UGC Mass Communication

The UGC NET 2024 exam is scheduled for June 16, 2024. The exam mode is offline, and the duration is 3 hours. It consists of two papers, Paper 1 with 100 marks and Paper 2 with 200 marks. There is no negative marking in this exam. Candidates who clear the UGC NET 2024 exam can apply for Assistant Professor and JRF positions in Indian universities and colleges.

UGC Mass Communication

Programme Details

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Testing Methodology

Commencement of Registration

Commencement of Programme

Early access

Duration of programme

Schedule of classes

Medium

Provision of tests

Scholarships

Personal Mentorship

Interview Guidance

Offline classroom

25 th June 2024

1 st July, 2024 -Noida, NCR

25 th June 2024 onwards

1 Year(5days/week)

9:30 AM to 2:00 PM

A hybrid of English only

Bimonthly (objective patterns)

Get Upto 90%* Scholarship

Included | By faculty members

Included | By field expertes

Mass Communication

Offline/online Coaching

Course Fee

₹25000

Including GST + Book + Test Series


Payment and Registration

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Paper 1

  • Teaching: Concept, Objectives, Levels of teaching (Memory, Understanding and Reflective), Characteristics and basic requirements.
  • Learner’s characteristics: Characteristics of adolescent and adult learners (Academic, Social, Emotional and Cognitive), Individual differences.
  • Factors affecting teaching related to: Teacher, Learner, Support material, Instructional facilities, Learning environment and Institution.
  • Methods of teaching in Institutions of higher learning: Teacher centred vs. Learner centred methods; Off-line vs. On-line methods (Swayam, Swayamprabha, MOOCs etc.)
  • Teaching Support System: Traditional, Modern and ICT based.
  • Evaluation Systems: Elements and Types of evaluation, Evaluation in Choice Based Credit System in Higher education, Computer based testing, Innovations in evaluation systems.
  • Research: Meaning, Types, and Characteristics, Positivism and Postpositivistic approach to research.
  • Methods of Research: Experimental, Descriptive, Historical, Qualitative and Quantitative methods.
  • Steps of Research.
  • Thesis and Article writing: Format and styles of referencing.
  • Application of ICT in research. • Research ethics.
  • A passage of text be given. Questions be asked from the passage to be answered.
  • Communication: Meaning, types and characteristics of communication.
  • Effective communication: Verbal and Non-verbal, Inter-Cultural and group communications, Classroom communication
  • Barriers to effective communication
  • Mass-Media and Society.
  • Types of reasoning.
  • Number series, Letter series, Codes and Relationships.
  • Mathematical Aptitude (Fraction, Time & Distance, Ratio, Proportion and Percentage, Profit and Loss, Interest and Discounting, Averages etc.).
  • Understanding the structure of arguments: argument forms, structure of categorical propositions, Mood and Figure, Formal and Informal fallacies, Uses of language, Connotations and denotations of terms, Classical square of opposition.
  • Evaluating and distinguishing deductive and inductive reasoning.
  • Analogies.
  • Venn diagram: Simple and multiple use for establishing validity of arguments.
  • Indian Logic: Means of knowledge.
  • Pramanas: Pratyaksha (Perception), Anumana (Inference), Upamana (Comparison), Shabda (Verbal testimony), Arthapatti (Implication) and Anupalabddhi (Non-apprehension).
  • Structure and kinds of Anumana (inference), Vyapti (invariable relation), Hetvabhasas (fallacies of inference).
  • Sources, acquisition and classification of Data.
  • Quantitative and Qualitative Data.
  • Graphical representation (Bar-chart, Histograms, Pie-chart, Table-chart and Line-chart) and mapping of Data.
  • Data Interpretation.
  • Data and Governance.
  • Basics of Internet, Intranet, E-mail, Audio and Video-conferencing.
  • Digital initiatives in higher education.
  • ICT and Governance.
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  • Development and environment: Millennium development and Sustainable development goals.
  • Human and environment interaction: Anthropogenic activities and their impacts on environment.
  • Environmental issues: Local, Regional and Global; Air pollution, Water pollution, Soil pollution, Noise pollution, Waste (solid, liquid, biomedical, hazardous, electronic), Climate change and its Socio-Economic and Political dimensions.
  • Impacts of pollutants on human health.
  • Natural and energy resources: Solar, Wind, Soil, Hydro, Geothermal, Biomass, Nuclear and Forests.
  • Natural hazards and disasters: Mitigation strategies.
  • Environmental Protection Act (1986), National Action Plan on Climate Change, International agreements/efforts -Montreal Protocol, Rio Summit, Convention on Biodiversity, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, International Solar Alliance.
  • Institutions of higher learning and education in ancient India.
  • Evolution of higher learning and research in Post Independence India.
  • Oriental, Conventional and Non-conventional learning programmes in India.
  • Professional, Technical and Skill Based education.
  • Value education and environmental education.
  • Policies, Governance, and Administration.

Paper 2

  • Concept of Journalism and mass communication, mass communication in India..
  • History, growth and development of print and electronic media. Major landmarks in print and electronic media in Indian languages. Media’s role in formulation of states of India.
  • Media criticism and media literacy, Press Council and Press Commissions of India, status of journalism and media education in India. Media policies of the Government of India since Independence..
  • Models and theories of mass communication, normative theories, administrative and critical traditions in communication, media and journalism studies, communication and theories of socio-cultural, educational and agricultural change. Technological determinism, critique of Marshall McLuhan’s views on media and communication and Marxist approaches. Information and knowledge societies.
  • Indian traditions and approaches to communication from the Vedic era to the 21st century. Western and Eastern philosophical, ethical and aesthetic perceptions of communication - Aristotle and Plato, Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic traditions..
  • Media and culture - framework for understanding culture in a globalised world. Globalisation with respect to politico-economic & socio-cultural developments in India.
  • Concept and definition of development communication, role of media and journalism in society, characteristics of Indian society – demographic and sociological impact of communication, media and journalism. Media and specific audiences..
  • Development and social change. Issues and post-colonial conceptions.
  • Deconstruction of dominant paradigm of communication and development. Responses and critique of dominant models..
  • Corporatisation of development - Corporate Social Responsibility, non-state actors in development, mass campaigns by NGOs, Government of India, international agencies and corporates. Paradigms and discourse of development communication..
  • Emergence of global civil societies, public sphere, global communication system - nation state-universal, national communication policies..
  • Leading influencers of social reform in India - Raja Rammohan Roy, Pandit Madanmohan Malviya, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Mahatma Gandhi, Acharya Vinoba Bhave, Dr B. R. Ambedkar, Deendayal Upadhyay, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia etc..
  • News-concepts, determinants (values), structure and perspectives. Reporting for print, radio, television and digital media. Types of reporting. National and international news agencies and feature syndicates, functions and role.,
  • Writing for print, electronic and digital news media. Translation and transcreation.,
  • Editing and presentation techniques for print, television and digital media.,
  • Journalism as profession, reportage of contemporary issues, ethics of reporting.,
  • Critique of western news values, effect of new technology on global communication flows.,
  • Niche Reporting.,
  • Definition, concept, functions, types, evolution of advertising, standards and ethics in advertising. Theories and models of communication in advertising.
  • Brand management.
  • Advertising management - agency-role, structure and function, client-agency relationship, media planning and budgeting.
  • Advertising and creativity, language and translation
  • Advertising campaign and marketing
  • Advertising and marketing research.
  • Public Relations and Corporate Communication - definition, concept and scope.
  • Structure of PR in State, Public, Private and non-government sectors.
  • Tools and techniques of PR and Corporate Communication.
  • Crisis communication and crisis communication management.
  • Ethics of Public Relations.
  • International Public Relations, communication audit
  • Concept of law and ethics in India and rest of the world
  • The Constitution of India, historical evolution, relevance
  • Concept of freedom of speech and expression in Indian Constitution.
  • Defamation, Libel, Slander-IPC 499-502, Sedition IPC 124(A), Contempt of Courts Act 1971, Official Secrets Act 1923, Press and Registration of Books Act 1867, Working Journalists and other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1955, Wage Boards, Law of Obscenity (Section 292-294 of IPC); the Miller test, the Hicklin test, Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act 1986, Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, Parliamentary Privileges. Famous cases involving journalists and news media organisations
  • Right to Information Act 2005, Copyright Act 1957, Intellectual Property Rights, Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act 1995, Information Technology Act (relevant) 2000 and cyber laws, Cinematograph Act 1952, Film Censorship, Press Council Act as amended from time to time, IPR, ASCI, Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, Various regulatory bodies for print, TV, Advertising, PR, and Internet.
  • Rules, regulations and guidelines for the media as recommended by Press Council of India, Information and Broadcasting ministry and other professional organisations, adversarial role of the media, human rights and media.
  • Definition, concept of media management. Grammar of electronic media.
  • Communication design theories and practice.
  • Media production techniques – print and electronic
  • Digital media production techniques.
  • Economics and commerce of mass media in India.
  • Principles and management in media industry post liberalisation
  • ICT and media - definition, characteristics and role. Effect of computer mediated communication. Impact of ICT on mass media. Digitisation.
  • Social networking.
  • Economics and commerce of web enabled media.
  • Mobile adaption and new generation telephony by media, ethics and new media.
  • ICT in education and development in India, online media and e-governance.
  • Animation - concepts and techniques
  • Film and television theory.
  • Film and identity in Indian film studies, leading film directors of India before and after Independence. Indian cinema in the 21st century.
  • Approaches to analysis of Indian television.
  • Visual Communication. Visual analysis.
  • Basics of film language and aesthetics, the dominant film paradigm, evolution of Indian cinema-commercial and ‘non-commercial’ genres, the Hindi film song, Indian aesthetics and poetics (the theory of Rasa and Dhvani).
  • National cinema movements: Soviet Montage cinema, German Expressionistic cinema, Italian Neo-Realistic cinema, French New Wave cinema, British New Wave cinema, Indian New Wave cinema, Period cinema. Cinema in the new millennium
  • Definition, concept, constructs and approaches to communication research process.
  • Research Designs - types, structure, components, classical, experimental and quasi experimental, variables and hypotheses; types and methods of research; basic, applied, descriptive, analytical, historical, case study, longitudinal studies.
  • Research in journalism, Public Relations, advertising, cinema, animation and graphics, television, Internet, social media practices, magazines, children’s media. Communication, journalism and media research in India
  • Levels of measurement: sampling-probability and non-probability, tests of validity and reliability, scaling techniques. Methods and tools of data collection-interviews, surveys, case studies, obtrusive and non-obtrusive techniques, ethnography, schedule, questionnaire, dairy, and internet based tools, media specific methods such as exit polls, opinion polls, telephone, SMS surveys and voting with regard to GEC (general entertainment content).
  • Data analysis, testing, interpretation, application of statistical tests-parametric and non- parametric, tests of variance-univariate, bivariate and multivariate, tests of significance, computer mediated research.
  • Ethical considerations in communication, media and journalism research, writing research reports, plagiarism.

UGC NET Exam Pattern For Mass Communication 2024

UGC NET exam pattern comprises two papers- Paper 1 and 2. As per the prescribed UGC NET 2025 exam pattern, both papers contain multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Candidates need to complete both papers in a single duration of three hours. Have a look at the detailed UGC NET exam pattern 2025 below. Negative marking 0.5 marks.



UGC NET Mass Communication

UGC NET Paper Number of Questions Marks
Paper 1 50 100
Paper 2 100 200
Total 150 300

UGC NET Application Form 2025 Important Dates

The UGC NET application form for 2025 is expected to be released in April 2025, along with its notification. The UGC NET 2025 exam is scheduled from June 10 to 21, 2025, for which admit cards will be issued in May 2025.



UGC NET Application Form 2025 Important Dates
UGC NET 2025 Notification (June Session) 20th April 2025
UGC NET 2025 Online Application Process Started 20th April 2025
UGC NET 2025 Online Application Process Ends 19th May 2025
Correction in the Particulars of Application Form online only 21 May 2025 to 23 May 2025
UGC NET Exam Date 2025 18th June 2025
UGC NET Admit Card 2025 Expected in May 2025


UGC NET 2025 Apply Online

The UGC NET 2025 application form for the UGC NET 2025 exam is available on the official website. Candidates need to double-check the information they enter in their online application forms to avoid issues. After submitting the UGC NET 2025 online application form, the Confirmation Page will be generated only when the candidate completes the payment process successfully. The direct link to apply online is provided below.

Steps to Fill UGC NET Application Form 2025

To apply for the UGC NET 2025 examination in the June 2025 cycle and become eligible for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and/or Assistant Professor posts, candidates must follow the steps given below in the online application process. Before appearing in the UGC NET 2025 exam, it is recommended that candidates thoroughly review the UGC NET Eligibility Criteria 2025.
  • Step 1: Visit the official website @ugcnet.nta.nic.in by clicking on the provided UGC NET Application Form 2025 link.
  • Step 2: If you are a new user, initiate the registration process by clicking on the “New Registration” button. Alternatively, if you are a returning user, input your details and click on the “SIGN IN” button.
  • Step 3: Enter the necessary information, including the Application Number, Password, and Security PIN, then proceed by clicking the login button.
  • Step 4: Choose your preferred Exam Centre and the medium of the exam for UGC NET 2025.
  • Step 5: Provide your Aadhar card number, select your gender and category, and indicate your employment and qualifying exam status.
  • Step 6: Complete the section on Educational Details, including your most recent qualification, percentage, etc.
  • Step 7: Provide your communication address, phone number and email ID.
  • Step 8: Upload your photo and signature in jpg/jpeg format with a white background.
  • Step 9: Navigate to the payment page and make the payment for the UGC NET 2025 Exam through online mode.
  • Step 10: Click on the “SUBMIT” button and download the confirmation page for future reference.

UGC NET Application Form 2025 (Upload Photograph and Signature)

Applicants must upload their scanned images and signature in JPEG format, following the specifications mentioned in the table below.

UGC NET Application Fee 2025

Candidates must pay the UGC NET Application Fee to submit their application forms successfully. The application fee payment should be made online through the SBI/HDFC/Syndicate/ICICI/Paytm payment gateway, utilizing debit card/credit card/net banking/UPI. The UGC NET Application Fee for different categories in 2025 is as follows.



Application Fee 2025
General Rs 1150/-
General-EWS/OBC Rs 600/-
SC/ST/PwD Rs 325/-



Eligibility Criteria 2025

Candidates who wish to take the exam should carefully review the eligibility criteria on the NTA’s official website. In addition to providing information on the exam dates, the educational authority also publishes eligibility criteria,

Which are based on the following:

  1. Age Limit and Relaxation
  2. Educational Qualifications
Educational Qualification
Eligibility Criteria 2025
Particulars Details
Educational Qualifications Master’s Degree
Age Limit • 30 years for Junior Research Fellowship
• No age limit for Assistant Professorship
Number of Attempts No limit on attempts
Nationality Indian
Subject Eligibility Subject of Post-Graduation as chosen by the candidate


Educational Qualification

Candidates must have the specified educational qualifications to be eligible to apply for the UGC NET exam in 2025. Aside from age, the educational background of the candidate is another critical eligibility criterion to consider. For a general overview of the UGC NET 2025 educational qualification required to participate in the exam, see the table below:

Category Eligibility Criteria
General/ Unreserved/ General-EWS candidates Candidates in this category must secure a minimum of 55% marks in their Master’s Degree or an equivalent examination from universities/institutions recognized by UGC. Subjects such as Computer Science and Applications, Electronic Science, etc., are eligible for the UGC NET Test.
Other Backward Classes (OBC) OBC candidates, falling under the Non-Creamy Layer, along with SC, ST, PwD, and Third Gender category, require a minimum of 50% marks in their Master’s degree or an equivalent examination to qualify for the UGC NET Test.
Master’s Degree Aspiring candidates currently pursuing a Master’s degree or those who have appeared for their qualifying Master’s degree exams are eligible to apply for the UGC NET Test. However, admission is provisional, and confirmation of eligibility for JRF/Assistant Professor roles is contingent upon completing the Master’s Degree.
Third Gender Category Candidates from the Third Gender category benefit from the same fee, age, and eligibility criteria relaxations as candidates in the SC/ST/PwD categories for the UGC NET Test.
Ph.D. degree holders Ph.D. degree holders, completing their Master’s level examination by 19th September 1991 (regardless of result declaration date), are eligible for a 5% reduction in aggregate marks for the UGC NET Test.
Post-Graduate diploma/ certificate from Indian/ Foreign University Candidates holding a post-graduate diploma/certificate from an Indian University or a Foreign University must ensure its equivalence to a Master’s degree from a recognized Indian university through the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi, before applying for the UGC NET Test.




Age Limit

The age limit and relaxation criteria for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professorship in UGC NET 2025 are as follows:

  1. The maximum age for applying for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) is 30 years.
  2. There is no specified maximum age limit for applying for the role of Assistant Professor.
  3. Candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Persons with Disabilities (PwD), as well as women candidates, are granted a relaxation of five years in the age limit.
  4. Candidates with research experience will receive age limit relaxation equivalent to the time spent on research in the relevant subject of their Post-Graduation degree.
  5. Individuals holding an LLM degree are eligible for a three-year relaxation in the age criteria.


Age Limit
Category Upper Age Limit
JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) Not more than 30 years as of the 1st day of the month in which the examination is concluded.
Assistant Professor No upper age limit for applying to UGC NET 2025 for the role of Assistant Professor.


The UGC NET 2025 provides age relaxations to candidates, as shown in the table below. It is important to note that these age relaxations only apply to candidates applying for the JRF category.



UGC NET 2025 Age Relaxation
Category Age Relaxations
Candidates pursuing LLM degree 3 years
Ex-Army personnel (Service length up to the first day of the month of the UGC-NET) 5 years
SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Female/Transgender 5 years
Research candidates (with a valid certificate from the appropriate authority) 5 years

Admit card and cut-off marks


Admit card
The UGC NET Admit Card 2025 has been available for download on the official website. Candidates who have successfully registered for the exam can access their UGC NET Admit Card 2024 by logging in to their accounts on the UGC NET portal using their credentials. It is advisable for candidates to download and print their admit cards well in advance and carry them to their respective exam centres on the day of their exam.

Cut-off marks
The cut-off marks are expected and may vary based on various factors such as the number of applicants, difficulty level of the exam, and other factors. The table below provides the UGC NET English Expected Cut Off 2024.



UGC NET Mass Communication Expected Cut Off 2024
Sub. Sub. Code Category AS Cut-Off JRF & AS Cut-Off
General 92-94 96-99
EWS 90-91 94-97
English 30 OBC (NCL) 89-90 92-94
SC 85-87 90-92
ST 82-84 87-88
There is no upper age limit for appearing in the UGC NET professorship exam. However, for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) position, candidates must be below or equal to 30 years of age. Meeting other criteria is essential for candidates to be eligible for the UGC NET exam.
While paper 1 comprises 50 questions and paper 2 comprises 100 questions, all in MCQ format with each question carrying 2 marks, it is important to note that there is no negative marking in the UGC NET exam.
The UGC NET 2024 exam is scheduled to take place from June 10 to June 21, 2024.
Yes, the UGC NET syllabus is slated to change as the University Grants Commission (UGC) plans to update the syllabus for all 83 subjects in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The revised NET syllabus is expected to be implemented in June 2024.
The basic eligibility requirement for applicants is to hold a Master's degree in the relevant subject from a recognized university. For the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), the upper age limit is 30 years, and candidates must have at least 55% marks in their Master's Degree.