UGC NET Re Exam 2026 Sociology Exam Analysis 10th Sep Shift 1

UGC NET Re Exam 2026 Sociology Exam Analysis for the 10th September Shift 1 is available based on the initial feedback shared by candidates and the subject expert. The Sociology paper was overall reported to be moderate, with a mix of easy, moderate and some comparatively challenging questions. Several questions were based on thinkers, concepts, research methodology, books, Indian sociology, feminism, development and social movements.

As per the discussion, Paper 1 was considered comparatively difficult, particularly the Data Interpretation (DI) section, while Paper 2 Sociology was mostly moderate. Candidates also reported lengthy passages and some lengthy Match the Following questions. The expert suggested that the UGC NET Sociology cutoff 2026 may remain high because the paper included several familiar concepts and previous-year-question-based topics.

UGC NET Sociology Exam Analysis 2026: 10th September Shift 1

The overall difficulty level of the UGC NET Sociology 10th September Shift 1 paper was assessed as moderate. The expert explained that the paper was neither completely easy nor extremely difficult because questions were distributed across different difficulty levels.

Some questions were directly based on concepts taught in classes, while others required candidates to remember specific thinkers, books, theories and factual information. Match the Following questions were of two types: some could be solved if candidates knew even two options, while others involved mathematical calculations and required more time.

UGC NET Sociology Paper 2 Difficulty Level

Paper 2 Sociology was largely reported as moderate, with some questions being easy and some requiring more conceptual or factual knowledge.

The major areas reported in the paper included:

• Sociological thinkers and theories

• Research methodology and research ethics

• Indian sociology

• Family, marriage and kinship

• Feminism and gender

• Development and underdevelopment

• Globalisation

• Urbanisation

• Political economy

• Social movements

• Books and authors

• Acts and government schemes

• Match the Following questions

• Passage-based questions

The expert noted that many questions were familiar and several topics had been covered in previous classes and practice sessions.

UGC NET Sociology Paper 1 Exam Analysis 2026

According to the discussion, Paper 1 was considered difficult to moderate, with Data Interpretation being one of the challenging sections. The DI questions were described as lengthy and comparatively difficult.

The expert also mentioned that candidates had reported lengthy Match the Following questions. However, the overall Paper 1 difficulty may vary from candidate to candidate depending on their strengths in mathematics and reasoning.

UGC NET Sociology Important Topics Asked on 10th September

Several important Sociology topics and thinkers were recalled during the exam analysis session. The following topics were specifically mentioned in the discussion:

UGC NET Sociology Questions on Sociological Thinkers

The paper included questions related to several classical and contemporary thinkers. Max Weber's Ideal Types, Pierre Bourdieu, Bruno Latour, Michel Foucault, Henri Lefebvre, Edward Soja and Roland Robertson were among the topics discussed during the analysis.

Questions related to Bourdieu's Theory of Practice were also mentioned, including chronology-based questions. The expert also highlighted questions on Bruno Latour's Actor-Network Theory and Weber's Ideal Types.

UGC NET Sociology Questions on Indian Sociology

Indian Sociology was represented through thinkers and concepts including M.N. Srinivas, A.M. Shah, B.R. Ambedkar and Irawati Karve.

A Match the Following question related to M.N. Srinivas was discussed, particularly his concepts such as Sanskritization and Westernization.

Questions related to books on Indian villages were also mentioned. The discussion referred to books such as Indian Village and India's Villages, indicating that candidates needed to have knowledge of books and their authors.

UGC NET Sociology Research Methodology Questions

Research methodology was another important area in the 10th September Shift 1 paper.

Questions were reported from:

• Informed Consent

• Research Ethics

• Triangulation

• Participant Observation

• Observation

• Ontology

• Definitions related to research

• Match the Following

The expert explained that triangulation and mixed-method research should not be treated as exactly the same concept, although they can overlap in research practice.

UGC NET Sociology Questions on Marriage, Family and Kinship

Questions from marriage, family and kinship were also discussed. These included hypogamy, patrilineal and matrilineal concepts, preferential marriage and Devar marriage.

The analysis also mentioned incest taboo. Candidates were advised to distinguish between similarly named books and concepts while answering such questions.

UGC NET Sociology Questions on Feminism and Gender

Feminist Sociology and gender-related topics were also present in the paper. The topics discussed included:

• Radical Feminism

• “Personal is Political”

• Women in Development (WID)

• Queer Identity

• Surrogacy

• Feminist House

• Feminist publishing

The expert discussed a question related to the Feminist House and noted the importance of carefully reading the options because similarly worded options can create confusion.

UGC NET Sociology Questions on Development and Underdevelopment

Development and underdevelopment were important areas in the paper. Questions were discussed from:

• Samir Amin

• Andre Gunder Frank

• Immanuel Wallerstein

• Soft State

• Small Is Beautiful

• Third World

• Political Economy

The expert specifically mentioned Samir Amin's ideas on underdevelopment and related them to other dependency and development perspectives.

UGC NET Sociology Questions on Deviance

The paper also included questions related to Howard Becker's concept of deviant career and the labelling theory of deviance.

The discussion connected deviant career with the idea that social labels can influence how individuals perceive themselves and behave. The concept of self-fulfilling prophecy, associated with Robert K. Merton, was also discussed.

UGC NET Sociology Questions on Urbanisation and Globalisation

Urban and global sociology also featured in the recalled questions.

Topics included:

• Hyper-urbanisation

• Henri Lefebvre

• Edward Soja

• Roland Robertson

• Globalisation

• Runaway World

• Alvin Toffler

• Third World

The expert noted that Lefebvre and Soja had been covered through discussions on space and urban sociology.

UGC NET Sociology Questions on Social Movements

The passage-based section was reported to include questions related to the TeBhaga Movement and Telangana Movement. Candidates reportedly found the passage lengthy and difficult.

Questions related to social movements and Herbert Blumer were also discussed during the analysis.

UGC NET Sociology Questions on Acts and Government Schemes

The paper also contained some factual questions related to Acts and government schemes. The discussion specifically mentioned:

• Hindu Succession Act

• Hindu Widow Remarriage Act

• Surrogacy Act

• Patent Act

• PM schemes

Candidates preparing for future attempts should revise important Acts, policies and schemes along with their key provisions and years.

UGC NET Sociology Match the Following Questions

Match the Following was one of the areas that required additional attention. According to the analysis, there were different types of Match the Following questions.

Some could be solved through elimination if candidates knew one or two correct pairs. However, some questions reportedly involved mathematical calculations, making them more time-consuming.

The expert suggested that candidates should use elimination techniques wherever possible instead of trying to solve every pair independently.

UGC NET Sociology Passage-Based Questions

The passage-based section was considered one of the more difficult parts by some candidates. The passage was described as lengthy, with questions related to the TeBhaga and Telangana movements.

Candidates reported that the passage contained additional statements that consumed time. Therefore, passage-based questions may have contributed to the overall perception of the paper being moderate rather than easy.

UGC NET Sociology Assertion-Reason Questions

According to the live discussion, candidates reported no Assertion-Reason questions in the Sociology paper. The expert specifically confirmed that there were zero Assertion-Reason questions based on the feedback received during the session.

Instead, the paper reportedly focused more on:

• Match the Following

• Direct statement-based questions

• Definition-based questions

• Conceptual questions

• Passage-based questions

UGC NET Sociology Cutoff 2026: Expected Trend

The exact UGC NET Sociology cutoff 2026 cannot be confirmed until the official result and cutoff are released. However, based on the exam analysis, the expert expected the cutoff to remain high.

The reasoning was that the paper contained several familiar and previously discussed concepts, along with a number of relatively easy questions. At the same time, some lengthy Match the Following questions and passage-based questions could have increased the overall difficulty.

The expert also referred to the previous December cutoff of around 232 marks and expressed the expectation that the current cutoff would remain high, while hoping that it would not rise as much as the previous session.

Therefore, candidates should treat the expected cutoff as an analysis-based estimate and wait for the official cutoff.

UGC NET Sociology Exam Analysis 2026: Key Takeaways

The major takeaways from the 10th September Shift 1 Sociology exam analysis are:

• The overall Sociology Paper 2 level was moderate.

• Paper 1 was considered comparatively difficult.

• Data Interpretation was reported as lengthy and challenging.

• Match the Following questions were important.

• Some Match the Following questions involved calculations.

• Passage-based questions were considered lengthy by candidates.

• Several questions were based on familiar and previously studied concepts.

• Thinkers, books and theories formed a major part of the paper.

• Research methodology and ethics were important.

• Indian Sociology topics were also covered.

• Questions were asked from Acts and government schemes.

• No Assertion-Reason questions were reported.

• The Sociology cutoff is expected to remain high, although the official cutoff will determine the final qualifying marks.