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If you’re preparing for the UGC NET Folk Literature 2025 (Subject Code 71), this detailed overview will help you plan your preparation strategically.
This interdisciplinary paper explores oral traditions, cultural narratives, and performative arts, assessing your understanding of folklore’s influence on identity, society, and globalization.
Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the exam qualifies candidates for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Folklore Studies, Cultural Heritage Programs, and Humanities Departments across India.
🧭 UGC NET Folk Literature 2025 Exam Overview
- Conducted by: National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Exam Date (June 2025): 25th June, Shift 1
- Next Session: December 2025 / January 2026
- Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Duration: 3 hours (combined for both papers)
- Language Options: English & Hindi
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- Master’s degree in Folk Literature / Comparative Literature / related field.
- Minimum 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD/Transgender).
- Age Limit (JRF): 30 years (5-year relaxation for reserved/women/third gender).
- No age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility.
🌍 Qualifying in this exam connects traditional storytelling with academic research and community-based cultural studies.
📘 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Marks | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Teaching & Research Aptitude | 50 | 100 | Common for all candidates |
| Paper II | Folk Literature | 100 | 200 | Subject-Specific |
| Total | — | 150 | 300 | Objective (MCQs) |
- +2 marks for each correct answer
- No negative marking
- Qualifying Marks:
- General/EWS/OBC-NCL → 40% (120/300)
- SC/ST/PwD/Transgender → 35% (105/300)
✅ Focus on interpretive and theoretical questions rooted in folklore’s cultural contexts.
📊 UGC NET Folk Literature 2025 Exam Analysis (June Session)
The June 25, 2025 session (Shift 1) was moderate in difficulty, demanding both conceptual clarity and analytical thinking.
Paper I
- Covered reasoning, current events, ICT, and higher education topics.
- Difficulty: Easy–Moderate.
- Good Attempts: 40–45 questions.
Paper II
Moderate level with balanced coverage:
| Topic Area | Weightage | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Theories & Historiography | 25–30% | Scholars like Propp, Levi-Strauss, and Dundes |
| Folk Genres | 20–25% | Myths, epics, performance arts |
| Cultural Practices & Globalization | 20% | Indian folk forms, digital transformation |
| Fieldwork & Public Folklore | 15–20% | Ethics, identity, and applied folklore |
| Conceptual Foundations | 10–15% | Definitions, classifications, and frameworks |
🧩 Conceptual and case-based questions were rewarding for well-prepared candidates.
🎯 Target Scores:
- Assistant Professor – 110–120 marks
- JRF – 130+ marks
📚 UGC NET Folk Literature Syllabus 2025
The syllabus includes 10 comprehensive units, integrating theoretical and applied folklore approaches.
Unit 1 – Folklore: Definition, Concept & Classification
- Concepts of folk, folklife, and oral tradition.
- Genre divisions: verbal, non-verbal, and social.
- Theories of Bascom, Honko, Dundes, and Dorson.
Unit 2 – Historiography of Folkloristics
- Growth of folkloristics as a discipline.
- Oral vs written traditions.
- Subaltern, tribal, and green perspectives.
- Global and Indian development of folklore studies.
Unit 3 – Folk Literature
- Myths, legends, folktales, epics, proverbs, riddles, and chants.
- Speech acts and narrative performance.
- Oral histories and expressive traditions.
Unit 4 – Theories of Folklore I (Diachronic)
- Evolutionary and diffusion theories (Tylor, Frazer, Benfey).
- Myth-ritual links, solar mythology, and devolutionist approaches.
- Romantic nationalism in folklore research.
Unit 5 – Theories of Folklore II (Synchronic)
- Structuralism (Saussure, Propp, Levi-Strauss).
- Functionalism (Malinowski, Geertz).
- Psychoanalysis (Freud, Jung, Lacan).
- Contextualism and semiotics (Parry-Lord, Peirce).
- Gender and queer theory perspectives.
Unit 6 – Folklife and Cultural Performances
- Rites of passage (Van Gennep, Turner).
- Ethnography of speaking (Hymes).
- Narrative analysis in performance contexts.
Unit 7 – Public Folklore & Mass Media
- Folklorism and applied folklore.
- Public communication of traditional knowledge.
- Digital and social media transformations.
Unit 8 – Folklore and Globalization
- Modernity, identity, and cultural hybridity.
- Tourism, protests, and neo-folk movements.
- Threats to indigenous expressions and biopolitics.
Unit 9 – Indian Folk Cultural Practices
- Regional theatre, puppetry, dance, music, and crafts.
- Foodways, rituals, family lore, and festivals.
- Folk architecture, laws, and worldviews.
Unit 10 – Fieldwork, Documentation & Archival Practices
- Field techniques: surveys, ethnography, interviews.
- Data preservation and ethical guidelines.
- Intellectual Property Rights and cultural copyright.
📄 Refer to the official NTA PDF for the complete syllabus.
🧠 Previous Year Questions (PYQs) – UGC NET Folk Literature
Analysis of PYQs (2018–2024) shows recurring emphasis on:
- 20–25% on folklore theories (structuralism, diffusion).
- 15% on Indian cultural practices.
- Increased focus on digital folklore and globalization.
PYQ Strategy
- Practice at least 5–7 years’ papers in timed sessions.
- Identify recurring scholars and case-study topics.
- Review inter-unit linkages (e.g., fieldwork + ethics).
🔹 ANSS Academy integrates PYQs in topic-wise exercises to build conceptual mastery.
🏆 Preparation Tips for UGC NET Folk Literature 2025
📅 Study Plan
- 3–5 month preparation schedule.
- Weekly focus: 1–2 units with integrated revision.
- Begin with theories and historiography for conceptual grounding.
📚 Recommended Resources
- Alan Dundes – The Study of Folklore
- Lauri Honko – Genres, Structure, and Meaning in Folklore
- Propp – Morphology of the Folktale
- NTA UGC NET Official Modules & Question Banks
📈 Practice Routine
- 40+ MCQs daily.
- Weekly mock tests (target 70–75% accuracy).
- Short notes on scholars, concepts, and key case studies.
💡 Skill Development
- Focus on ethnographic interpretation and cultural analysis.
- Stay updated on digital folklore and indigenous policy frameworks.
- Discuss interpretations with peers to sharpen analytical depth.
🌿 Final Words
The UGC NET Folk Literature 2025 exam is more than an academic challenge — it’s a bridge between oral tradition and modern research.
With dedication, a focused plan, and expert guidance from ANSS Academy, you can confidently step into the world of cultural scholarship.
✨ Best wishes for your UGC NET Folk Literature 2025 journey!
