UGC NET June 2026 Political Science Topper Sushmita’s 99.33 Percentile & JRF Success Story with PW

For Sushmita, the journey to UGC NET June 2026 JRF began after an unsuccessful previous cycle left her questioning where her preparation had fallen short. While managing her Master's studies, she decided to strengthen her concepts with structured guidance from PW rather than continue relying on scattered preparation.

Her approach eventually helped her secure 99.33 percentile in Political Science and clear JRF. Her preparation focused on understanding concepts in depth, practising DPPs and PYQs, analysing mistakes, and giving additional attention to weaker areas such as Political Theory and Public Administration.

Sushmita’s Preparation Took a New Direction After the Previous Cycle

After her previous attempt did not produce the result she wanted, Sushmita realised that her conceptual foundation needed more attention. This became the point at which she decided to introduce structured guidance into her preparation.

“Ma'am, actually jab maine last cycle waala paper diya tha to mera kuch bhi clear nahi hua tha, PhD NET kuch bhi clear nahi hua tha, to I was very devastated ki matlab ho nahi raha hai, clear nahi ho raha hai, aur main abhi tak koi batch nahi liya tha kahin se bhi.”

The experience pushed her to reconsider her preparation strategy. After watching a topper interview on YouTube, she decided to join a PW batch and focus on building a stronger conceptual base.

Sushmita Focused on Concepts, DPPs and PYQs

Once she started her structured preparation, Sushmita followed the steps provided through her classes instead of adding multiple external resources. Since she was pursuing her MA, recorded classes became an important part of her routine.

“Mera MA ka second year chal raha tha, to main zyaadatar live classes attend nahi kar paati thi, to main recorded classes karti thi. Aur uske baad main running notes — mujhe jahaan zaroorat padti thi main sirf unhi ke running notes banaati thi kyunki PDF mil jaati thi to main ek baar unko go through kar leti thi, aur ek topic khatam hone ke baad main unka DPP solve karti thi.”

Her process did not stop with completing lectures. She followed each topic with DPP practice and then worked through relevant PYQs. This gave her a way to check whether she could apply what she had studied.

She also analysed where she was losing marks and returned to the relevant lectures or concepts whenever she found a gap in her understanding. This made her preparation more targeted instead of simply increasing the amount of material she studied.

Sushmita Worked on Her Weaker Areas

Alongside regular practice, Sushmita identified the subjects and sections that needed greater attention. Political Theory and Public Administration were among her weaker areas, while she already had a stronger interest in International Relations.

“Ma'am maine aisa koi notebook to maintain nahi kiya par mujhe pata hota tha ki mera weak point kidhar hai, weak section kidhar hai, to main un par zyada — mera public admin bahut weak tha pehle to maine public admin pe zyada focus kara, phir mera IR mein shuru se interest raha hai to mera IR utna weaker section nahi tha, par mera Political Theory aur Public Admin bahut weaker area tha to maine us pe zyada efforts kiye hain.”

She followed a similar approach for Paper 1. Research methodology was initially difficult for her, so she deliberately spent more time strengthening that area. This focus on weaknesses helped her avoid spending all her preparation time only on subjects she was already comfortable with.

How PW Helped Sushmita Build Her Preparation

For Sushmita, PW's role was primarily connected to direction, conceptual understanding and structured practice. She relied on the PW UGC NET classes, notes, DPPs, PYQs, and revision sessions instead of continuously adding new resources.

“Uske baad jab maine aapki classes karna shuru kiya to mujhe aapki classes bahut achhe se samajh mein aa rahi thi, conceptual understanding build ho rahi thi aur aapne jo steps bole maine sirf wahi follow kiye. Maine extra kuch source follow nahi kiya.”

She also used the provided magazine, notes, and DPPs, while revisiting PYQs as a key part of her practice. When a concept remained unclear, she returned to the relevant lecture and then attempted questions from that topic again.

Her preparation also included regular YouTube revision sessions and marathon sessions, which she found particularly helpful for International Relations.

PW UGC NET June 2026 Toppers

Sushmita’s 99.33 Percentile Reflected Her Changed Approach

The June 2026 paper tested more than straightforward factual recall. Sushmita found Paper 1 relatively challenging in places, while Paper 2 was more manageable. The unseen passage in particular required a deeper understanding of the topic.

Because she had studied the relevant area in depth, she was able to approach the unfamiliar-looking questions without becoming overly anxious.

Her final outcome was 99.33 percentile and JRF in UGC NET June 2026 Political Science, marking a significant turnaround from her previous cycle.

Sushmita’s Advice for Future UGC NET Aspirants

Reflecting on her experience, Sushmita emphasised that aspirants should not panic when the examination pattern changes. Instead, she recommended developing conceptual understanding while keeping preparation focused and resource-limited.

“Ma'am main bas yahi share karna chahungi ki exam ke patterns har cycle mein change hote hain, usse ghabraana nahi hai. Conceptual understanding ko strong banaana hai, kyunki we never know ki kab concept base aa jaaye aur kab fact base aa jaaye.”

She also stressed the importance of not constantly switching between resources. Her own preparation was built around following a limited set of material consistently, practising questions and revisiting areas where she lacked clarity.

For December 2026 aspirants, her journey offers a practical takeaway: an unsuccessful attempt does not necessarily define the next one. Sushmita changed her approach, strengthened her weaker areas, followed a structured preparation routine alongside her Master's studies and eventually secured JRF with 99.33 percentile in UGC NET June 2026.