitly permitted in the eligibility list. Misaligned subject selection may lead to disqualification during document verification.

 

Wrapping Up

Reviewing UGC NET subject list 2025 is an important step for accurate registration and target preparation. Choosing the subject combined with its post-graduate qualification ensures eligibility compliance and enhances success capacity. Wrong options may lead to disqualification or irrelevant preparation. To avoid such issues, candidates should consult the official NTA Information Bulletin for subject code and eligibility guidelines before completing the application process.

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