Everything for UGC NET Statistics, subject code 107. The December 2026 notification is awaited, expected around late September or early October 2026.
UGC NET Statistics at a Glance
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination | UGC NET |
| Subject | Statistics |
| Subject Code | 107 |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency, for UGC |
| Mode | Computer Based Test |
| Paper 1 | 50 questions, 100 marks, common to all subjects |
| Paper 2, Statistics | 100 questions, 200 marks |
| Total | 150 questions, 300 marks |
| Duration | 3 hours, no break between papers |
| Question Type | Multiple choice only |
| Negative Marking | None |
| Paper 2 Units | 10 |
| Sessions per year | Two, June and December |
| Eligibility | Master’s with 55 percent, 50 percent for reserved categories |
Start Here
Statistics Syllabus
All ten units of the Paper 2 Statistics syllabus in detail, plus a clear comparison showing what UGC NET Statistics contains that GATE ST and IIT JAM MS do not.
Read: UGC NET Statistics Syllabus
Previous Year Papers
UGC NET Statistics question papers with official NTA answer keys, session by session. Free download.
Download: UGC NET Statistics Previous Year Papers
Books
Unit wise book recommendations, including the econometrics, time series, sampling and design of experiments books that most Statistics book lists leave out entirely.
Read: Best Books for UGC NET Statistics
Paper 1
Common to every subject and worth 100 of the 300 marks, with exactly 10 marks from each of its ten units.
Read: UGC NET Paper 1 Syllabus
Notification, Dates and Pattern
The Ten Units of Paper 2
| Unit | Title |
|---|---|
| I | Probability and Distributions |
| II | Real Analysis and Matrix Algebra |
| III | Sampling Methods and Design of Experiments |
| IV | Estimation Theory |
| V | Testing of Hypotheses |
| VI | Linear Estimation, Regression Analysis and Econometrics |
| VII | Time Series |
| VIII | Multivariate Analysis |
| IX | Stochastic Processes |
| X | Indian Statistical System and Research Methodology |
The Widest Statistics Syllabus of the Three
This is the most useful thing we can tell a student who is already preparing GATE ST or IIT JAM MS.
UGC NET Statistics is substantially wider than either of them. The overlap is real, but the gaps are large, and a student who assumes their GATE preparation covers UGC NET will be caught out.
Topics in UGC NET Statistics that appear in neither GATE ST nor JAM MS:
| Unit | Topics unique to UGC NET Statistics |
|---|---|
| III | Sampling methods: simple random, stratified, systematic, cluster, sampling with varying probabilities, ratio and regression estimation, double sampling |
| III | Design of experiments: ANOVA, completely randomised design, randomised block design, Latin square design, factorial experiments, confounding, balanced incomplete block designs |
| V | Wald’s sequential probability ratio test, operating characteristic and average sample number |
| VI | Econometrics: multicollinearity, heteroscedasticity, autocorrelation, Durbin Watson test, logistic regression, simultaneous equations, two stage least squares, k class estimator |
| VII | Time series entirely: ACVF, ACF, PACF, ARMA, ARIMA, Yule Walker equations, spectral density, periodogram |
| VIII | Discriminant analysis, principal component analysis, canonical correlation analysis |
| IX | Gambler’s ruin problem, simple random walk, M and M and 1 queues |
| X | Indian Statistical System and R programming |
Three of these are entire units. Unit III, Unit VII and Unit X have essentially no counterpart in GATE ST or JAM MS, and together they account for a significant portion of the paper.
See the full unit wise comparison
Unit X Overlaps With UPSC ISS
Unit X covers the Indian Statistical System, including the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the National Statistical Commission, the National Statistics Office, census and large sample surveys, and the contributions of P C Mahalanobis, P V Sukhatme, R C Bose, S N Roy and C R Rao.
If you have prepared the Official Statistics component of UPSC ISS, you have already covered a meaningful part of this unit. It is worth checking your ISS notes before starting Unit X from scratch.
See our UPSC ISS Official Statistics guide
R Programming Is in the Syllabus
Unit X also includes a Research Methodology component built around R software: R as a calculator, functions and matrix operations, built in functions, missing data and logical operators, conditional executions and loops, data management with sequences, repeats, sorting, ordering and strings, lists, factors, display and formatting, data frames, data input and output, graphics and plots, and the basics of programming with scripts and functions.
This is unusual for a Statistics entrance examination and it catches candidates out. It is examined as knowledge of R syntax and behaviour rather than as a practical coding exercise, so the preparation is closer to memorising how specific functions behave than to writing programs.
No Negative Marking Changes Your Strategy
Every question in UGC NET carries two marks. An incorrect answer costs nothing. An unanswered question earns nothing.
Attempt all 150 questions. If you are coming from GATE or IIT JAM preparation, this reverses a habit those examinations spend months building. Unlearn it deliberately.
With a syllabus this wide, that rule matters even more. You will not know every topic in depth. Broad familiarity across ten units plus a willingness to attempt everything beats deep mastery of six units and blanks elsewhere.
A Preparation Sequence That Works
| Phase | What to Cover |
|---|---|
| 1 | Units I and II, probability, distributions, real analysis and matrix algebra |
| 2 | Units IV and V, estimation and testing of hypotheses |
| 3 | Unit VI, regression and econometrics |
| 4 | Unit III, sampling methods and design of experiments |
| 5 | Unit VII, time series |
| 6 | Units VIII and IX, multivariate analysis and stochastic processes |
| 7 | Unit X, Indian Statistical System and R |
| Throughout | Paper 1, in parallel, one unit at a time |
Units III, VII and X are placed deliberately. They are the units with no GATE or JAM equivalent, so most students have no existing material for them and consistently run out of time. Start them earlier than instinct suggests.
Run Paper 1 alongside from day one rather than saving it for the end. It carries 100 marks and needs perhaps forty hours in total, spread out.
Practice. Improve. Repeat.
Ten units, 150 questions, 180 minutes, no break and no negative marking. UGC NET rewards coverage attempted at speed, and that is built through timed practice rather than reading.
Preparing for More Than One Examination?
Many of our students target two or three. Here is the honest picture.
| UGC NET Statistics | GATE ST | IIT JAM MS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Assistant Professor, JRF, PhD | PG and PhD admission | Master’s admission |
| Eligibility | Master’s | Bachelor’s | Bachelor’s |
| Negative marking | None | Yes | Yes, Section A |
| Sampling and design of experiments | Yes | No | No |
| Econometrics | Yes | No | No |
| Time series | Yes | No | No |
| Indian Statistical System | Yes | No | No |
| Multivariate analysis | Yes | Yes | Bivariate normal only |
| Stochastic processes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the subject code for Statistics in UGC NET?
Statistics is subject code 107.
How many units are in the UGC NET Statistics syllabus?
Ten units in Paper 2, plus the ten units of Paper 1 which are common to all subjects.
How many marks is UGC NET Statistics?
Paper 2 Statistics carries 200 marks across 100 questions. With Paper 1 at 100 marks, the total is 300 marks across 150 questions in three hours.
Is there negative marking in UGC NET Statistics?
No. There is no negative marking in either paper.
Is time series in the UGC NET Statistics syllabus?
Yes. Unit VII covers time series entirely, including autocovariance and autocorrelation functions, PACF, stationarity, ARMA and ARIMA models, Yule Walker equations, spectral density and periodogram analysis.
Is R programming in the UGC NET Statistics syllabus?
Yes. Unit X includes a research methodology component built around R software, covering functions, matrix operations, data management, data frames, graphics and the basics of programming.
Is UGC NET Statistics harder than GATE Statistics?
They are difficult in different ways. UGC NET has a much wider syllabus with ten units including sampling, design of experiments, econometrics and time series. GATE ST goes deeper on statistical inference and has negative marking. UGC NET rewards breadth, GATE rewards depth.
All UGC NET Statistics Articles
View all UGC NET Statistics posts