UGC NET Hindi Syllabus 2026: All 10 Units, Books & Preparation Strategy
Hindi is one of the most popular subjects in UGC NET, with a large number of MA Hindi candidates appearing from universities across North and Central India. Paper 2 covers the full arc of Hindi literature — from medieval Bhakti poetry to modern prose, plus language science and translation theory — 100 questions, 200 marks, no negative marking. Here is the complete unit-wise syllabus for June 2026.
📋 NTA UGC NET June 2026 — Apply Online — Application open 29 Apr – 20 May 2026
Paper 2 Exam Pattern
| Detail | Value |
|---|
| Subject Code | 20 |
| Total Questions | 100 MCQ |
| Total Marks | 200 |
| Negative Marking | None — attempt all 100 questions |
| Units | 10 units, ~10 questions each |
Unit-Wise Syllabus — Hindi Paper 2
| Unit | Name | Key Topics |
|---|
| 1 | Hindi Bhasha aur Lipi ka Vikas | Bhasha ka udgam, Bhasha parivar (Indo-European), Apabhramsho se Hindi ka vikas, Hindi ki boliyan (Braj, Awadhi, Khari Boli, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Rajasthani), Devanagari lipi ka itihas, standardisation |
| 2 | Bhasha Vigyan | Bhasha vigyan ki shakhaen (dhvani vigyan, roop vigyan, vakya vigyan, arth vigyan), dhvani parivartan ke niyam, shabd nirman prakriyaen, Hindi vyakaran (sandhi, samas, karak, vibhakti), paribhashik shabdavali |
| 3 | Hindi Sahitya ka Itihas | Sahitya itihas ki parampara, Ramchandra Shukla ka itihas lekhan, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi ka drshtikon, Ramvilas Sharma, Namvar Singh — kaal vibhajan evam namakarana vivad |
| 4 | Aadikal aur Bhaktikal | Aadikal (Vir Gatha Kaal, Siddha-Nath Sahitya, Apabhransh), Bhaktikal — Saguna dhara (Ramabhakti: Tulsidas; Krishnabhakti: Surdas, Mirabai), Nirguna dhara (Gyanmargi: Kabirdas; Premmargi: Jaidev, Mulla Daud) |
| 5 | Ritikal | Ritibaddha (Keshavdas, Bihari, Mataram, Bhushan), Ritimukta (Ghananand), Ritisiddha (Dev), Riti kavya ki visheshtaen, Shringara rasa pradhanta, lakshangrantha parampara |
| 6 | Adhunik Kal — Kavya | Bhartendu Harishchandra, Dwivedi Yug (Maithili Sharan Gupt), Chhayavad (Jaishankar Prasad, Nirala, Sumitranandan Pant, Mahadevi Verma), Pragativad, Prayogvad (Agyeya), Nayi Kavita |
| 7 | Adhunik Kal — Gadya Sahitya | Hindi gadya ka udbhav (Bhartendu), Nibandh (Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, Ramchandra Shukla), Upanyas (Premchand, Jainendra Kumar, Agyeya, Shrilal Shukla), Kahani (Premchand se Nai Kahani tak), Natak (Jaishankar Prasad, Mohan Rakesh) |
| 8 | Pramukh Kavi aur Lekhak | Selected works of major poets and prose writers — significant compositions, literary contributions, thematic analysis, position in literary history. Focus on Tulsidas (Ramcharitmanas), Kabir (Bijak), Mirabai, Surdas, Nirala, Premchand, Prasad |
| 9 | Alochna (Literary Criticism) | Alochna ki paribhasha evam prakar, Ramchandra Shukla ki alochna drishti (Rasvaad), Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, Namvar Singh (Kavita ke Naye Pratiman), Ramvilas Sharma, structuralism, post-structuralism, feminist criticism in Hindi context |
| 10 | Anuvaad Vigyan aur Hindi Prayojan | Anuvaad ki paribhasha evam prakar, Anuvaad sidhant (equivalence theory, dynamic equivalence), anuvad ki samasyaen, Rajbhasha Hindi (Constitution provisions, Hindi as official language, paribhashik shabdavali nirmaan), karyalay Hindi |
Important Books for UGC NET Hindi
| Topic | Book | Author |
|---|
| Hindi Sahitya ka Itihas | Hindi Sahitya ka Itihas | Acharya Ramchandra Shukla |
| Hindi Sahitya ka Itihas (alt) | Hindi Sahitya: Udbhav aur Vikas | Hazari Prasad Dwivedi |
| Alochna | Kavita ke Naye Pratiman | Namvar Singh |
| Hindi Bhasha Vigyan | Hindi Bhasha ka Itihas | Udaynarayan Tiwari |
| Anuvaad | Anuvaad Vigyan | Bholanath Tiwari |
| Chhayavad | Chhayavad | Namvar Singh |
Preparation Strategy
| Area | Approach |
|---|
| Units 3–5 (Sahitya Itihas) | The core of Hindi Paper 2 — Aadikal, Bhaktikal, Ritikal periods with their major poets, works, and characteristics. Shukla's period-based classification is the reference. Make poet-wise summary tables: name, period, major works, literary style. |
| Units 6–7 (Adhunik Kal) | Chhayavad (4 pillars: Prasad, Nirala, Pant, Mahadevi) and Premchand's fiction are heavily tested. Know the characteristics of each literary movement and the first/most famous work of each major writer. |
| Unit 9 (Alochna) | Know Ramchandra Shukla's rasvaad theory, Namvar Singh's positions on Chhayavad and Nayi Kavita, and Ramvilas Sharma's Marxist criticism approach. Questions specifically test which critic said what. |
| Previous Papers | Hindi Paper 2 has extremely repetitive patterns — the same kaal vibhajan, same major poets and their compositions, same alochna concepts appear year after year. 5 years of previous papers are indispensable. |
Hindi Sahitya — Kaal-Wise Major Poets and Their Works
Units 3–5 test which poet belongs to which period and what their most significant work is. This table covers the most exam-relevant poets across all periods:
| Kaal (Period) | Kavi (Poet) | Major Work(s) | Literary School / Dhara |
|---|
| Aadikal | Chand Bardai | Prithviraj Raso | Vir Gatha (Heroic poetry) |
| Bhaktikal — Saguna (Ram) | Goswami Tulsidas | Ramcharitmanas, Vinay Patrika, Kavitavali | Ramabhakti (Saguna Nirguna bridge) |
| Bhaktikal — Saguna (Krishna) | Surdas | Sur Sagar, Sur Saravali, Sahitya Lahari | Pushti Marg, Ashtachhap |
| Bhaktikal — Saguna (Krishna) | Mirabai | Mira Padavali | Krishnabhakti — personal devotion, protest against caste |
| Bhaktikal — Nirguna (Gyan) | Kabirdas | Bijak (Sakhi, Sabad, Ramaini) | Sant Kavya — formless God, critique of rituals and caste |
| Ritikal — Ritibaddha | Keshavdas | Rasikpriya, Kavyapriya, Ramachandrika | First Riti lakshan granth writer |
| Ritikal — Ritibaddha | Bihari Lal | Bihari Satsai (700 dohe) | Compressed genius — "garvi Gujarat" quote by Shukla |
| Ritikal — Ritimukta | Ghananand | Ghananand Padavali, Viyog Vali | Free from riti constraints; intense personal Viyog (separation) emotion |
| Adhunik — Chhayavad | Jaishankar Prasad | Kamayani (epic poem), Aansoo, Lahar | Chhayavad pillar 1; idealism, national consciousness |
| Adhunik — Chhayavad | Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala' | Tulsidas, Juhi ki Kali, Saroj Smriti, Ram ki Shakti Puja | Free verse (Mukta Chhand) innovator; revolutionary spirit |
| Adhunik — Gadya | Premchand | Godaan, Gaban, Nirmala (novel); Kafan, Poos ki Raat (kahani) | Upanyas samrat — realism, agrarian struggles, peasant life |
| Adhunik — Gadya | Shrilal Shukla | Raag Darbari (satirical novel) | Post-independence bureaucratic satire |
Hindi Sahitya Itihas — Kaal Vibhajan Comparison
Shukla's kaal naming vs. Hazari Prasad Dwivedi's alternative naming is a frequently tested comparison:
| Shukla's Name | Period (approx.) | Dwivedi's Alternative | Why Disputed |
|---|
| Aadikal | 993–1318 CE | Siddha-Siddhi Kal | Shukla focused on Vir Gatha; Dwivedi emphasised Siddha-Nath tradition |
| Bhaktikal | 1318–1643 CE | Madhyakal / Pūrvmadhyakal | Golden age of Hindi literature — generally agreed |
| Ritikal | 1643–1843 CE | Uttarmadhyakal | Shukla gave negative connotation; Dwivedi saw continuity |
| Adhunik Kal | 1843 CE onwards | Adhunik Kal | Both agree on name; start date debated (Bhartendu as beginning) |
Hindi Grammar: High-Yield Topics for Paper II
Grammar (Vyakaran) questions in UGC NET Hindi Paper II cover sandhi, samas, ras, and chhand. These are predictable, scoring topics if memorised systematically.
| Grammar Topic | Concept | Exam-Relevant Detail |
|---|
| Sandhi (सन्धि) | Joining of sounds at word boundaries | Swar Sandhi (vowel), Vyanjan Sandhi (consonant), Visarg Sandhi — e.g., राम + अवतार = रामावतार |
| Samas (समास) | Compound word formation by combining two or more words | Tatpurush, Avyayibhav, Dvandv, Dviguu, Bahuvrihi, Karmadharaya — 6 types |
| Ras (रस) | Emotional essence of poetry; based on Bharatmuni's Natyashastra | 9 Navras + 1 Shant Ras = 10 total; Shringar, Veer, Karuna, Adbhut, Hasya, Bhayanaka, Bibhatsa, Raudra, Shant, Vatsalya |
| Chhand (छन्द) | Metrical pattern governing syllable count and cadence | Varnik chhand (syllable-based) vs. Matrik chhand (matra-based); Doha, Chaupai, Savayya, Kavitta, Savaiya |
| Alankar (अलंकार) | Figures of speech that beautify poetry | Shabd Alankar (Anupras, Yamak, Shlesh) and Arth Alankar (Upama, Rupak, Utpreksha, Atiishyokti) |
| Karak (कारक) | Case relations of nouns/pronouns to verb | 8 karakas: Karta, Karma, Karan, Sampraadan, Apadaan, Sambandh, Adhikaran, Sambodhan |
Aadhar Granth (Foundational Texts) of Hindi Literature
| Text | Author / Period | Genre / Significance |
|---|
| Ramcharitmanas | Tulsidas (1574 CE) | Awadhi epic; 7 Kaands; devotional retelling of Valmiki Ramayana — Bhakti Kaal anchor text |
| Prithviraj Raso | Chand Bardai (12th–13th c.) | Adi Kaal; heroic narrative of Prithviraj Chauhan; Brajbhasha; debated authenticity |
| Padmavat | Malik Muhammad Jayasi (1540) | Sufi allegory; Awadhi; Nagmati-Padmavati conflict symbolises soul's union with God |
| Sursagar | Surdas | Krishna Bhakti poetry; Brajbhasha; vatslya and shringaar ras; 1 lakh+ padas attributed |
| Kamayani | Jaishankar Prasad (1936) | Chhayavad magnum opus; 15 sargas; Manu and Shraddha as symbols of Man and Faith |
| Godan | Premchand (1936) | Realist novel; agrarian crisis; Hori as symbol of exploited Indian peasant; social commentary |
| Raag Darbari | Shrilal Shukla (1968) | Satirical novel; post-Independence rural bureaucracy; Sahitya Akademi Award 1969 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between Saguna and Nirguna Bhakti in Unit 4?
Saguna Bhakti worships God with attributes (Saakar — with form): Ramabhakti (Tulsidas, Goswami Tulsidas) and Krishnabhakti (Surdas, Mirabai) branches. Nirguna Bhakti worships a formless, attribute-less God: Gyan-margi (Kabir, Raidas — emphasise knowledge over ritual) and Prem-margi (Jaidev, Mulla Daud — emphasise divine love). This classification and which poet belongs where is a high-frequency exam topic.
Q: How important is Ramchandra Shukla's period classification for UGC NET?
Central — Shukla's Itihas is the foundational text. Know his four kaal divisions (Aadikal, Bhaktikal, Ritikal, Adhunik Kal), the time periods he assigned, and the rationale for each name. Hazari Prasad Dwivedi's alternative naming (Aadi is called differently) is also tested — compare the two positions.
Q: Are Unit 1 (Bhasha Vikas) and Unit 2 (Bhasha Vigyan) theory-heavy?
Yes — these require understanding linguistic concepts (phonetics, morphology, syntax, semantics), Devanagari script development, and dialect classification of Hindi. These units are more technical than literary but contribute approximately 20 questions. Don't skip them to focus only on literature.
Q: What aspects of Chhayavad (Unit 6) are most tested?
The four main Chhayavad poets (Prasad, Nirala, Pant, Mahadevi Verma) and their first/major works, Chhayavad's characteristic features (individual expression, nature imagery, mysticism, romantic idealism), and why it emerged as a reaction to Dwivedi Yug are regularly tested. Know each poet's most famous single work.
Q: Is translation theory (Unit 10) important for scoring?
Yes — it contributes approximately 10 questions and is often underestimated by candidates focusing on literature. Know types of translation, equivalence theory (Nida's formal vs dynamic equivalence), problems in translation, and Rajbhasha Hindi provisions (Article 343 of Constitution, Official Languages Act 1963).
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