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GATE Syllabus for Humanities and Social Science (XH) 2023: Important Topics, Exam Pattern, Question Papers and Books

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All the questions in the GATE Syllabus for Humanities and Social Sciences 2023 are of the graduation level. The authorities have released GATE Syllabus for Humanities and Social Science on their official website. The students from humanities background need to select any one of the subjects from English, Philosophy, Economics, Linguistics, Psychology, and Sociology depending on their qualifying degree for GATE XH paper. Also Check GATE Eligibility 2023

GATE Humanities and Social Science 2023 consists of three sections namely- General Aptitude (GA), Reasoning Comprehension (B1) and one core subject. The students are advised to practice as many mock tests as possible to ace GATE 2023.

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GATE XH Syllabus

GATE Syllabus for Humanities and Social Science (XH) 2023

Given below is the syllabus for GATE Humanities and Social Sciences papers, section wise - 

General Aptitude Syllabus for GATE Humanities and Social Sciences(GA)

Verbal Ability Numerical Ability
English grammar; Sentence completion, Instructions; Verbal analogies, Word groups; Critical reasoning, Verbal deduction.  Numerical computation; Numerical reasoning; Numerical estimation; Data interpretation. 

GATE Reasoning and Comprehensions Syllabus (XH-B1)

Reasoning and Comprehensions section is a mandatory section for all GATE Humanities and Social Sciences applicants. It tests the candiate’s ability of critical reasoning and analysis of the text instead of directly testing the language competence in terms of grammar and vocabulary. 

Sections Topic Name
Section 1 Reading Comprehension 
Section 2 Expression
Section 3 Analytical reasoning
Section 4 Logical reasoning

Download GATE Reasoning & Comprehension Syllabus with Sample Questions

GATE Economics Syllabus (XH-C1)

Sections Topic Name
Section 1 Microeconomics
Section 2 Macroeconomics
Section 3 Statistics, Econometrics and Mathematical Economics
Section 4 International Economics
Section 5 Public Economics
Section 6 Development Economics
Section 7 Indian Economy

Download GATE Economics Syllabus with Sample Questions

GATE English Syllabus (XH-C2)

Sections Topic Name
Section 1 Multi-genre literature in English—poetry, the novel and other forms of fiction including the short story, drama, creative nonfiction, and non-fiction prose—with emphasis on the long 19th and 20th centuries
Section 2 Especially in a comparative context, anglophone and in English translation, literature from India and, extending to some degree, the larger Indian subcontinent
Section 3 Literary criticism and theory; critical and cultural intellectual-traditions and approaches widely referred to and used in the discipline of English
Section 4 History of English literature and English literary studies
Section 5 Research approaches and methodologies, including interpretive techniques responsive to literary forms, devices, concepts, and genres

Download GATE English Syllabus with Sample Questions

GATE Linguistics Syllabus (XH-C3)

Sections Topic Name
Section 1 Language and Linguistics
Section 2 Phonetics and Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics and Pragmatics
Section 3 Historical Linguistics
Section 4 Sociolinguistics
Section 5 Areal Typology, Universals, Cross-linguistic Features
Section 6 Methods of analysis
Section 7 Applied Linguistics

Download GATE Linguistics Syllabus with Sample Questions

GATE Philosophy Syllabus (XH-C4)

Sections Topic Name
Section 1 Classical Indian Philosophy – Orthodox Systems: Sānkhya, Heterodox Systems: Cārvāka, Upaniṣads, Bhagavadgītā, and Dharmaśāstras, Kāṣmira Śaivism, Śaivasiddhānta, Vīra Śaivism, Śāktism and Vaiṣṇavism
Section 2 Contemporary Indian Philosophy – Vivekananda
Section 3 Classical and Modern Western Philosophy – Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy, Logic
Section 4 Contemporary Western Philosophy

Download GATE Philosophy Syllabus with Sample Questions

GATE Psychology Syllabus (XH-C5)

Sections Topic Name
Section 1 Research Methods and Statistics
Section 2 Psychometrics: Foundations of Psychological measurement; Basic components
Section 3 Biological and evolutionary basis of behaviour
Section 4 Perception, Learning, Memory and Forgetting
Section 5 Cognition: Thinking, Intelligence and Language
Section 6 Personality: Theories of personality
Section 7 Motivation, Emotion and Stress and Coping
Section 8 Social psychology, Development across the life span, Applications of Psychology

Download GATE Psychology Syllabus with Sample Questions

GATE Sociology Syllabus (XH-C6)

Sections Topic Name
Section 1 Sociological Theory
Section 2 Research Methodology and Methods
Section 3 Sociological Concepts
Section 4 Agrarian Sociology and Rural Transformation
Section 5 Family, Marriage and Kinship
Section 6 Indian Society / Sociology of India
Section 7 Social Movements
Section 8 Sociology of Development

Download GATE Sociology Syllabus with Sample Questions

GATE XH Exam Pattern

GATE Exam Pattern for Humanities and Social Science (XH) 2023 

  • Mode of Examination: Online
  • Duration of exam: 3 hours
  • Type of questions: MCQs, MSQs, & NATs 
  • Total Sections: 3 sections i.e. General Aptitude, Reasoning and Comprehension, Subject-based
  • Total questions: 65
  • Total marks: 100 marks
  • Negative marking: for MCQs only
XH Paper Sections Code Marks
Reasoning and Comprehension GA 15
General Aptitude B1 25
Any one optional subject
Economics C1 60
English C2
Linguistics C3
Philosophy C4
Psychology C5
Sociology C6

GATE Humanities and Social Science (XH) Marking Scheme 2023

Type of question Negative marking for wrong answer
MCQ 1/3 for 1 mark questions 2/3 for 2 marks questions
NAT/MSQ No negative marking 

Check Detailed GATE 2023 Exam Pattern

GATE XH Preparation

GATE Humanities and Social Science Preparation 2023

The following section will assist the students in preparing for the subjects under GATE Humanities and Social Science Syllabus 2023. 

GATE Books for Humanities and Social Science (XH) 2023

Subject Name of Book and Author
GATE Economics Microeconomics | Eighth Edition by Robert Pindyck and Daniel Rubinfeld
Macroeconomics by H. L. Ahuja 
GATE English Literary Theory:Introduction Pearson: From Structuralism to Ecocriticism by Nayar 
History of English Literature by Edward Albert
GATE Linguistics The Phonetics and Phonology of Contrast: The Case of the Romanian Vowel System (Phonology and Phonetics [PP] Book 19) by Margaret E. L. Renwick
Sociolinguistics (Cambridge Textbooks in Linguistics) by R. A. Hudson
GATE Philosophy Classical Indian Philosophy: A History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps by Peter Adamson and Jonardon Ganeri
Classical Modern Philosophy: A Contemporary Introduction (Routledge Contemporary Introductions to Philosophy) by Jeffrey Tlumak
GATE Psychology Psychology for UGC-NET-SLET Paper-2 Paperback by NET Industry Experts 
Cognitive Psychology: In and Out of the Laboratory by Kathleen M Galotti 
GATE Sociology Sociological Theory, Fifth edition by George Ritzer
Society in India: Concepts, Theories and Recent Trends by Ahuja Ram
GATE Reasoning MADE EASY Reasoning & Aptitude - For GATE & ESE 2023 by MADE EASY Editorial Board
Aptitude & Reasoning for GATE and ESE 2023 (Prelims) - Theory, Practices Questions and Previous Year Solved Papers by OnlineVerdan and Hemant Jain
Logical Reasoning Theory Book 2023 for GATE, ESE, MAT, SSC, BANK(PO), NDA, CDS and other Competitive Exams by ICE GATE Institute
GATE General Aptitude GATE 2021 - Guide - General Aptitude by GKP
Reasoning & Aptitude for GATE 2021 and ESE 2021 (Prelims) - Theory and Previous Year Solved Papers by MADE EASY Editorial Board
GATE-2021 General Aptitude (Verbal & Numerical Ability) Previous Years GATE Questions with Solutions, Subject wise & Chapter wise (2010-2020) by By Subject Experts of the ACE Engineering Academy

GATE Humanities and Social Science Previous Year Question Paper

Given below are the links for GATE Humanities and Social Science 2023 Previous Year Question Papers along with their answer key. 

Section GATE Question Paper GATE XH Answer Key
Economics (XH- C1) Download Download
English (XH- C2) Download  Download
Linguistics (XH- C3) Download Download
Philosophy (XH- C4) Download  Download
Psychology (XH- C5) Download Download
Sociology Download Download
GATE XH Question Paper

GATE 2023 Syllabus Of Other Papers

Frequently Asked Questions

GATE Syllabus for Humanities and Social Science (XH) 2023 FAQs

Ques. What are the subjects in the GATE Humanities and Social Science (XH)2023? 

Ans. GATE Humanities and Social Science (XH) 2023 has the following subjects: 

  • Economics (XH- C1)
  • English (XH- C2)
  • Linguistics (XH- C3)
  • Philosophy (XH- C4)
  • Psychology (XH- C5)
  • Sociology (XH- C6)

Ques. Which are the topics in the Reasoning Comprehension Section of GATE Syllabus for Humanities and Social Science (XH) 2023? 

Ans. The topics in the Reasoning Comprehension Section of GATE Syllabus for Humanities and Social Science (XH) 2023 are as follows: 

  • Reading Comprehension 
  • Expression
  • Analytical reasoning
  • Logical reasoning

Ques. What is the GATE Marking Scheme for Humanities and Social Science (XH) 2023? 

Ans. The GATE Marking Scheme for Humanities and Social Science (XH) 2023 is as follows: 

Type of question

Negative marking for wrong answer

MCQ

1/3 for 1 mark questions

2/3 for 2 marks questions

NAT/MSQ

No negative marking 

Ques. How many questions are asked in GATE Humanities and Social Science (XH)2023? 

Ans. GATE Humanities and Social Science (XH)Question paper will have a total of 65 questions, out of which 85 marks will be for the optional subjects that the candidates have chosen. 

Ques. What is the paper code for GATE Humanities and Social Science (XH) 2023?

Ans. The paper code for GATE Humanities and Social Science (XH)2023 is XH. The candidates are advised to check out their eligibility before appearing for the exam.

Ques. Which are the best GATE Books for Psychology 2023?

Ans. The best GATE Books for Humanities and Social Science (XH)2023 are as follows: 

  • Psychology for UGC-NET-SLET Paper-2 Paperback by NET Industry Experts 
  • Cognitive Psychology: In and Out of the Laboratory by Kathleen M Galotti 

Ques. How to complete the GATE Syllabus for Humanities and Social Science (XH)2023? 

Ans. Candidates can follow some of these tips for preparation of GATE Humanities and Social Science (XH)2023: 

  • Solve GATE Humanities and Social Science (XH) Mock Tests
  • Start with the basic concepts or topics. 
  • Candidates must practice on virtual calculators so that you can develop a habit of using the same.
  • For more tips, check GATE Preparation Guidelines

Ques. How much time is required to wind up the GATE Syllabus for Humanities and Social Science (XH)2023?

Ans. On Average, candidates take at least 6 months to complete the GATE Syllabus for Humanities and Social Science (XH) 2023, regardless of the paper chosen. However, the students must remember that the more they study, the more their chances of securing the desired scores.

Ques. Which is the best book for GATE Reasoning? 

Ans. The best book for GATE Reasoning are as follows: 

  • MADE EASY Reasoning & Aptitude - For GATE & ESE 2023 by MADE EASY Editorial Board
  • Aptitude & Reasoning for GATE and ESE 2023 (Prelims) - Theory, Practices Questions and Previous Year Solved Papers by OnlineVerdan and Hemant Jain
  • Logical Reasoning Theory Book 2023 for GATE, ESE, MAT, SSC, BANK(PO), NDA, CDS and other Competitive Exams by ICE GATE Institute

Ques. Which is the best book for GATE General Aptitude?

Ans. The best books for GATE General Aptitude are as follows: 

  • GATE 2021 - Guide - General Aptitude by GKP
  • Reasoning & Aptitude for GATE 2021 and ESE 2021 (Prelims) - Theory and Previous Year Solved Papers by MADE EASY Editorial Board
  • GATE-2021 General Aptitude (Verbal & Numerical Ability) Previous Years GATE Questions with Solutions, Subject wise & Chapter wise (2010-2020) by By Subject Experts of the ACE Engineering Academy

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.

GATE 2023 : 19 answered questions

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Ques. testing question

● Top Answer By Sunil Sharma on 03 Jan 24

testing...Read more

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Ques. How can I join an M.Tech through the GATE in Andhra University?

● Top Answer By Prachi Sinha on 09 May 22

Andhra University M.Tech admission is done in two ways, i.e. through GATE and through AP PGECET. To get admission, you need to have a valid GATE score or you need to score a valid rank in AP PGECET. Soon, Andhra University will release the notification for AP PGECET. Here are the tentative dates. Event Tentative dates Notification release date Second week of July 2022 Application form available  Second week of July 2022 Admit card release date  Second week of September 2022 Exam date Third week of September 2022 Result  Second week of October 2022 Andhra University will release the application form online. Visit the official website of the institute regularly to get the updated information. ...Read more

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Ques. Why many GATE toppers leave PSU and join NITIE instead of IITs?

● Top Answer By Aditi Gupta on 01 Apr 22

Many GATE toppers leave PSU and join NITIE, instead of IITs, because it offers better placements. Usually, students with good scores join  ONGC, NTPC, BHEL, IOCL, and others. Despite the good salary, the PSU jobs can get monotonous after a few years. So, the top rankers start looking for better career options. If they wish to do an MBA, they need to prepare for CAT. Some do prepare for CAT, but many join NITIE as it is an easier option. NITIE takes admission through GATE and the GATE score is valid for 3 years. So, they can easily get admission based on their GATE score.  Also, the institute has a great placement record. During NITIE Mumbai placement 2022, the average CTC offered was INR 25.41 LPA.  ...Read more

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Ques. What should be the proper strategy to excel in both GATE and ESE simultaneously?

● Top Answer By Subham Patra on 15 Jul 22

Here are some strategies that can help you prepare for GATE and ESE simultaneously. Compare the syllabus of GATE and ESE. Go through the previous years' questions of both. The technical portion of both examinations overlaps a lot. The major difference is question patterns and styles. Different types of questions are asked on the same topics. GATE tests aptitude for solving technical questions. While ESE puts more emphasis on technical details.  Figure out which subjects contribute more to which examinations.  If you have less time, start with GATE preparation. The topics can be covered easily and in less time. Once you are through GATE preparation, you can solve ESE questions without much difficulty.  Focus on GATE and ESE preparations only.  First, go through the syllabus thoroughly. Once you are done with the syllabus, go through your notes and solve previous years' questions. Solve test series, and review hard questions. Analyze the tests you give and work on your mistakes. ...Read more

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Ques. What is the difficulty level of the BITS HD exam compared to the GATE?

● Top Answer By Dishi Mishra on 15 Jul 22

GATE consists mostly of numerical questions. It tests the aptitude for solving questions in less time. BITS HD papers have 10-15 numerical questions usually. The numerical questions aren’t on the same level as GATE and are just formula-based problems. Usually, around 80-90% of BITS HD questions are theory oriented. You need to have a good grasp of your engineering subjects to score well in BITS HD. The questions can come from anywhere in the syllabus. BITS HD usually consists -  15 Mathematics questions (difficulty usually higher than GATE) 15 general English questions 70 Engineering discipline questions Also, note that BITS take admission based on GATE scores as well. ...Read more

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