UGC-NET – Paper II: Social Work (Code: 10)
Exam Cycle: June 2026
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COURSE OVERVIEW
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Subject Name: Social Work
Subject Code: 10
Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
Paper Type: Paper-II – Social Work
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: Nature and Development of Social Work.
Unit II: Society, Human Behavior and Communities.
Unit III: Social Work with Individuals and Groups.
Unit IV: Social Work with Communities and Social Action.
Unit V: Research in Social Work : Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches.
Unit VI: Administration, Welfare and Development Services.
Unit VII: Social Policy, Planning and Social Development.
Unit VIII: Indian Constitution, Social Justice, Human Rights and Social Work Practice.
Unit IX: Areas of Social Work Practice I.
Unit X: Areas of Social Work Practice II.
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UNIT-WISE DETAILED SYLLABUS
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Unit I: Nature and Development of Social Work.
Topic 1: Social Work :
• Definition
• Scope
• Principles
• Nature
• Goals and Process
Topic 2: Historical Development:
• Development of Professional Social Work across the world (U.K., U.S.A., and India)
Topic 3: Social Reform and Professional Social Work:
• Contribution of Social Reformers in 19th and 20th Century in the development of Professional Social Work in India.
Topic 4: Social Work as a Profession in India:
• Values
• Competencies and Code of Ethics for the Social Work Practioners.
Topic 5: Theories:
• Theories for Social Work Practice.
Topic 6: Changing Context of Social Work Practice :
• Emerging Perspectives
• Trends and Challenges of Social Work for Practice.
Topic 7: Social Work Practice in various settings:
• Family
• Child and Youth welfare
• Industry
• Older Persons
• Persons with Disabilities
• Environment
• Women and Welfare
• Healthcare and Disaster Management.
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Unit II: Society, Human Behavior and Communities.
Topic 1: Sociological Concepts :
• Social Structure
• Social Institutions and Social Groups
• Socialization
• Social Control and Social Change.
Topic 2: Approaches to the study of Society:
• Functionalist
• Conflict/Dialectical
• Structuralism and Post Modernism.
Topic 3: Social System and Stratification:
• Major Social Systems (Family and Religion)
• Social Stratification : Marxist, Functionalist and Weberian approach.
Topic 4: Human Behavior :
• Normal and Abnormal Behaviour Determinants and Life span perspective of Human Development
• Development Tasks and Hazards during Pre Natal Period, Infancy, Babyhood, Childhood, Puberty, Adolescence and Adulthood.
Topic 5: Theories of Personality :
• Psycho Analytic Theory of Personality
• Behavioral theories and Humanistic theories.
Topic 6: Social Psychology:
• Social Perception
• Attitude formation, Change and Measurement
• Communication and Theories of Collective Behavior.
Topic 7: Type of Communities:
• Rural
• Urban
• Tribal and Virtual Communities and various Vulnerable Groups/ sections viz. Women , Child , Aged, Dalits etc; Caste and Class – Their Characteristics.
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Unit III: Social Work with Individuals and Groups.
Topic 1: Basic Social Case Work Concepts :
• Social Roles
• Social Functioning
• Need Assessment
• Adaptation
• Social environment
• Person-in-Environment Fit
• Principles and Components.
Topic 2: Approaches to Social Case Work Practice :
• Diagnostic and Functional Approach
• Problem Solving
• Task Centered and Radical Approach.
Topic 3: Process and Techniques of Social Case Work:
• Phases of Case Work Intervention
• Tecniques of Case Work Intervention
• Principles of Interviewing and Case Work Recording.
Topic 4: Social Group Work :
• Definition
• Characteristics
• Functions and Group Structure
• Classification of Groups and making of Social Groups
• Issues of Identity, Diversity and Marginalization.
Topic 5: Social Group Work Process and Group Dynamics :
• Principles
• Determinants
• Indicators and Outcomes
• Decision making and Problem Solving Process
• Theories of Leadership
• Roles and Responsibilities of Group Leaders.
Topic 6: Group Development :
• Stages of Group Work
• Techniques and Skills in Group Work
• Group Climate
• Communication in Groups
• Use of Programme Media and Group Work Recording, Monitoring and Evaluation.
Topic 7: Practice Sites of Social Case Work and Social Group Work :
• Client Groups and various settings (Children, Correctional, Health, Women, Persons with Disabilities, Older Persons, Oppressed Groups, Religious Minorities, Persons who are Gay & Lesbian and other Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups)
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Unit IV: Social Work with Communities and Social Action.
Topic 1: Community Organization – Concept , Definition , Scope and Historical Perspective in India, UK, and USA, The Role of Community-Based Organizations, Human Capital & Social Capital.
Topic 2: Process of Community Organization:
• Steps in Community Organization
• Methods
• Principles
• Skills
• Assumptions
• Record Maintaince
• Involving NGOs in Community Organization.
Topic 3: Approaches in Community Organization Practice – Models , Strategies, The role of CommunityBased Organizations, Leadership Development and Leaders, Building Partnerships and coalitions.
Topic 4: Social Action and Social Movements:
• Concept
• History
• Social Action as a Method of Social Work.
Topic 5: Models of Social Action:
• Conscientisation model of Paulo Freire
• Role of ideology
• Saul Alinsky as a radical community organizer
• Liberation Theology.
Topic 6: Social Movements:
• Origin
• Nature
• Types of Movements
• Theories of Movement and new Social Movements
Topic 7: Social Movements, Social Action and Social Change:
• Movement Analysis : Ideology, Structure, Leadership, Process and Outcomes
• Analysis of ideology and approach of (Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Frantz Fanon)
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Unit V: Research in Social Work : Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches.
Topic 1: Section A : Quantitative Research
Topic 2: Basics of Social Science Research :
• Meaning of Research
• Social Science and Social Work Research : Meaning, Nature and Scope.
Topic 3: Steps in Social Science Research :
• Identifications and Formulations of Research Problem
• Literature Review
• Objectives and Hypothesis Formulation
• Research Design
• Sample Design
• Sources, Methods and Tools of Data Collection
• Processing and Analysis of Data and Writing Research Reports including Presentations and Styles of References, Citing and Paraphrasing.
Topic 4: Basic Statistical concepts :
• Process of statistical Enquiry and dealing with Descriptive and Inferential Statistical Methods
• Parametric and Nonparametric Tests.
Topic 5: Section B : Qualitative Research
Topic 6: Qualitative Research :
• Meaning
• Basic tenets of Qualitative Research
• Difference between Quantitative and Qualitative Approach to Research in social Work.
Topic 7: Designing Qualitative Research:
• Steps
• Methods of Qualitative Research (Field study, Case Study, Focus Group Discussions, Narratives, Observation and Theoretic Research)
Topic 8: Managing Qualitative Data :
• Procedures and Techniques of Analyzing Qualitative Data and Report Writing.
Topic 9: Section C :
Topic 10: Mixed Method Research :
• Components of Mixed Methods
• Procedures of Combing Quantitative and Qualitative research.
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Unit VI: Administration, Welfare and Development Services.
Topic 1: Social Welfare Administration :
• Meaning
• History
• Principles
• Nature and Type of Organizations.
Topic 2: Types of Administration :
• Distinction between Social Welfare Administration, Public administration and Social Security administrations.
Topic 3: Registration of Welfare Agencies:
• Laws relating to Societies, Trust and Non – Profit organizations
• Challenges
Topic 4: Structure of Social Welfare Administration :
• Service Providers
• Administrative structures (Government and Non – Government)
• Organization and Management of Institutional Welfare Services.
Topic 5: Components of Administration :
• Planning
• Coordination
• Staff Recruitment, Training and Development
• Recording and Documentation
• Budgeting
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Networking and Maintaining Public Relations.
Topic 6: Strategies and Mechanisms ofAdministration:
• Role of Social Workers in Decision Making Process
• Communication
• Role Description and Functioning
• Sustainability of Programmes.
Topic 7: Fund raising and Resource Mobilization:
• Grant-in-aid (Principles and Procedures)
• Resource Mobilization
• Financial Administration and Social Marketing – Process and Models.
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Unit VII: Social Policy, Planning and Social Development.
Topic 1: Social Policy :
• Concept
• Goals
• Scope
• Context and Models of Social Policy and applicability in Indian context.
Topic 2: Historical Development:
• Evolution and Historical perspective of various Policies
• Implementation of Social Policies especially for Marginalized and Vulnerable sections of the society.
Topic 3: Process of Policy Formulation :
• Determinants and Steps
• Approaches to Social Policy formulation
• Impact of changing Political Scenerio in a country.
Topic 4: Social Planning:
• Concept
• Objectives
• Scope
• Models
• Interrelationship between Social and Economic Planning
• Social Planning in India.
Topic 5: Five Year Plans:
• Changes in Social Planning with Five Years Plans in India
• Social Planning and Social Change
• Factors leading to development of planning in India.
• Roles and functions of Niti Aayog.
Topic 6: Social Development:
• Positive and Negative Dimensions of Social Development
• Concept, Models and Theories
• Historical and Social Context of Development in India
Topic 7: Sustainable Development:
• Concept
• Strategies
• Critical issues
• Salient Features of Social Development.
• Approaches to Social Development; Similarities and Differences.
• Strategic Development Goals
• Human Development Index and Indicators for Policies and Programmes.
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Unit VIII: Indian Constitution, Social Justice, Human Rights and Social Work Practice.
Topic 1: Indian Constitution:
• Characteristics
• Features
• Preamble
• Directive Principles of State Policy and Articles.
Topic 2: Social Justice:
• Concept
• Definition
• Historical Development
• Dimensions
• Manifestations and Social Justice as a Core value of Social Work Profession.
Topic 3: Social Justice and Leadership:
• Community Building
• Personal and Community Empowerment
• Social Justice and Technology
• Promoting a Plan and Vision for Change
• Reflections and Connection
• Social Reconstructions
• Paradigms, Policies, Privileges
• Implications of Social Justice for Policy Formulation.
Topic 4: Instrument of Social Justice:
• Constitutional Base and Indian Legal System
• Legal and Public Advocacy
• Role of Civil Society as a Pressure group
• Statutory bodies.
Topic 5: History of Human Rights:
• Concept and Historical Context of Human Rights
• Human Rights Declarations, Treaties and Conventions
• Human Rights and Protection Systems
• Human Rights in the Indian Context.
Topic 6: Human Rights and Social Work:
• Code of Ethics of Social work and Protection of Human Rights
• Human Rights perspective in Social Work Practice
• Ethnic sensitive practice
• Feminist Practice
• Social Work with Diverse Groups.
Topic 7: Violation of Human Rights and Social work practice:
• Social Work with the Victims of Human Rights Violations and Human Rights Activism.
• Role of UNHCR, National Human Rights Commission and International Human Rights Agencies.
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Unit IX: Areas of Social Work Practice I.
Topic 1: (Health Care Social Work Practice, Social Work with Older Persons and Persons with Disabilities, Gender, Labour Welfare, Industrial Relations, Personnel Management and Human Resource Management)
Topic 2: Medical Social Work and Psychiatric Social Work:
• Concept
• Evolution
• Roles
• Functions / Responsibilities of Medical Social Workers and Psychiatric Social Workers.
Topic 3: Mental Health and Disease:
• Normal and abnormal behaviour
• Epidemiology
• Etiology
• Types
• Clinical Manifestation and Management of Schizophrenia, Mood Disorders, Neurotic Disorders, stress related Disorders, Somatoform Disorders
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Problems
• Legislations related to Mental Health.
Topic 4: Theories of Aging and Vulnerability:
• Psychological and Sociological Theories of Aging
• Psychological, Social, Physical needs and problems of Older Persons.
• Rights of Older Persons against Neglect, Abuse, Violence and Abandonment and Social Work Interventions.
Topic 5: Persons with Disabilities:
• Models of Disability
• Disability Movement – Historical Perspective
• National and International Milestones from Welfare to Right based Approach
• Legislative Measures and Social Work Interventions.
Topic 6: Gender and Development:
• Expressions of Gender Disparity in Education, Health, Property, Employment and Livelihood, Decision Making
• Feminization of Poverty and Manifestations of Gender based Violence.
• Constitutional & Legislative Safeguards and Social work Interventions.
Topic 7: Labour Welfare & Human Resource Management (HRM):
• Historical background of Industrial Development as a sub-system of society
• Concept of Labour Welfare
• Nature
• Objectives
• Principles
• Theories
• Principles of labour welfare
• Labour Legislations
• Human Resource management : Concept, Scope, Evolution, Theories, Models, Sub-systems
• Human Resources Development (HRD) – Performance Management System, Types, Six Sigma, ISO, Total Quality Management
• Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) – Concept, Issues, Practices, Models, Components, Approaches and Corporate Governance.
Topic 8: Personnel Management and Industrial Relations:
• Concept
• Definition
• Objectives
• Scope.
• Functions
• Determinants and Reflectors of Industrial Relations
• Models of Industrial Relations
• Globalization and Industry
• International Labour Organization(ILO) Role, Functions
• Collective Bargaining
• Job Analysis
• Manpower Planning
• Organization Behaviour and Organization Development Interventions.
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Unit X: Areas of Social Work Practice II.
Topic 1: (Social Defence and Correctional Services, Social Work with Families and Children, Environment and Social Work, Social Work and Disaster Management)
Topic 2: Social Defence:
• Concept
• Philosophy and Changing Dimensions
• Children in Need of Care and Protection
• Juveniles in Conflict with law
• Street and Working Children and Young Offenders
• Probation and Parole.
• Emerging issues in Social Defence.
Topic 3: Legislations and Criminal Justice System:
• Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000
• Immoral Traffic prevention Act 1986
• Probation of Offenders Act, 1958
• Beggary Prevention Act
• Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act 1986
• Prison Act
• and Criminal Justice System.
Topic 4: Social Work with Families:
• Functions
• Developmental Stages and Family patterns
• Family Dynamics and Theoretical Models of Family Functioning (Circumflex model, Mc Master Model and Structural Model) and Social Work Interventions.
Topic 5: Child Development:
• Concept
• Philosophy and Historical context
• State of Children in India – Demographic Profile, Education, and Protection
Topic 6: Policies & Programmes for Children:
• Constitutional Provisions
• National Policy on Children
• International perspective and UN convention an rights of children
• Programmes and Legislative Measures related to Female Feticide, Adoption, Foster Care, Guardianship and Child Marriage and Social Work Interventions.
Topic 7: Environment and Social Work:
• Causes and Consequences
• Differential impact on Women, Poor, Marginalised Groups and Indigenous Populations.
• Environment in the Human Rights Perspective.
• Environmental Movements and social work
• interventions in the management, protection and promotion of the environment.
Topic 8: Social Work and Disaster Management:
• Disaster related concept and Definitions: Hazard, Risk, Vulnerability and Disaster, different forms of natural & manmade disasters.
• Impact of Disaster and Disaster Management Initiatives
• Pre and Post Disaster Interventions.
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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 provided in source]
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SYLLABUS SUMMARY
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Total Units: 10
Total Topics: 66
Subject: Social Work
Subject Code: 10
Exam Category: UGC-NET Paper-II
Source: Official NTA/UGC Syllabus
Status: “As per latest official syllabus”
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