Comparative Analysis: UGC NET English Dec 2020 (Shift I vs Shift II)

The UGC NET English paper conducted on 7th January 2025 — across two shifts — revealed significant patterns, some predictable trends, and some surprising shifts.Both papers reflected a carefully designed structure by NTA, but the weightage of topics, depth of questions, and section-wise focus showed interesting variations.

Here’s a detailed section-by-section comparison and final insights for future aspirants.

🇬🇧 British Literature in UGC NET English: Consistently Dominant, but with a Twist

Aspect	Shift I	Shift II
No. of Questions	35	33
Focus Area	Journalism, Printing, Periodicals (4 questions)	Periodicals, Feminist Journals (3 questions)

🔎 Observation:British Literature continued to dominate both shifts with over 30 questions each, but for the first time, magazines, journalism, and periodical studies became a sub-focus.Shift I was slightly heavier, with more questions on traditional literature, while Shift II leaned into feminist periodicals and modern critical publications.

📌 Trend:Pure literary author-based questions are decreasing slightly, while cultural history around literature is gaining prominence.

🇮🇳 Indian Writing in English: Sharp Drop in Shift I, Slight Recovery in Shift II

Aspect	Shift I	Shift II
No. of Questions	7	10
Focus Area	English education policies (5 questions)	Policies + Theoretical Studies

🔎 Observation:Shift I saw an unexpectedly low number (7 questions) with almost no focus on literary texts — only colonial educational policies were asked.In Shift II, the number slightly recovered (10 questions) but the pattern remained the same — still dominated by educational history, with a slight inclusion of Indian literary criticism (like Meenakshi Mukherjee, Gauri Viswanathan).

📌 Trend:Focus has shifted from authors and novels to postcolonial policy, language politics, and theoretical frameworks.

🇺🇸 American Literature: Minimal Presence in Both Shifts

Aspect	Shift I	Shift II
No. of Questions	2	2
Focus Area	Thoreau, Nabokov	Emerson, Paul Auster

🔎 Observation:Both shifts had only 2 questions each from American Literature, all from canonical authors—either Transcendentalists (Thoreau, Emerson) or Modernists/Postmodernists (Nabokov, Auster).

📌 Trend:Selective, high-quality works are being chosen — only those authors who made significant literary or cultural interventions.

🌍 World Literature and Diaspora: Tiny Window, Big Themes

Aspect	Shift I	Shift II
No. of Questions	2	3
Focus Area	Epic Theatre, Dostoevsky	Borges, Dostoevsky, Neruda

🔎 Observation:World Literature had a minimal but important presence.The focus was on philosophical and ideological movements — existentialism (Dostoevsky), postcolonial anxieties, and stylistic innovations like Epic Theatre and Magical Realism.

📌 Trend:Students must know movements, techniques, and core philosophical undercurrents, not just author biographies.

🧠 Criticism, Theory, and Culture Studies: The Backbone

Aspect	Shift I	Shift II
No. of Questions	29	28
Focus Area	Full Syllabus	Full Syllabus

🔎 Observation:Criticism and Theory sections dominated both shifts, accounting for nearly 30% of the paper.Both classical theorists (Plato, Aristotle) and modern/postmodern theories (Structuralism, Feminism, Postcolonialism) were tested heavily.

📌 Trend:Without a solid grip on theory, qualifying NET English is almost impossible now. Literary Theory is no longer a side-topic — it is central to the paper.

🔤 Language and Linguistics: A Steady, Scoring Section

Aspect	Shift I	Shift II
No. of Questions	10	8
Focus Area	Semiotics, Langue/Parole	Language development, Pidgin/Creole

🔎 Observation:Shift I leaned heavily on Saussure and Semiotics, while Shift II balanced between historical language development and sociolinguistics (Pidgin, Creole).

📌 Trend:Basic theoretical linguistics and history of the English language have become must-prepare areas.

🧪 Research Aptitude: Predictable but Essential

Aspect	Shift I	Shift II
No. of Questions	5	6
Focus Area	Hypothesis, Plagiarism, MLA	MLA (3 questions), Empirical Method

🔎 Observation:Shift II slightly increased the number of questions, but both shifts remained textbook-based and direct.

📌 Trend:This section remains easy scoring if you stay updated with formats (MLA/APA) and research terminology.

📖 Reading Comprehension: New Format, Extra Pressure

Aspect	Shift I	Shift II
No. of Questions	10	10
Passages	3 passages (Prose + Prose + Literary)	3 passages (Prose + Prose + Poetry)

🔎 Observation:Both shifts used three shorter passages instead of the traditional two (one prose, one poem).

📌 Trend:RC demands fast reading, immediate interpretation, and multi-genre adaptability now.

🎯 Major Final Insights from Dec 2024 (Jan 2025) Exam

• British Literature still rules, but periodical studies are growing inside it.

• Indian Writing in English is no longer just literary—it’s now postcolonial theory + language policies.

• Theory, Criticism, and Culture Studies are the kingmakers.

• Reading Comprehension and Language & Linguistics are now secure scoring zones.

• Smart pattern analysis (not just mugging up books) is the real path to clearing UGC NET English.

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📚 How to Prepare Based on This Analysis

✅ Build your base in Theory + Criticism — this is 30% of your paper.✅ Study British Literature + cultural history (magazines, journalism).✅ Focus on Indian English Policy History alongside literary texts.✅ Strengthen basic Linguistics and Research Methodology knowledge.✅ Practice multi-passage RC solving under timed conditions.

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