UGC NET Human Rights and Duties Syllabus 2025 & Exam Pattern: Free PDF

The UGC NET Human Rights and Duties Syllabus 2025 is an essential component of the UGC NET Syllabus, designed to cater to aspirants aiming to excel in the field of human rights and duties. This comprehensive curriculum encompasses various vital topics, including the theoretical framework of human rights, international and national perspectives, contemporary issues, and the intersection of human rights with various social and political aspects. Candidates pursuing the UGC NET examination can expect to delve into subjects like civil liberties, social justice, environmental rights, gender and minority rights, and the role of various institutions in upholding human rights. With its holistic coverage and relevance to today's world, the UGC NET Human Rights and Duties syllabus 2025 equips aspirants with the necessary knowledge and insights to make meaningful contributions to promoting and safeguarding human rights in society.

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UGC NET Human Rights and Duties Syllabus 2025

Below are the units of UGC NET Human Rights and Duties Syllabus 2025:

• Human Rights and Duties - Concept and Nature
• Origin and Evolution of Human Rights and International Standards
• Society, Economy, Polity, Religion and Culture - Their Inter-Relationship
• State and Individual Liberty
• UN and Various Agencies, Intergovernmental (IGOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs)
• Growth Models and Human Rights
• Development, Underdevelopment and Social Action
• Human Rights and Indian Constitution
• Constitutional Governance
• International Enforcement of Human Rights

UGC NET Human Rights and Duties Syllabus 2025 in Detail

Unit 1: Human Rights and Duties - Concept and Nature

• The Basic Concepts: Individual, Group, State, Non-State Actors, Civil Society, Liberty, Freedom, Equality, Rights, Justice, Human Values: Humanity, Compassion, Virtues, Human Dignity and Human Duties
• Human rights as universal, inherent, inalienable rights and moral rights, Universal human rights vs. Cultural Relativism, Naturalist-Positivists Debate
• Indian Concepts: Raj Neeti, LokNeeti, DandaNeeti, Nyaya, Dharma
• Different Generations of Human Rights
• Liberal Perspective: Locke, Rousseau, Thomas Paine, J.S. Mill, Classical Liberalism, Neo-liberalism
• Marxian Perspective: Marx, Gramsci, Rosa Luxemberg
• Gandhian Perspective (Ruskin, Thoreau, Tolstoy): State, Power, Swaraj, Rights and Duties
• Dalit Perspective: Phule, Narayna Guru, Ambedkar
• Religious Perspectives
• Feminist Perspective

Above are the topics of Unit 1 for UGC NET Human Rights and Duties Syllabus 2025

Unit 2: Origin and Evolution of Human Rights and International Standards

• Human Rights in Ancient Thoughts
• Human Rights in Middle Ages, Magna Carta
• Modern Movement of Human rights, Lockean Philosophy: Theory of Natural Rights, American Declaration of Independence, American Bill of Rights, The French Revolution and its goals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, Marxist Revolutions, Anti-Colonial Movements, Freedom Movement in India
• International Standard Setting—Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
• Impact of the UDHR on the Constitutions of the 'New' States
• International Standards: UN Sponsored or, 'Core' International Conventions on Human Rights: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Convention on the Elimination of ALL Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Convention against Torture, Rights of Child Convention, Convention on the Rights of Migrant workers, Convention against Racial Discrimination (CRD), Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
• State Responsibility for Protection of Human Rights: The Concept of the “Responsibility to Protect”
• Vienna Declaration on Human Rights 1993
• Helsinki Declaration
• ASEAN Declaration

Above are the topics covered in Unit 2 for UGC NET Human Rights and Duties Syllabus 2025

Unit 3: Society, Economy, Polity, Religion and Culture - Their Inter-Relationship 

• Impact of Social Structure on Human Behaviour, Role of Socializations inHuman Values, Human Rights and Duties
• Science and Technology, Modernization, Globalization and Dehumanization
• Social Stratification: Racial and Caste Prejudice and Discrimination, Human Rights Issues of Weaker Sections and Ethnic Minorities
• Women: Gender Discrimination, Domestic Violence and Offences against Women, Gender Sensitive Laws
• Children: Child Abuse, Child Labour, Street Children
• Social Structure and Social Problems: Social and Communal Conflicts and Social Harmony
• Rural Poverty, Unemployment, Bonded Labour, Modern Forms of Slavery
• Urban Poverty, Slums, Lack of Basic Civil Amenities, Sex Workers
• Rights of Refugees, Rights of Indigenous People, Aged Persons, Migrant Workers and Human Rights Violations, Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, Rights of Displaced Persons
• Challenges in Human Rights: Religious Fundamentalism, Terrorism, Underdevelopment, Human trafficking International Crimes

Above are the topics in Unit 3 for UGC NET Human Rights and Duties Syllabus 2025

Unit 4: State and Individual Liberty

• The Changing Nature of State with Special Reference to the Developing Countries
• Soft State, Interventionist State, Welfare State, Repressive State
• Political Regimes and Human Rights 
• Impact of Science and Technology on Human Rights and Duties
• Human Rights andInternational Politics: Emergence of a New Global Order— Tehran Conference (1968)—Vienna Conference (1993)
• International Humanitarian Law: 1949 Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols of 1977—International Red Cross Society
• International Criminal Tribunals(Rwanda and Former Yugoslavia) and the International Criminal Court (ICC)
• International Intervention: The Question ofNation-State, Citizenship and Sovereignty
• Right of Self-Determination: Autonomous Movements, Secessionist Movements
• Grassroots Movements and Human Rights

Above are the topics covered in Unit 4 for UGC NET Human Rights and Duties Syllabus 2025

Unit 5: UN and Various Agencies, Intergovernmental (IGOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs)

• UN: Establishment, Objectives, and the Charter Provisions
• UN Principal Organs: General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, Security Council
• Subsidiary Organ: Human Rights Council
• The Human Rights Council Advisory Committee
• Specialized Agencies: UNICEF, UNESCO, ILO, WHO
• INGOs such as the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Amnesty International (AI), Human Rights Watch, Greenpeace
• People‟s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), People‟s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) and Other Civil and Democratic Rights Organizations in India.
• UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)
• UN Commission on the Status of Women
• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Above are the topics in Unit 5 for UGC NET Human Rights and Duties Syllabus 2025

Unit 6: Growth Models and Human Rights

• Models of Development: Growth Approach, Basic Needs Approach, Sustainable Human Development, Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, 1992, Rio +20, Conservation of Natural Resources, Agenda 21, Bio-Diversity Convention 1992
• Globalization and Human Rights: Dynamics of Globalization, Emergence of Market Forces, Assertion of Civil Society, Retreat ofState, Privatization, Liberalization
• Emergence of Information Age
• Economic Growth Strategies (Developing Countries): Implications for Poverty Eradication, Employment issues, Planned Development and Social Inequality
• World Trade Organization: Implication for Human Rights, Impact on Developing Countries with special reference to India
• Intellectual Property Rights: Patents Law, Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), Trade Related Investment Measures (TRIMS), General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS), Agreement On Agriculture (AOA)
• Transnational Corporations (TNCs) and Human Rights Situation in Developing Countries
• Right to Development: The Third World Concerns, Working Group Recommendations, UNDP—initiatives, UN Declaration on the Right to development
• State and Development of the Marginalized/Disadvantaged Groups in India: The Poor, the Unemployed and the Socially Dislocated People
• Workers‟ Rights, Minimum Wages Act—Problems of Implementation, Right to Security of Food, Health, Education

Above are the topics of Unit 6 for UGC NET Human Rights and Duties Syllabus 2025

Unit 7: Development, Underdevelopment and Social Action

• Need for Collective Action in Developing Societies and Methods of Social Action
• Land, Water and Forest Issues with special reference to India
• Social Movements: Political, Social and Religious Reform
• National Commission for Women, Children, Minorities, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
• Backward Class, Dalit and Women Movements
• Agrarian and Peasant Movements
• Right to a Healthy Environment
• Principle of Sustainable Development
• Ecological and Environment Movements
• Civil Societies and NGOs, NGOs of India

Above are the topics of Unit 7 for UGC NET Human Rights and Duties Syllabus 2025

Unit 8: Human Rights and Indian Constitution

• Indian Civilization: Change and Continuity.
• Indian Constitution: Freedom Movement
• Indian Constitution: Sociological Foundation
• Constitutional Vision of Role of the State
• Constitutional Vision of Freedom: Fundamental Rights and the International standards
• Constitutional Vision of Justice: Directive Principles of State Policy and international standards
• Public Interest Litigation (PIL), Indian Judiciary and Human Rights
• Judicial Interpretations: Landmark JudgmentsFundamental Duties
• Constitutional Amendments
• Fundamental Duties

Above are the topics in Unit 8 for UGC NET Human Rights and Duties Syllabus 2025

Unit 9: Constitutional Governance

• Rule of law, Good Governance
• Constitutional Organs: Inter-and intra-Relationships/Conflict and Cooperation.
• Fundamental Rights and Repressive Laws: Preventive Detention and AntiTerrorist Legislations, Armed Forces Special Power Act
• Imposition of National Emergency: The Societal Experience.
• The Criminal Justice System: Crime, Punishment and Human Rights with Special Reference to IPC &Cr. P.C.and Indian Evidence Act
• Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: The Directive Principles of State Policy: The Question of Effectiveness and Enforcement, their relationship with Fundamental Rights
• Legislation for the Weaker Sections: The Questions of Enforcement
• Law Enforcing Agencies: Police, Military and Para-Military Forces—Emerging Experience
• Human Rights Enforcement: The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, NHRC, State Human Rights Commissions, Human Rights Courts
• Human Rights Education: Problems and Prospects

Above are the topics covered in Unit 9 for UGC NET Human Rights and Duties Syllabus 2025

Unit 10: International Enforcement of Human Rights

• Treaty Bodies under the „Core‟ Human Rights Conventions: General Overview
• “Universal Periodic Review” and “Special Procedures”
• Human Rights Committee (HRC)
• Committee on Economic and Social Rights (CESCR)
• Committee on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women(CEDAW)
• European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)
• Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
• Inter-American Court of Human Rights
• African Commission on Human and Peoples‟ Rights 
• African Court of Justice and Human rights 2008

Above are the topics in Unit 10 for UGC NET Human Rights and Duties Syllabus 2025

Also Read: UGC NET Paper 2 Syllabus

Important Topics in UGC NET Human Rights and Duties Syllabus 2025

Aspiring candidates preparing for the UGC NET Human Rights and Duties exam must be well-versed with the key topics to ensure an effective and focused study approach. The UGC NET Human Rights and Duties syllabus 2025 for this subject is designed to encompass a wide range of critical issues related to human rights and duties, and a thorough understanding of these topics is essential for success in the examination. Below is a list of crucial topics that candidates should prioritize during their preparation:

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
• International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
• Human Rights Institutions and Mechanisms
• Rights of Vulnerable Groups: Women, Children, and Minorities
• Human Rights and Armed Conflicts
• Human Rights and Environment
• Human Rights Education and Awareness
• Human Rights Violations and Remedies
• Role of NGOs and Civil Society in Promoting Human Rights

Also Read: UGC NET Important Topics

UGC NET Human Rights Exam Pattern 2025

Apart from the UGC NET Human Rights and Duties syllabus 2025, one more thing that is very important for the candidates to keep in their mind is the exam pattern. The UGC NET exam pattern will give them all the details regarding the examination like the mode of examination, duration of the examination, number of questions to be asked, total marks of the examination etc. Refer to the table below for the detailed UGC NET Human Rights and Duties exam pattern:

 Also Read: UGC NET Human Rights and Duties Previous Year Question Papers

We hope that this information on UGC NET Human Rights syllabus 2025 will help the candidates to broaden their ideas regarding the UGC NET Human Rights and Duties syllabus. For more updates on the UGC NET examinations, candidates are advised to download the Testbook App.