UGC NET Social Medicine & Community Health Syllabus 2025-26 — Complete Unit-wise Guide

Social Medicine & Community Health is the public health-oriented subject under UGC NET, ideal for candidates from MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, nursing, public health, community health, and social work backgrounds. This guide covers the complete 2025–26 NTA UGC NET syllabus.

Exam Pattern

Unit 1: Concepts of Health, Disease, and Social Medicine

• Definitions of Health: WHO (1948) — "complete physical, mental and social well-being"; Ottawa Charter (1986) — health as resource for life; positive vs. negative concepts; dimensions of health (physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional, vocational).
• Social Medicine: Jules Guérin (coined 1848); James Watt's "medicine is social science and politics nothing but medicine on grand scale" (Virchow); Andrija Stampar (WHO constitution drafter); social determinants framework; George Rosen's history of public health.
• Spectrum of Health: Leavell and Clark's natural history of disease — pre-pathogenesis (susceptibility, exposure) and pathogenesis (early disease, advanced disease, disability, death); five levels of prevention.
• Concepts of Disease: Iceberg phenomenon; agent-host-environment triad (epidemiological triad); multi-causation (web of causation — Brian MacMahon); Koch's postulates; Bradford Hill criteria (causation in epidemiology — strength, consistency, specificity, temporality, biological gradient, plausibility, coherence, experiment, analogy).
• Equity and Social Justice: Marmot Review (2010 — "Fair Society, Healthy Lives"); social gradient in health; inverse care law (Julian Tudor Hart); health inequities vs. health inequalities.

Unit 2: Social Determinants of Health (SDH)

• WHO Commission on SDH (2008 — Marmot): Structural determinants — income, education, occupation, social class, gender, race/ethnicity; intermediary determinants — material circumstances (housing, work, food), behavioural, psychosocial factors, biological; health system as intermediary.
• Income and Health: Preston Curve; absolute vs. relative income hypothesis; Wilkinson and Pickett (The Spirit Level) — inequality leads to worse health even for rich; poverty cycle.
• Education: Health literacy; Black Report (1980, UK) — class inequalities persist despite NHS; educated women → lower infant mortality, better child nutrition.
• Gender: Female disadvantage (nutrition, healthcare access, violence, autonomy); maternal mortality ratio (MMR — India: ~97/100,000 live births, 2018–20); differential morbidity and mortality patterns.
• Caste and Tribe: SC/ST health indicators below national average; NFHS-5 data; Sachar Committee on Muslim health; intersectionality.
• Political Economy of Health: Navarro critique; Health for All declaration (Alma-Ata 1978); Selective PHC vs. Comprehensive PHC debate (Walsh and Warren vs. UNICEF/WHO).

Unit 3: Epidemiology

• Definitions and Uses: John Last definition — "study of distribution and determinants of health-related states in populations"; descriptive (who, where, when), analytical (why), experimental (RCT) epidemiology.
• Measures of Disease Frequency: Incidence (new cases/population at risk/time); prevalence (all cases/total population); attack rate; case fatality rate (CFR); mortality rates — crude, age-specific, cause-specific, maternal mortality ratio (MMR), infant mortality rate (IMR), under-5 mortality rate (U5MR), neonatal mortality rate (NMR).
• Measures of Association: Relative Risk (RR); Odds Ratio (OR); Attributable Risk (AR); Population Attributable Risk (PAR%); Number Needed to Treat (NNT).
• Study Designs: Descriptive — case report, case series, cross-sectional (prevalence); Observational-analytical — case-control (OR), cohort (RR); Experimental — RCT (gold standard), community trial; systematic review and meta-analysis.
• Bias and Confounding: Selection bias, information bias, recall bias; confounding (control: randomisation, restriction, matching, multivariate analysis, stratification); effect modification.
• Outbreak Investigation: Steps (confirm diagnosis, case definition, line list, epidemic curve — common source vs. propagated); John Snow's Broad Street pump (cholera, 1854) — founder of epidemiology.

Unit 4: Healthcare Systems and Primary Health Care

• Healthcare System Components: Inputs (finance, workforce, infrastructure, drugs); processes (service delivery, governance); outputs (coverage); outcomes (health status); equity.
• Levels of Healthcare (India): Sub-centre (SC — 1 per 5,000 rural population; ANM, MPW); Primary Health Centre (PHC — 1 per 30,000 rural; medical officer + staff; 6 beds); Community Health Centre (CHC — 1 per 1,00,000; 30 beds, specialist services — FRU); Sub-district Hospital; District Hospital.
• Alma-Ata Declaration (1978): "Health for All by 2000"; comprehensive PHC — eight elements (education on health problems, nutrition, safe water/sanitation, MCH + FP, immunisation, essential drugs, endemic disease control, treatment of common diseases and injuries); community participation; intersectoral coordination.
• Astana Declaration (2018 — PHC 40th anniversary): Reaffirmed PHC as cornerstone of UHC; three components — integrated health services, multi-sectoral policies, people and communities.
• Universal Health Coverage (UHC): WHO cube (population, services, cost coverage); SDG 3.8; Ayushman Bharat — PM-JAY (2018, world's largest government-funded health insurance scheme — ₹5 lakh/family/year, 50 crore beneficiaries) + HWCs (Health and Wellness Centres, 1.5 lakh target).

Unit 5: Demography and Vital Statistics

• Demography: Population size, distribution, composition; birth rate (CBR), death rate (CDR), natural growth rate; total fertility rate (TFR); age-sex pyramid; demographic transition theory (Notestein, Thompson) — high birth + high death → high birth + low death → low birth + low death → very low birth + low death.
• India's Demographic Profile: Population ~144 crore (2024 estimate); TFR 2.0 (NFHS-5, 2019–21) — at replacement level; IMR 35/1000 (SRS 2020); NMR 20/1000; MMR 97/1,00,000; life expectancy at birth 69.7 years; sex ratio 943 (Census 2011); declining child sex ratio (919 girls per 1000 boys under 6, 2011).
• Family Planning: National Family Planning Programme (1952, first in world); basket of contraceptive choices — IUCD, sterilisation (tubectomy, vasectomy), oral pills, condoms, injectables (DMPA); Mission Parivar Vikas (high TFR districts); Contraceptive Use Survey.
• Vital Statistics: Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD Act 1969, amended 2023); Sample Registration System (SRS); Census; HMIS (Health Management Information System); Civil Registration System (CRS).

Unit 6: Nutrition and Health

• Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM): Kwashiorkor (protein deficiency — oedema, skin changes, hair discolouration, sparing of weight); Marasmus (severe calorie deficiency — wasting, stunting, no oedema); global MUAC assessment; CIAF (Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure); India: 35.5% children under 5 stunted (NFHS-5).
• Micronutrient Deficiencies: Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) — India: 67% children under 5 anaemic (NFHS-5); Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) — cretinism, goitre; Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) — night blindness, Bitot's spots; Zinc deficiency; Vitamin D — widespread, especially urban.
• National Nutritional Programmes: ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services, 1975 — supplementary nutrition, immunisation, health check-up, referral, pre-school education, nutrition/health education — 6 services for 0–6 years and pregnant/lactating women); Mid-Day Meal (MDM, renamed PM POSHAN, 2021 — 12 crore children); Poshan Abhiyaan (2018 — Nutrition Mission, reduce stunting by 2%, anaemia by 3%, underweight by 2% per year); NIN (National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad — ICMR).
• Nutritional Assessment: Anthropometry (weight-for-age, height-for-age, weight-for-height — Z scores; MUAC; head circumference); dietary assessment (24-hour recall, FFQ); biochemical; clinical signs.

Unit 7: Environmental Health and Occupational Health

• Water: Safe water requirements; waterborne diseases (cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A, dysentery, cryptosporidiosis, fluorosis); Jal Jeevan Mission (2019 — tap water to every rural household by 2024, 75% achieved by 2024); water purification (boiling, chlorination, UV, RO); water quality standards (BIS, WHO).
• Sanitation: Open defecation; Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM Phase I, 2014–19 — ODF India declared 2 October 2019; Phase II 2020–25 — ODF+, solid/liquid waste); IHHL (Individual Household Latrines); sanitation coverage ~100% (government claim vs. on-ground verification).
• Air Pollution: Indoor air pollution (biomass burning — 500,000 deaths/year India, WHO); outdoor (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, CO, SO2, ozone); NCAP (National Clean Air Programme, 2019 — 20–30% reduction by 2024); NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards).
• Occupational Health: Occupational hazards (physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, psychosocial); ILO occupational diseases list; Factories Act 1948; Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Act 1948; pneumoconiosis (silicosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, asbestosis); occupational cancer; lead, mercury, pesticide exposure; NIOH (National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad).

Unit 8: Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases

• Key Communicable Diseases: Tuberculosis (TB) — India 28% of global burden (2022), NTEP (National TB Elimination Programme, target 2025 elimination); Malaria — P. vivax and P. falciparum, NVBDCP; HIV/AIDS — NACP (National AIDS Control Programme, Phase V); Dengue and Chikungunya; Lymphatic filariasis; Leprosy (NLEP, India achieved elimination <1/10,000 in 2005); COVID-19 and pandemic preparedness; One Health approach (zoonoses).
• Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Four main NCDs — cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes — responsible for 73% of global deaths (WHO); NCD risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity); NPCDCS (National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, CVD and Stroke); Fit India Movement; tobacco control (COTPA 2003, MPOWER framework).
• Mental Health: WHO — 10% of global disease burden; National Mental Health Programme (NMHP, 1982); District Mental Health Programme (DMHP); Mental Healthcare Act (2017) — right to mental health; NIMHANS; stigma and human rights.
• School Health Programme: School health services — medical examination, immunisation, nutrition (MDM/PM POSHAN), mental health, WASH; School Health Ambassador Initiative (2020).

Unit 9: Family Health — Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health

• Safe Motherhood: Three Delays Model (Thaddeus & Maine, 1994 — delay in decision, transport, care receipt); antenatal care (ANC — 4 → 8 visits WHO 2016; TT, IFA, counselling, screening); skilled birth attendance; emergency obstetric care; postnatal care; causes of maternal death (haemorrhage, sepsis, eclampsia, obstructed labour, unsafe abortion).
• Child Health: IMNCI (Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness); Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) for preterm; SNCU (Special Newborn Care Unit); HBNC (Home-Based Newborn Care); EBF (exclusive breastfeeding — 6 months WHO recommendation); complementary feeding; diarrhoea management (ORS + zinc); pneumonia (amoxicillin).
• Immunisation: Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP, 1985, India — Pentavalent, BCG, OPV, IPV, Rotavirus, MR, JE, PCV — 12 vaccines); Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 — 90%+ full immunisation coverage); cold chain; AEFI monitoring.
• Adolescent Health: RKSK (Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram, 2014 — 10–19 years; 6 thematic areas: nutrition, sexual/reproductive health, mental health, substance abuse, injuries, NCDs); AFHS (Adolescent Friendly Health Services); ARSH clinics.

Unit 10: Health Communication and National Health Policy

• Health Education and Communication: KAP (Knowledge, Attitude, Practice) model; Health Belief Model (Rosenstock 1966 — perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, cue to action, self-efficacy); PRECEDE-PROCEED model (Green & Kreuter); Social Learning Theory (Bandura — self-efficacy, observational learning); Stages of Change/TTM (Prochaska & DiClemente).
• Communication Methods: Mass media (TV, radio, print — pulse polio campaign); IPC (interpersonal communication — ASHA, counselling); group methods; digital health communication; social media; mHealth (National Health Stack, CoWIN, Aarogya Setu, e-Sanjeevani telemedicine).
• National Health Policy (NHP 2017): India-specific targets — life expectancy 70 by 2025; U5MR ≤23 by 2025; IMR ≤28; NMR ≤16; MMR ≤100; TFR 2.1; increasing public health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP.
• Ayushman Bharat: Two components — PM-JAY (insurance, ₹5 lakh cover) + HWCs/Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (comprehensive primary care); AB-PMJAY beneficiary identification; National Health Authority (NHA); e-Sanjeevani teleconsultation.
• Health Workforce: Doctor density — 0.9/1000 (India, 2021, below WHO norm of 1/1000); shortage in rural areas; ASHA (1.1 million); ANM; community health officers (CHOs) at HWCs; Nursing shortage; AYUSH integration.

Important Books

FAQs

Who can appear for UGC NET Social Medicine & Community Health?

MBBS/BDS/AYUSH graduates with MD/MS/MPH in Community Medicine, Public Health, Preventive Medicine, or Social Medicine are the primary candidates. Candidates with an MSc in Community Health, Public Health, or Social Medicine from a recognised university (55% marks, 50% reserved) are also eligible.

Is Park's Textbook sufficient for NET preparation?

Park's Preventive and Social Medicine covers ~85–90% of the syllabus. Supplement with recent NFHS-5 data, NHP 2017 targets, and NEP 2020 references for remaining 10–15%.

What is the most important unit?

Unit 3 (Epidemiology — study designs, measures of disease, Bradford Hill criteria) and Unit 9 (MCH — Three Delays, UIP, IMNCI) are consistently the highest-yield units.

UGC NET सामाजिक चिकित्सा एवं सामुदायिक स्वास्थ्य सिलेबस 2025-26 — सम्पूर्ण इकाईवार मार्गदर्शिका

सामाजिक चिकित्सा एवं सामुदायिक स्वास्थ्य UGC NET का जन स्वास्थ्य-उन्मुख विषय है, जो MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, नर्सिंग, जन स्वास्थ्य और सामाजिक कार्य पृष्ठभूमि के अभ्यर्थियों के लिए आदर्श है।

परीक्षा पैटर्न

इकाई 1: स्वास्थ्य, रोग और सामाजिक चिकित्सा की अवधारणाएं

• स्वास्थ्य की परिभाषा: WHO (1948) — "सम्पूर्ण शारीरिक, मानसिक और सामाजिक कल्याण"; Ottawa Charter (1986); स्वास्थ्य के आयाम।
• सामाजिक चिकित्सा: Jules Guérin (1848); Virchow — "चिकित्सा एक सामाजिक विज्ञान है"; Andrija Stampar; George Rosen।
• रोग का स्पेक्ट्रम: Leavell और Clark — pre-pathogenesis और pathogenesis; रोकथाम के पाँच स्तर।
• रोग की अवधारणाएं: Iceberg phenomenon; agent-host-environment triad; Web of Causation (Brian MacMahon); Bradford Hill Criteria (causation के 9 मानदंड)।

इकाई 2: स्वास्थ्य के सामाजिक निर्धारक

• WHO Commission (2008 — Marmot): संरचनात्मक — आय, शिक्षा, व्यवसाय, लिंग; मध्यस्थ — आवास, कार्य, भोजन; स्वास्थ्य प्रणाली।
• आय और स्वास्थ्य: Preston Curve; Wilkinson & Pickett (The Spirit Level) — असमानता सभी के लिए बदतर स्वास्थ्य।
• लिंग: MMR — भारत: ~97/1,00,000 (2018–20); महिला पोषण, स्वास्थ्य सेवा पहुंच, हिंसा।
• जाति और जनजाति: SC/ST स्वास्थ्य संकेतक राष्ट्रीय औसत से नीचे; NFHS-5 डेटा।
• राजनीतिक अर्थव्यवस्था: Alma-Ata (1978) — "Health for All"; Selective vs. Comprehensive PHC बहस।

इकाई 3: महामारी विज्ञान (Epidemiology)

• परिभाषा: John Last — "जनसंख्या में स्वास्थ्य-संबंधित स्थितियों के वितरण और निर्धारकों का अध्ययन।"
• रोग आवृत्ति के माप: Incidence, Prevalence, Attack Rate, CFR; IMR, NMR, U5MR, MMR।
• संबंध के माप: Relative Risk (RR); Odds Ratio (OR); Attributable Risk; NNT।
• अध्ययन डिजाइन: वर्णनात्मक (cross-sectional); विश्लेषणात्मक (case-control — OR; cohort — RR); प्रयोगात्मक (RCT — gold standard)।
• पूर्वाग्रह और confounding: Selection bias, recall bias; confounding; Bradford Hill Criteria।
• Outbreak जांच: Steps; John Snow (हैजा, Broad Street pump, 1854)।

इकाई 4: स्वास्थ्य सेवा प्रणाली और PHC

• भारत में स्वास्थ्य सेवा स्तर: Sub-centre (5,000 पर — ANM, MPW) → PHC (30,000 पर — MO) → CHC (1,00,000 पर — 30 beds) → Sub-district → District Hospital।
• Alma-Ata (1978): "2000 तक सभी के लिए स्वास्थ्य"; PHC के 8 तत्व; community participation; intersectoral coordination।
• Astana (2018): PHC की 40वीं वर्षगांठ; UHC की आधारशिला।
• UHC: WHO cube; SDG 3.8; Ayushman Bharat — PM-JAY (₹5 लाख/परिवार, 50 करोड़ लाभार्थी) + HWCs (1.5 लाख लक्ष्य)।

इकाई 5: जनसांख्यिकी और महत्वपूर्ण सांख्यिकी

• भारत की जनसांख्यिकी: जनसंख्या ~144 करोड़ (2024); TFR 2.0 (NFHS-5); IMR 35/1000 (SRS 2020); NMR 20/1000; MMR 97/1,00,000; लिंगानुपात 943 (2011)।
• परिवार नियोजन: National FP Programme (1952, विश्व में प्रथम); IUCD, नसबंदी, OCP, कंडोम; Mission Parivar Vikas।
• जनांकिकीय संक्रमण सिद्धांत: High birth + high death → … → Low birth + low death।

इकाई 6: पोषण और स्वास्थ्य

• PEM: Kwashiorkor (protein — oedema); Marasmus (calorie — wasting); भारत: 35.5% बच्चे stunted (NFHS-5)।
• Micronutrient कमियां: IDA — 67% बच्चे anaemic (NFHS-5); IDD; VAD; Vitamin D।
• राष्ट्रीय पोषण कार्यक्रम: ICDS (1975 — 6 सेवाएं: पूरक पोषण, टीकाकरण, स्वास्थ्य जांच, रेफरल, pre-school education, पोषण शिक्षा); PM POSHAN (MDM — 12 करोड़ बच्चे); Poshan Abhiyaan (2018)।

इकाई 7: पर्यावरण और व्यावसायिक स्वास्थ्य

• जल: Jal Jeevan Mission (2019 — हर ग्रामीण घर में नल का पानी); waterborne diseases; BIS/WHO standards।
• स्वच्छता: Swachh Bharat Mission (2014–19 — ODF; Phase II 2020–25)।
• वायु प्रदूषण: Indoor (biomass — 5 लाख मौतें/वर्ष); outdoor (PM2.5, PM10); NCAP (2019)।
• व्यावसायिक स्वास्थ्य: ILO list; Factories Act 1948; ESI Act 1948; pneumoconiosis; NIOH (Ahmedabad)।

इकाई 8: संचारी और गैर-संचारी रोग

• प्रमुख संचारी रोग: TB (वैश्विक भार का 28%; NTEP — 2025 उन्मूलन लक्ष्य); Malaria (NVBDCP); HIV/AIDS (NACP); Dengue; Filaria; Leprosy (2005 में उन्मूलन <1/10,000); COVID-19।
• NCDs: 4 प्रमुख — CVD, Cancer, CRD, Diabetes; वैश्विक 73% मौतें; NPCDCS; COTPA 2003।
• मानसिक स्वास्थ्य: NMHP (1982); DMHP; Mental Healthcare Act (2017); NIMHANS।

इकाई 9: परिवार स्वास्थ्य — मातृ, शिशु, किशोर

• Safe Motherhood: Three Delays Model; ANC (4 → 8 विजिट); Skilled Birth Attendance; EOC; मातृ मृत्यु के कारण।
• शिशु स्वास्थ्य: IMNCI; KMC; SNCU; HBNC; EBF (6 माह); ORS + zinc; NTAG।
• टीकाकरण: UIP (1985 — 12 वैक्सीन); Intensified Mission Indradhanush; cold chain; AEFI।
• किशोर स्वास्थ्य: RKSK (2014 — 10–19 वर्ष; 6 thematic areas); ARSH clinics।

इकाई 10: स्वास्थ्य संचार और राष्ट्रीय स्वास्थ्य नीति

• स्वास्थ्य शिक्षा मॉडल: KAP model; Health Belief Model (Rosenstock, 1966); PRECEDE-PROCEED; Social Learning Theory (Bandura); Stages of Change (Prochaska)।
• संचार विधियां: Mass media; IPC (ASHA, counselling); mHealth (CoWIN, Aarogya Setu, e-Sanjeevani)।
• NHP 2017: Life expectancy 70 by 2025; U5MR ≤23; MMR ≤100; public expenditure 2.5% GDP।
• Ayushman Bharat: PM-JAY + HWCs; National Health Authority; e-Sanjeevani।

महत्वपूर्ण पुस्तकें

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न

UGC NET SM & CH के लिए कौन पात्र है?

MBBS/BDS/AYUSH + MD/MS/MPH Community Medicine/Public Health; या MSc Community Health/Public Health (न्यूनतम 55%, आरक्षित 50%) वाले अभ्यर्थी पात्र हैं।

क्या Park की पुस्तक NET के लिए पर्याप्त है?

हां, ~85–90% syllabus cover होता है। NFHS-5 data, NHP 2017 targets और NEP 2020 से supplementary तैयारी करें।