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UGC-NET – Paper II: COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RELIGIONS (Code: 62)
Exam Cycle: June 2026
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COURSE OVERVIEW
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Subject Name: COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RELIGIONS
Subject Code: 62
Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
Paper Type: Paper-II – COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RELIGIONS
Total Marks: 200
Total Questions: 100 MCQs
Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
Duration: 3 Hours (Paper I + II combined)
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COMPLETE LIST OF UNITS
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Unit I: STUDY OF RELIGION:
Unit II: PRE-HISTORICAL RELIGIOUOS FORMS.
Unit III: MODERN TRENDS IN THE STUDY OF RELIGION:
Unit IV: HINDUISM.
Unit V: JAINISM.
Unit VI: BUDDHISM.
Unit VII: JUDAISM.
Unit VIII: CHRISTIANITY.
Unit IX: ISLAM.
Unit X: SIKHISM.
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UNIT-WISE DETAILED SYLLABUS
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Unit I: STUDY OF RELIGION:
Topic a: Religion: Meaning, Definition, Nature, and Scope:
Topic b: Theories: Origin of Religion:
Topic c: Study of Religion: Aims and objectives:
Topic d: Dimensions of Religion: Doctrinal, social, moral code of conduct, devotional praxis:
• Doctrinal
• social
• moral code of conduct
• devotional praxis
Topic e: Religion’s Relationship with other Disciplines: Theology, Ethics, Philosophy, Sociology, Psychology, Culture and Arts:
• Theology
• Ethics
• Philosophy
• Sociology
• Psychology
• Culture and Arts
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Unit II: PRE-HISTORICAL RELIGIOUOS FORMS.
Topic a: Early forms of Religious Expression: Mana, Magic, Fetishes, Shamans, Totem, Taboo, Ancestor worship:
• Mana
• Magic
• Fetishes
• Shamans
• Totem
• Taboo
• Ancestor worship
Topic b: Nature of Holy: Animism, Naturism, Theism, Polytheism, Henotheism, Deism, Monotheism, Pantheism, and Panentheism:
• Animism
• Naturism
• Theism
• Polytheism
• Henotheism
• Deism
• Monotheism
• Pantheism
• Panentheism
Topic c: Task and Objectives: Myths, Rituals, Rites of Passage, Sacraments, Prayers, Festivals, Sacrifices:
• Myths
• Rituals
• Rites of Passage
• Sacraments
• Prayers
• Festivals
• Sacrifices
Topic d: Religion of the Major Civilizations: Indus Valley, Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Chinese.:
• Indus Valley
• Mesopotamian
• Egyptian
• Greek
• Roman
• Chinese
Topic e: Meaning and Nature: Syncretism, Mysticism, Schism, Sect, etc.:
• Syncretism
• Mysticism
• Schism
• Sect
Topic f: Zoroastrianism : Beliefs and Practices:
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Unit III: MODERN TRENDS IN THE STUDY OF RELIGION:
Topic a: Approaches to the Study of Religion: Anthropological, Sociological, Phenomenological, Psychological, Historical, and Experiential.:
• Anthropological
• Sociological
• Phenomenological
• Psychological
• Historical
• Experiential
Topic b: Challenges to Religion: Atheism, Agnosticism, Existentialism, Humanism, Marxism, Rationalism, Materialism, Secularism, Relativism, Globalization, Clash Civilizations.:
• Atheism
• Agnosticism
• Existentialism
• Humanism
• Marxism
• Rationalism
• Materialism
• Secularism
• Relativism
• Globalization
• Clash Civilizations
Topic c: Modern Trends in the Study of Religion: Holistic or all inclusive approach, interfaith understanding and dialogue, co-existence, human rights, empowerment of the Subaltern or social justice, gender equality, ecology and environment, world peace and harmony.:
• Holistic or all inclusive approach
• interfaith understanding and dialogue
• co-existence
• human rights
• empowerment of the Subaltern or social justice
• gender equality
• ecology and environment
• world peace and harmony
Topic d: Religious Authority: Tradition, magician, diviner, scripture, seer, saint, reformer, founder, prophet:
• Tradition
• magician
• diviner
• scripture
• seer
• saint
• reformer
• founder
• prophet
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Unit IV: HINDUISM.
Topic a: Nature of Vedic Religion and Culture:
Topic b: Vedic Literature – Samhita-s, Aranyak-s, Upanisad-s:
• Samhita-s
• Aranyak-s
• Upanisad-s
Topic c: Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism, Tantraism, etc.:
• Shaivism
• Vaishnavism
• Shaktism
• Tantraism
Topic d: Six Systems of Hindu Philosophy – Sankhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa, and Vedanta:
• Sankhya
• Yoga
• Nyaya
• Vaisheshika
• Mimamsa
• Vedanta
Topic e: Epics (Ramayana, Mahabharata) and Purana-s:
• Ramayana
• Mahabharata
• Purana-s
Topic f: Bhakti and Reform Movements of the Medieval Period:
Topic g: Modern Reform Movements (Brahmosamaja, Aryasamaja, Ramakrishna Mission, etc.):
• Brahmosamaja
• Aryasamaja
• Ramakrishna Mission
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Unit V: JAINISM.
Topic a: Sramana Culture and Tirthankara Tradition (Rsabhadeva to Mahavira):
Topic b: Main Sects of Jainism – Digambara and Svethambara:
• Digambara
• Svethambara
Topic c: Prakrit Agama Literature and Prominent Acaryas:
Topic d: Basic Doctrines, Principles and Philosophy:
Topic e: Contribution to Arts and Arhitecture:
Topic f: Social Aspects of Jainism:
Topic g: Contemporary Developments of Jainism:
Topic h: Jain Pilgrimage and Jain Festivals:
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Unit VI: BUDDHISM.
Topic a: Background, Life and Teaching of Gautama Buddha:
Topic b: Pali Tipitaka Literature and Mahayana Sutra-s:
Topic c: Main Sects – Hinayana, Mahayana, etc.:
• Hinayana
• Mahayana
Topic d: Basic Doctrines, Principles and Philosophy:
Topic e: Contribution to Arts and Architecture:
Topic f: Expansion of Buddhism Outside India:
Topic g: Social Aspects and Revival of Buddhism:
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Unit VII: JUDAISM.
Topic a: Origin and Development: Creation, the Call of Abraham, the Call of Moses, the Exodus, the Covenant on Mount Sinai:
• Creation
• the Call of Abraham
• the Call of Moses
• the Exodus
• the Covenant on Mount Sinai
Topic b: Hebrew Scripture: Pentateuch (Torah), Prophets (Nibium), Writings (Ketubium):
• Pentateuch (Torah)
• Prophets (Nibium)
• Writings (Ketubium)
Topic c: Jewish Beliefs: Ten Commandments, Talmud, Midrash, Passover, Messiah, etc.:
• Ten Commandments
• Talmud
• Midrash
• Passover
• Messiah
Topic d: Jewish Celebration: Sabbath, Synagogue Assembly, Passover, Feast of Weeks, Feast of Tabernacles:
• Sabbath
• Synagogue Assembly
• Passover
• Feast of Weeks
• Feast of Tabernacles
Topic e: Jewish Ethics: Covenant consciousness, Mosaic Laws, Jubilee stipulations, marriage and family:
• Covenant consciousness
• Mosaic Laws
• Jubilee stipulations
• marriage and family
Topic f: Importance of Jerusalem:
Topic g: Major Denomination of Judaism:
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Unit VIII: CHRISTIANITY.
Topic a: The Life and Message of Jesus Christ:
Topic b: The beginning of Christianity and the Sermon on the Mount:
Topic c: Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures:
Topic d: Main Christian Churches (Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant):
• Catholic
• Orthodox
• Protestant
Topic e: Important Beliefs and Teachings of Christianity:
Topic f: Christian Life: Worship, Rituals, and Mysticism:
• Worship
• Rituals
• Mysticism
Topic g: History of Christianity in India:
Topic h: Contemporary Trends in Christian Theology:
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Unit IX: ISLAM.
Topic a: The social, religious condition of Arabia before the advent of Islam:
Topic b: Life of the Prophet Mohammad and the basic teachings of the Quran, the establishment of the Islamic community and the Madina state.:
Topic c: Introduction of Hadith and Fiqh and some important Muḥaddith (Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim) and Faqi (Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Shafi, Imam Malki Imam Hanbal):
• Imam Bukhari
• Imam Muslim
• Imam Abu Hanifa
• Imam Shafi
• Imam Malki
• Imam Hanbal
Topic d: Some important Muslim thinkers: Ali ibn e Hazam, Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, ibn-e-Taimiyah and Shah Waliullah:
• Ali ibn e Hazam
• Abu Hamid al-Ghazali
• ibn-e-Taimiyah
• Shah Waliullah
Topic e: Development of Sufism, some important Sufi order’s (Chishtiyah, Qadriayah, Suharwardiyah, Naqsbandiyah, and their impact on society:
• Chishtiyah
• Qadriayah
• Suharwardiyah
• Naqsbandiyah
Topic f: Challenges of modernity and the reform movements among Muslim in India:
Topic g: Origin and development of sects: ithna Ashari, Mutazilites and Asharits:
• ithna Ashari
• Mutazilites
• Asharits
Topic h: The contribution of Medieval Islam to Rational sciences, philosophy and fine arts.:
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Unit X: SIKHISM.
Topic a: Socio-religious milieu and life and mission of Guru Nanak:
Topic b: Development of the Sikh Panth (1539-1708):
Topic c: The Sikh Scripture (Sri Guru Granth Sahib) and the Sikh Literature:
Topic d: The Sikh beliefs and the code of conduct:
Topic e: The Sikh institutions, ceremonies and festivals:
Topic f: The Sikh sects and Modern socio-religious movements:
Topic g: The Sikh diaspora and Modern Issues:
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EXAMINATION STRUCTURE
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Paper-II: Subject Specific Examination
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 200
- Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
- Negative Marking: No
- Duration: 3 Hours (Combined with Paper I)
- Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
Additional Notes (if any):
- No additional notes present in the source.
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SYLLABUS SUMMARY
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Total Units: 10
Total Topics: 65
Subject: COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RELIGIONS
Subject Code: 62
Exam Category: UGC-NET Paper-II
Source: Official NTA/UGC Syllabus
Status: “As per latest official syllabus”
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