100+ Free UGC NET Defence & Strategic Studies Practice Questions

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Key Facts: UGC NET Defence & Strategic Studies Exam

100 MCQs

Paper 2 questions in Defence & Strategic Studies

NTA UGC NET Exam Pattern

+2 / 0

No negative marking for incorrect options

UGC NET Marking Scheme

Subject 11

Official NTA Subject Code for Defence Studies

UGC NET Subject Codes

180 min

Combined duration for Paper 1 & Paper 2

NTA Guidelines

UGC NET Defence & Strategic Studies (Subject Code 11) features 100 MCQs (200 marks) in a continuous 3-hour CBT alongside Paper 1. Marking is +2 / 0 (no negatives). Covers strategic thought, national security, defence economics, nuclear proliferation, and conflict resolution.

Sample UGC NET Defence & Strategic Studies Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your UGC NET Defence & Strategic Studies exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which of the following is considered a primary, tangible element of a nation-state's national power?

A.Geographical size and location

B.National morale

C.Diplomatic skill

D.Ideological unity

Explanation: Geography (including size, shape, climate, topography, and location) is a classic tangible, physically measurable element of national power, as argued by realists like Hans Morgenthau. Unlike intangible elements, geographic features are concrete and change very slowly over time.

2What is the primary objective of the 'Balance of Power' mechanism in international relations?

A.To establish a single world government

B.To prevent any single state from becoming dominant enough to dictate terms to others

C.To promote free trade and economic integration

D.To dismantle all military alliances

Explanation: The Balance of Power mechanism is designed to prevent any single state from achieving hegemony or dominance over the system. By forming alliances and building capabilities, states seek to offset a rising power to maintain systemic stability.

3Which international organization was the first to explicitly incorporate 'Collective Security' as its core organizational principle?

A.The United Nations

B.The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

C.The League of Nations

D.The Warsaw Pact

Explanation: The League of Nations, established in 1920 after World War I, was the first international organization explicitly based on the principle of collective security. This principle assumes that an attack on any member state is an attack on all, requiring a collective response.

4In the context of nuclear deterrence, what does 'second-strike capability' signify?

A.The ability to launch a preemptive strike that completely destroys the enemy's nuclear arsenal

B.The deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in the battlefield

C.The use of anti-ballistic missile systems to intercept incoming warheads

D.The ability to survive an initial nuclear attack and respond with a devastating retaliatory strike

Explanation: Second-strike capability is the ability of a state to absorb a first nuclear strike from an adversary and still launch a retaliatory nuclear strike. This capability is considered the cornerstone of stable nuclear deterrence and Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD).

5Hans Morgenthau identified which of the following as a highly stable, yet constantly changing and crucial factor of national power?

A.Industrial capacity

B.Geography

C.Natural resources

D.National character

Explanation: In his classic text 'Politics Among Nations', Morgenthau identifies industrial capacity as a key factor of national power. It is relatively stable compared to morale but is constantly changing due to technological innovation, transforming raw natural resources into military capability.

6The 'Security Dilemma', a concept coined by John Herz, primarily explains how:

A.Democratic states are less likely to go to war with one another

B.A state's attempts to increase its own security decrease the security of other states, leading to an arms race

C.Economic interdependence prevents states from engaging in military conflicts

D.A country's domestic instability inevitably leads to external aggression

Explanation: The security dilemma is a structural realist concept showing that in an anarchic system, one state's defensive actions to enhance its security are perceived as offensive by neighbors. The neighbors then build up their forces, reducing overall security for all.

7Which of the following best defines the concept of 'Extended Deterrence'?

A.Deterring an adversary using cyber warfare capabilities instead of conventional forces

B.Deterring an adversary from launching space-based weapons

C.Deterring an adversary from attacking a third state that is an ally of the deterring power

D.Increasing the physical range of ballistic missiles to deter distant adversaries

Explanation: Extended deterrence is a commitment by a state (typically nuclear-armed) to protect its allies by extending its security umbrella to deter attacks on them. A classic example is the US nuclear umbrella extending to NATO allies.

8The concept of 'Comprehensive National Power' (CNP) is a strategic metric developed primarily by which country to evaluate its global standing?

A.United States

B.India

C.Russia

D.China

Explanation: Comprehensive National Power (CNP) is a Chinese conceptual framework developed by strategic institutes since the 1980s. It measures a state's total power across military, economic, technological, political, and cultural domains, using quantitative indices.

9In his analysis of power, which classical realist thinker argued that the quest for power is rooted in the biological drive of human nature ('animus dominandi')?

A.Hans Morgenthau

B.Kenneth Waltz

C.John Mearsheimer

D.Thomas Hobbes

Explanation: Hans Morgenthau, in his foundational work 'Politics Among Nations', argued that the drive to dominate (animus dominandi) is inherent in human nature. He asserts that this biological drive translates into states seeking power in international politics.

10In game-theoretic models of deterrence, what does the 'Stability-Instability Paradox' propose?

A.A balance of conventional forces makes nuclear war highly stable

B.Nuclear stability at the strategic level increases the likelihood of conventional and minor conflicts

C.Economic stability increases political instability in developing states

D.Disarmament efforts lead to structural instability in military alliances

Explanation: Coined by Glenn Snyder, the stability-instability paradox states that when two nuclear-armed states achieve strategic nuclear stability (making nuclear war highly unlikely due to MAD), they feel safer engaging in conventional, proxy, or minor conflicts (instability) without fearing nuclear escalation.

About the UGC NET Defence & Strategic Studies Exam

UGC NET Defence and Strategic Studies (Subject Code 11) is a national-level eligibility test conducted twice a year by the NTA. It determines the eligibility of Indian candidates for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and/or for appointment as Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges. The Paper 2 exam consists of 100 subject-specific multiple-choice questions (carrying 2 marks each, total 200 marks) based on the comprehensive 10-unit syllabus. The test is computer-based, running continuously alongside Paper 1 for 180 minutes. There is no negative marking, and candidates are tested on strategic thought, war theories, national security, defence economics, and emerging technological challenges.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

180 minutes (3 hours) for both papers combined

Passing Score

40% aggregate for General (35% for reserved categories); JRF/Assistant Professor cut-offs by percentile

Exam Fee

INR 1150 (General); INR 600 (EWS/OBC-NCL); INR 325 (SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender) (National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC))

UGC NET Defence & Strategic Studies Exam Content Outline

10%

Theories and Concepts

Defence studies assumptions, nation-state concept, national power elements (tangible and intangible), national security, deterrence, balance of power, collective security

10%

Strategic Thought

Classical and contemporary strategic thinkers: Kautilya, Sun Tzu, Machiavelli, Clausewitz, Jomini, Liddell Hart, Mahan, Douhet, Mackinder, Mao Zedong, Che Guevara

10%

War and International Relations

War as an instrument of policy, theories of conflict, evolution of warfare (from conventional to asymmetric and proxy war), international relations and security, diplomacy

10%

Weapons of Mass Destruction and Nuclear Proliferation

Nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, nuclear deterrence concepts, NPT, CTBT, disarmament initiatives, India's nuclear doctrine

10%

Global Security Concerns

Cold War and post-Cold War security dynamics, regional conflicts (Middle East, South Asia, South China Sea), military alliances (NATO, Warsaw Pact), UN peacekeeping

10%

India’s Security Policies and Concerns

India's security strategy, defence policy, challenges from Pakistan and China, border disputes, internal security challenges (Naxal insurgency, terrorism, J&K)

10%

Conflict Resolution

Theories and methods of conflict management, conflict transformation, peace-building, track-two diplomacy, peace movements, role of NGOs

10%

Disaster Management and National Security

Disaster management cycle, role of armed forces in relief, human security, environmental security, epidemics, cyber disasters

10%

Defence Economics

Defence budgeting, resource allocation, military-industrial complex, indigenisation, offset policy, impact of defence expenditure on economic growth

10%

Science and Technology in National Security

IT, space security, cyber capabilities, dual-use technology, AI, drones, military R&D, role of DRDO

How to Pass the UGC NET Defence & Strategic Studies Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 40% aggregate for General (35% for reserved categories); JRF/Assistant Professor cut-offs by percentile
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 180 minutes (3 hours) for both papers combined
Exam fee: INR 1150 (General); INR 600 (EWS/OBC-NCL); INR 325 (SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender)

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

UGC NET Defence & Strategic Studies Study Tips from Top Performers

1Develop a strong foundation in classical strategic thought, particularly the theories of Kautilya, Sun Tzu, Clausewitz, and Mahan, as these are heavily tested.

2Track recent developments in India's defence partnerships, space programmes (like Mission Shakti), cyber defence structures (like CDSA), and military modernization projects.

3Understand the key components of India's Nuclear Doctrine and the historical treaties like NPT, CTBT, PTBT, and outer space treaties.

4Focus on defence economics concepts like the Defence Budgeting process (Revenue vs Capital expenditure) and India's Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP).

5Solve previous years' question papers to grasp how conceptual units like Conflict Resolution and Theories of War are translated into multiple-choice questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UGC NET Defence and Strategic Studies exam pattern in 2026?

The exam is a computer-based test consisting of two papers. Paper 1 has 50 questions (100 marks) on general teaching and research aptitude. Paper 2 has 100 questions (200 marks) specifically on Defence and Strategic Studies. The total duration is 180 minutes without any break, and there is no negative marking.

What is the qualification eligibility for UGC NET Defence Studies?

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Defence & Strategic Studies, Military Studies, War Studies, or a related allied field with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD/Transgender). Those in the final year of their Master's degree are also eligible to apply provisionally.

Is there negative marking in UGC NET Defence and Strategic Studies?

No, there is no negative marking in UGC NET. Candidates get +2 marks for each correct response and 0 marks for incorrect or unattempted questions.

What is the age limit for UGC NET JRF in 2026?

For Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), the upper age limit is 30 years as of June 1, 2026. A relaxation of up to 5 years is provided to women, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD, and candidates with research experience. There is no upper age limit for applying for Assistant Professor eligibility only.

What are the passing criteria for UGC NET Defence Studies?

Candidates must secure an aggregate of at least 40% marks in both papers combined (Paper 1 and Paper 2) for the General category, and 35% marks for reserved categories. To qualify for Assistant Professor or JRF, candidates must also clear the respective subject-wise percentile cut-offs determined by NTA.