Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

IGNOU Bachelor of Arts [BA] (Political Science) - Distance Mode

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science offered by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is a 3-year undergraduate Honours programme (programme code: BAPSH) delivered entirely through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode. The programme provides an in-depth study of Political Science, covering political theory, Indian government and politics, comparative politics, international relations, public administration, and interdisciplinary electives. It is structured under the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) with 148 total credits spread across 6 semesters, comprising core courses, discipline-specific electives, ability enhancement courses, skill enhancement courses, and generic electives. The total programme fee is Rs. 15,900 (Rs. 5,300 per year) plus a one-time Registration Fee of Rs. 300 and a Development Fee of Rs. 200 per year. IGNOU follows an open admission policy with no entrance exam, and the programme is available in both English and Hindi medium. The BA (Political Science) is highly popular among civil services aspirants, working professionals, and students who wish to build a strong foundation in governance, democracy, and international affairs through flexible distance learning.

Admission for the January 2026 session is currently ongoing. The last date for fresh admission is 30 March 2026. Students can apply online at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in. The July 2026 session admissions are expected to open in May 2026, with a tentative last date of July/August 2026.

Distance Mode Study Centres:

IGNOU's BA (Political Science) programme is offered through its extensive network of Regional Centres and Study Centres across India. Key regional centres include Hyderabad, Karnal, Shimla, Jammu, Bangalore, Cochin, Bhopal, Pune, Imphal, Shillong, Aizawl, Port Blair, Kohima, Bhubaneshwar, Khanna, Jaipur, Gangtok, Chennai, Agartala, Lucknow, Kolkata, Delhi (ITO and Naraina), Noida, Itanagar, Srinagar, Dehradun, Ranchi, Vijayawada, Raipur, Nagpur, Jorhat, and many more. Students can locate their nearest Study Centre on the official IGNOU admission portal at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in.

Key Points

Programme Code: BAPSH (Bachelor of Arts Honours Political Science)
Structured under CBCS with 148 total credits across 6 semesters
Available in both English and Hindi medium
No entrance exam required; open admission policy
Minimum duration is 3 years; maximum permissible duration is 6 years
Term-End Examinations (TEE) conducted twice a year: June and December
Assignments are mandatory before appearing in TEE; carry internal assessment weightage
Study material (Self Learning Material - SLM) provided by IGNOU; also available digitally
Highly relevant for UPSC/State PSC aspirants; Political Science is a popular optional subject in civil services
APAAR ID is mandatory for fresh admission from January 2026 cycle onwards

218 Views Last Year

5 Studentsshown interest in the last 30 days

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU BA (Political Science) Fees

The BA (Political Science) programme at IGNOU is one of the most affordable Honours degree programmes in India. The programme fee is Rs. 5,300 per year, payable at the time of fresh admission and re-registration each year. In addition, a one-time Registration Fee of Rs. 300 and a Development Fee of Rs. 200 per year are charged. SC/ST students with family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum are eligible for a full tuition fee waiver; they pay only the Registration Fee (Rs. 300) and Development Fee (Rs. 200) per year. There is no hostel facility at IGNOU headquarters; however, some Study Centres may have local arrangements.

Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Total (3 Years)
Tuition Fee (Programme Fee)	Rs. 5,300	Rs. 5,300	Rs. 5,300	Rs. 15,900
Registration Fee (one-time)	Rs. 300	-	-	Rs. 300
Development Fee	Rs. 200	Rs. 200	Rs. 200	Rs. 600
Exam Fee (per subject, per TEE)	Rs. 200/subject	Rs. 200/subject	Rs. 200/subject	Variable
Total Fees (excl. exam fee)	Rs. 5,800	Rs. 5,500	Rs. 5,500	Rs. 16,800

Registration Fee of Rs. 300 is non-refundable and charged only once at the time of fresh admission.
Development Fee of Rs. 200 is charged every year including at re-registration.
Exam Fee is Rs. 200 per subject per Term-End Examination and is paid separately at the time of exam form submission.
SC/ST students with family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum are eligible for full tuition fee waiver (pay only Rs. 300 Registration Fee + Rs. 200 Development Fee per year).
Fee can be paid online via Credit Card, Debit Card, or Net Banking.
An amount equivalent to 15% of the programme fee (subject to a ceiling of Rs. 2,000) will be deducted if cancellation is requested after confirmation of admission.
No refund is admissible after 60 days of the closing date of admissions.
No EMI option is available; fee is paid annually at the time of admission/re-registration.

IGNOU BA (Political Science) Admission 2026

IGNOU follows an open admission policy for the BA (Political Science) programme - no entrance exam is required. Admissions are conducted twice a year: January Session (November to February/March) and July Session (May to July/August). The January 2026 session is currently open with the last date extended to 30 March 2026. Students must apply online through the official IGNOU admission portal. Re-registration for continuing students must also be completed each year to proceed to the next year of the programme.

IGNOU BA (Political Science) Admission and Academic Dates (2026)

Event	Date
January 2026 Session - Fresh Admission Opens	November 2025
January 2026 Session - Last Date for Fresh Admission	30 March 2026
January 2026 Session - Re-registration Last Date	30 March 2026
Study Material Distribution (January Session)	January - March 2026
Contact/Counselling Sessions (January Session)	February - November 2026
Assignment Submission Last Date (January Session)	March - September 2026
June 2026 TEE - Exam Form Submission (without late fee)	10 March 2026 - 10 April 2026
June 2026 TEE - Exam Form Submission (with late fee of Rs. 1,100)	11 April 2026 - 24 April 2026
June 2026 Term-End Examination	1 June 2026 - 15 July 2026
Result Declaration (June 2026 TEE)	August 2026 (tentative)
July 2026 Session - Fresh Admission Opens	May 2026 (tentative)
July 2026 Session - Last Date for Fresh Admission	July/August 2026 (tentative)
December 2026 TEE - Exam Form Submission	September/October 2026 (tentative)
December 2026 Term-End Examination	December 2026 (tentative)

Relevant Exam Dates (Term-End Examinations)

Examination	Conducting Body	Exam Period	Exam Form Last Date (without late fee)
IGNOU June 2026 Term-End Examination (TEE)	IGNOU	1 June - 15 July 2026	10 April 2026
IGNOU December 2026 Term-End Examination (TEE)	IGNOU	December 2026 (tentative)	October 2026 (tentative)

Note: No external entrance exam is required for admission to IGNOU BA (Political Science). The TEE is IGNOU's own internal examination conducted for all enrolled students.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must have passed 10+2 (Class 12) or its equivalent from a recognised board.
There is no minimum percentage requirement for admission.
There is no upper age limit for admission.

Admission Process:

Visit the official IGNOU admission portal: ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in
Click on "New Registration" and create a login with your email and mobile number (OTP verification required)
Select the programme BAPSH (Bachelor of Arts Honours Political Science) and preferred Study Centre
Fill in personal, academic, and address details
Upload scanned photograph (less than 100 KB), signature (less than 100 KB), and educational qualification documents (less than 200 KB)
Upload category certificate (SC/ST/OBC) if applicable
Pay the programme fee online via Credit Card, Debit Card, or Net Banking
Submit the application and save/print the form for future reference
APAAR ID is mandatory from January 2026 cycle onwards; keep it ready before starting the application
After admission confirmation, collect/download Study Material from the assigned Study Centre or IGNOU's digital platform

IGNOU: Students' Opinion

AI-Generated Summary based on 9 Reviews

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is the largest open university globally, offering affordable and flexible education. Notably, the Political Science program is well-regarded for its low first-year fees and excellent faculty, with classes on weekends. IGNOU's annual fees for Bachelor of Arts degrees range from INR 5000 to INR 8700, with a total three-year cost around INR 24,000. Faculty members are highly qualified, often from prestigious institutions, and offer extra support through mentoring.

The university organizes frequent placement fairs, primarily in Delhi, with companies like Dell, HCL, Ericsson, and Mahindra participating. The average placement package is around INR 5 lakh. However, placement opportunities can be limited for students from other states due to the location of the fairs. IGNOU also offers internships, particularly in technical fields, with stipends ranging from INR 10,000 to INR 20,000 per month. Financial aid is available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, though general students lack scholarship opportunities.

Overall, IGNOU is recognized for providing quality education and career support, but students may face geographical limitations concerning placements.

By Collegedunia’s Personal AI

IGNOU BA (Political Science) Scholarships 2026

IGNOU BA (Political Science) students can avail multiple scholarship and fee support schemes. The most significant is the SC/ST Fee Waiver scheme offered directly by IGNOU, which provides full tuition fee exemption to eligible students. Additionally, students can apply for Central and State Government scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) after confirmation of admission. These scholarships cover a wide range of categories including SC, ST, OBC, minorities, and economically weaker sections.

Scholarship Schemes

Scholarship / Scheme	Offered By	Eligibility	Benefit
SC/ST Fee Waiver Scheme	IGNOU	SC/ST students with family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum; fresh admission	Full tuition fee waiver; pay only Rs. 300 (Registration) + Rs. 200 (Development Fee) per year
Post-Matric Scholarship for SC Students	Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India	SC students; family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum	Covers tuition fee and maintenance allowance; amount varies by state
Post-Matric Scholarship for ST Students	Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India	ST students; family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum	Covers tuition fee and maintenance allowance; amount varies by state
Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC Students	Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India	OBC students; family income below Rs. 1 lakh per annum	Covers tuition fee; amount varies by state
Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships (CSSS)	Ministry of Education, Govt. of India	Top 20 percentile in Class 12 board exams; family income below Rs. 8 lakh per annum	Rs. 10,000 per annum for UG students
National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS)	Ministry of Education, Govt. of India	Students with family income below Rs. 3.5 lakh per annum	Rs. 12,000 per annum

All government scholarships must be applied for through the National Scholarship Portal: scholarships.gov.in after confirmation of IGNOU admission.
IGNOU's SC/ST Fee Waiver is applied directly at the time of admission on the IGNOU portal; income certificate from the competent state authority is mandatory.
DEB-ID (Distance Education Bureau ID) is mandatory for availing the IGNOU SC/ST fee waiver.
Scholarship amounts and eligibility criteria are subject to change as per Government of India notifications.
Students are advised to apply for scholarships immediately after admission confirmation to avoid missing deadlines.

IGNOU BA (Political Science) FAQs

Ques. Is IGNOU BA (Political Science) a good choice for UPSC preparation?

Ans. Yes, IGNOU BA (Political Science) is widely regarded as one of the best programmes for UPSC and State PSC aspirants. Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) is one of the most popular optional subjects in UPSC Mains, and the BAPSH curriculum covers topics directly relevant to the UPSC syllabus including Indian polity, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. The flexibility of distance learning allows aspirants to prepare for competitive exams simultaneously without the burden of regular college attendance.

Ques. What core subjects are covered in IGNOU BA (Political Science)?

Ans. The BAPSH programme covers core Political Science courses across 6 semesters, including topics such as Introduction to Political Theory, Constitutional Government and Democracy in India, Political Theory - Concepts and Debates, Political Process in India, Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics, India's Foreign Policy, and International Relations. Students also choose Discipline Specific Electives (DSEs), Skill Enhancement Courses (SECs), and Generic Electives from other disciplines.

Ques. Can I do IGNOU BA (Political Science) along with a job?

Ans. Absolutely. This is one of the most common reasons students choose IGNOU. Since it is a distance learning programme, there are no mandatory daily classes. You attend contact/counselling sessions at your Study Centre (typically on weekends), submit assignments, and appear for Term-End Examinations twice a year. Many government employees, defence personnel, and working professionals successfully complete this programme alongside their careers.

Ques. What career options are available after IGNOU BA (Political Science)?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers in civil services (IAS, IPS, IFS, State PSC), law (LLB), journalism, public policy, NGOs, teaching, and research. The degree also qualifies students for MA Political Science, MA Public Administration, MA International Relations, and other postgraduate programmes. Many IGNOU BA Political Science graduates have successfully cleared UPSC and State PSC examinations.

Ques. How does the grading system work in IGNOU BA (Political Science)?

Ans. IGNOU follows a letter grade system. The final grade for each course is based on 30% weightage from Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) and 70% weightage from the Term-End Examination. Grades range from A (Excellent, 80% and above) to E (Unsatisfactory, below 40%). Students need to score at least 40% in both the TMA and TEE separately to pass a course.

Ques. Is there any difference between IGNOU BAPSH and IGNOU BAFPS (BA Political Science)?

Ans. Yes. BAPSH is the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Political Science - a dedicated Honours programme with Political Science as the primary discipline, offering 148 credits with deep specialisation. BAFPS is the Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) - a general BA programme where Political Science is the main subject but with a broader interdisciplinary structure. BAPSH is more rigorous and specialised, while BAFPS offers more flexibility in subject combinations.

Important Updates

Course Finder

Search from 20K+ Courses and 35+ Streams

Why To Join IGNOU - Reviews & Rating

4.3

(9 Verified Reviews)

Write a College Review

& Win Monthly Prizes Up to ₹1 Lakh/-*

5(38%)

4(25%)

3(9%)

2(24%)

1(4%)

Academic

4.2

Faculty

4.2

Infrastructure

4.1

Accommodation

4.0

Social Life

4.0

Placement

4.2

Most Popular Tags

Reset All Filter

Amrita Tamang

4.2

BA, Political Science

Reviewed on Aug 20, 2025(Enrolled 2022)

Carpe Diem ( Enjoy your present , Life is today not future not past Today is Present )

Likes

Less amount no need to invest lots of money
flexible learning options they are having and multiple course

Dislikes

they provide book at the time when exams are near
Sometime they delay for giving marks for assignments

Fees and Financial Aid:

IGNOU (indira Gandhi national Open University ) This university is offering distance education and flexible learning option to all students who want to complete their studies . They have all courses available multiple options students can choose according to their interest. They took fees early for every year whie doing regisration we have to pay fee around 5000, Apart from that they charge examination fee at the time of exam per subject they charge 200 if in case students are failed to fill the examination form on time. they have option that they can enrolled and filll the form with late fee even for that they have a particular date. This is the only amount they took for the entire course but per year we have to pay registration fee and examination fee.best part is universuty sent books to our door steps.Study material wwhic they provide to students are very help full.

Report

Deepak Raj

4.8

BA, Political Science

Reviewed on Jan 24, 2025(Enrolled 2024)

IGNOU PATNA COLLEGE REVIEW

Fees and Financial Aid:

My college is IGNOU, and its fees is 5000 per year for bechalers degree It is best for students and those who can not attend regular classes and want to study , it is cost friendly and anyone can afford it..

Report

Rakshita Sorot

4.3Helpful

BA, Political Science

Reviewed on Aug 29, 2024(Enrolled 2024)

"Don't miss out"

Dislikes

Managing multiple assignments, practicalsand exams simultaneously,can be overwhelming.

Fees and Financial Aid:

For IGNOU the fee structure for the BA Political science hons includes:- Annual fees - around INR 5000 per year Fees increase:- IGNOU generally revises periodically, but any increase would be communicated by the University.

Report

Sakshi Singh

2.3Helpful

BA, Political Science

Reviewed on Aug 1, 2024(Enrolled 2022)

IGNOU Good or Bad

Likes

You just have to submit the assignment and papper for the exam

Fees and Financial Aid:

There was a yearly fee structure one had to pay their fee annually which was 14,800 per year through online mode on the website of Indira Gandhi National Open University's website using upi or anyt other online mode of payment. Their website is a bit buggy so there are some problems while paying.

Report

Anuj sharma

4.8

BA, Political Science

Reviewed on Apr 21, 2024(Enrolled 2020)

Good University

Fees and Financial Aid:

Fee Structure - 1) course minimum duration - 3 Years 2) course maximum duration. - 6 Years 3) First year fee with registration - 3200+ 200 Rs 4) second year and third year fee - 6200 Rs 5) assignment ready

Report

Ravi kant

4.2

BA, Political Science

Reviewed on Dec 29, 2023(Enrolled 2023)

IGNOU ARE GOOD

Fees and Financial Aid:

First year fees is 8000 thousand and all 3 years fees is around 24000 thousand.and this is normal fees structure. There are no scholarship available in the university and campus do not have chance of job

Report

PRATIK KUMAR BHAGAT

3.5

BA, Political Science

Reviewed on Sep 9, 2023(Enrolled 2017)

Why IGNOU and why no ignou?

Fees and Financial Aid:

Fee was 2 to 7 thousand per year in 2017 but as the time passes, it has reached a range in about 7 to 10 thousand Still not an expensive one as we see in the regular colleges and unlike regulars, it has a facility of classes at regular intervs too.

Report

Sourav Singh

3.7Helpful

BA, Political Science

Reviewed on Jan 15, 2023(Enrolled 2020)

IGNOU BAG course full description

Likes

Exams held on time and proper management at time of exam

Fees and Financial Aid:

Course fees for a bachelor of arts are only 8700 including study material which post deliver to the student's address. College also provides many opportunities for students internships in prominent companies also placement help students to achieve their dream. Information about internship and placement was circulated on the University website IGNOU also provide scholarship for students and financial assistance to those who are from the backward category. The average package of placement is 5 lakh rupees. From above you should know how affordable University one more thing about IGNOU it is the biggest open University in the world.

Report

Akshit Gupta

2.9

BA, Political Science

Reviewed on May 16, 2020(Enrolled 2017)

Akshit Gupta's Review On Indira Gandhi National Open University - [IGNOU], New Delhi

Course Curriculum Overview:

The syllabus is updated with present times, for eg in Indian polity we study new legislation that recently passed from the parliament and various debate about the topic, which articles it relates to in constitution etc, in international relations also we got enormous insights about the world and what's happening in other countries. How the new world order is a paradigm change in international markets or even in their domestic politics, and how far it affects India's relationship with other countries.

Report

Do you think the data is wrong ? Report Here