'Putzer' instead of Ritzer, 'Parsow' for Parsons: UGC NET June sociology paper errors spark outrage

UGC NET June 2026 Sociology Exam: After several candidates alleged that around 67 questions in this year's UGC NET 2026 English paper were identical to those from a two-year-old exam, students have now raised concerns over spelling and translation errors in the Sociology paper.

Ritzer is "Putzer", social is "oval", Parsons is "Parsow", Ghurye is "Ghunye", A R Desai is "A K Desai", Nussbaum is "Nusbaut", were some of the errors in the UGC NET Sociology paper conducted on June 30, as claimed by test takers.

Students alleged that the question paper was riddled with several spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and poorly worded questions.

However, there's still no response from the National Testing Agency (NTA), the exam-conducting body, on the claims.

The testing body, NTA, which conducts major national-level entrance exams like NEET, JEE, CUET, and UGC NET, has been facing criticism in recent months.

After allegations of a paper leak in NEET UG 2026 and concerns over the CUET PG result preparation process, the agency is now facing another controversy as candidates reported repeated questions and spelling mistakes in the UGC NET 2026 question papers.

Also read NEET was far from fair even before paper-leak controversies

'Is this some joke?': Student says after translation errors

According to the Press Trust of India reports, a candidate, Antara Chakrabarty, took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), alleging that the said question paper "crossed all limits of academic deceit and accountability".

"Thinkers like 'Ritzer' were replaced as 'Putzer', 'social' was given as 'oval', 'Parsons' as 'Parsow', 'Ghurye' as 'Ghunye', A R Desai as 'A K Desai', 'Nussbaum' as 'Nusbaut' and many more," the post on X read.

Chakraborty said the Hindi translation of the questions was framed as "if translated by a five-year-old".

"Students could not even understand the questions, let alone attempt them. Half the time went in literally making sense of what nonsense was scribbled in the name of a paper like NET, which is literally supposed to make you eligible for Assistant Professor or PhD admissions. Is this some joke?" she asked.

Also read NEET UG 2026 Re-Exam: 20 Goa candidates denied extra 15 minutes at centre, demand inquiry

Typo errors not unusual, says NTA

According to the India Today report, NTA sources have responded, saying that typographical errors are "not unusual."

"We came to know about the matter through media reports and social media, and we are looking into it. So far, we have not received any complaints from students," NTA told India Today.

NTA conducts the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) to determine candidates' eligibility for the post of assistant professor and for admission to PhD programmes. Read More | Under NTA, UGC NET a ‘general knowledge test’ – rewards rote learning, not analytical skills

UGC NET Sociology Paper: Filled with arbitrary questions

Another X user also criticised the UGC NET sociology paper, alleging that it was "filled with spelling errors, arbitrary questions, and the omission of many foundational sociological thinkers in favour of content that appeared outside the prescribed syllabus".

The user criticised the inclusion of a question asking candidates to arrange former education ministers in chronological order, arguing that such questions do not meaningfully assess critical thinking skills.

Also read After NEET row, NTA faces fresh controversy over repeated UGC NET English questions

UGC NET 2026 English paper with repeated questions

Meanwhile, several candidates alleged that 67 of the 150 questions in the English paper had been repeated from the UGC NET exam 2024.

As per several media reports, even the order of the answer options remained the same, candidates alleged, raising questions about the quality of the question paper and the fairness of the exam.

UGC NET 2026 consists of two papers: Paper 2, which includes 50 questions on teaching aptitude, reasoning ability, and general awareness, and Paper 2, which contains 100 subject-related multiple-choice questions.

Also read SFI demands Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, scrapping of NTA

UGC NET plagued by serious lapses, SFI says

According to the Students' Federation of India (SFI) statement, the students' group has strongly condemned the "gross irregularities" that have marred the UGC NET June 2026 exam, yet again exposing the NTA's inability to conduct fair, transparent, and credible examinations.

"From repeated paper leaks and technical glitches to arbitrary cancellations and poorly designed examinations, the agency has consistently failed to uphold the confidence of students and the standards of public examinations," the SFI statement said.

The Central Executive Committee of SFI has reiterated its demand to scrap the NTA and sack Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

SFI has demanded an immediate inquiry into the irregularities reported in the UGC NET June 2026 exam and a clarification regarding the large-scale repetition of questions across multiple subjects.