Expert’s insights from Hari Shankar Soni
The University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It is held twice a year in June and December. The paper on Mass Communication and Journalism for the UGC NET certificate will be held on January 6, 2026, in the second shift (3:00 PM to 6:00 PM). The NTA has released the admit card for the January 6 exam on December 31, 2025.
This Computer-Based Test (CBT) requires strategic preparation in Paper-I (general aptitude) and Paper-II (subject-specific), with no negative marking to encourage attempting all questions. The UGC NET 2025 exam demands not just subject knowledge but also strategic preparation and a clear understanding of the subject.
UGC NET 2025: Know Your Exam
It is important to understand the nature and purpose of the UGC NET examination. This exam opens doors for academic and research-oriented careers. The UGC NET determines eligibility under three categories:
1) You can apply for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)
2) You can apply for the role of Assistant Professor
3) You can apply for Ph.D. admission only (valid for one year)
The UGC NET qualifies candidates for three categories: JRF with fellowship support, Assistant Professor positions in universities, and PhD admissions (mandatory since 2024, valid for one year). Aspirants select one, two, or all categories based on needs, targeting teaching, research, or both in higher education.
UGC NET Exam Pattern 2025
The UGC NET 2025 exam spans three hours (180 minutes) in a single session without breaks, featuring 150 MCQs worth 300 marks total.
| Paper | Papers/Subjects/Units | Questions | Marks |
| Paper-I | Teaching & Research Aptitude | 50 MCQs | 100 |
| Paper-II | Subject Chosen by Candidate | 100 MCQs | 200 |
| Total Questions and Marks | 150 | 300 |
Hari Shankar Soni suggests that candidates have 1.6 minutes to solve an MCQ. No negative marking allows candidates to attempt all the questions, even when they are not sure about the correct answer.
UGC NET Paper I Preparation Strategy
From all 10 units of the UGC NET 2025 Paper I, most questions are from Teaching Aptitude, Research Methodology, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, ICT, and the Higher Education System, according to Hari Shankar Soni. He also advises aspirants to practice previous year questions (PYQs) regularly from R Gupta’s book, and to read the complete syllabus from the book authored by KVS Madaan.
Also check: UGC NET History Preparation 2025: Recommended Books, Historiography, Expert’s Strategy
UGC NET 2025 MCJ Syllabus and Preparation
Candidates must adhere to the official UGC NET syllabus while preparing for Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ). It is also important to analyse the last 10 years’ PYQs for concept clarity and inter-topic links. The MCJ syllabus can broadly be divided into:
1) Communication and Theories
2) Journalism (Print, Radio, TV, Online)
3) Media Laws and Ethics
4) Advertising and Public Relations
5) Cinema and Film Studies
6) New Media and ICT
7) Media Management
8) Research and Mass Media Research
9) Current Affairs related to Media
The strategy of answer elimination also comes in handy while attempting the UGC NET MCJ questions.
UGC NET 2025 Recommended Books for MCJ
It is important to have limited study material and to trust your preparation resources, which can save a lot of time and energy in the UGC NET 2025 preparation. Given below are the recommended books by experts for Journalism and Mass Communication.
1) Keval J. Kumar’s Mass Communication in India
2) Seema Hasan’s book on Mass Communication Principles
3) John Fiske’s Introduction to Communication Studies
4) Denis McQuail’s Communication Models
5) Ashish Rajadhyaksha’s Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema
6) VR Bala and VS Gupta’s Handbook of Journalism
Aspirants often ignore Paper I’s depth, skip mock analysis, or do not analyse the syllabus carefully. All these must be avoided for thorough preparation of the UGC NET 2025 exam. Candidates should note that over-guessing without elimination wastes time; it is always advisable to review performance metrics.
More stories: NTA Issues Important Instructions for UGC NET December 2025 Candidates
Candidates must carry a printed admit card, two passport-size photographs, and a valid photo ID (Aadhaar/PAN/Voter ID) on the day of the exam.
Hari Shankar Soni is a research scholar at Haridev Joshi University of Journalism and Mass Communication. He is also a media educator at the Media Exams learning platform.
