Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Master of Arts in Gandhi and Peace Studies (MGPS) at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is a 2-year postgraduate programme offered through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode under the School of Social Sciences (SOSS). The programme is designed to promote both theoretical and applied research in Gandhian Studies, Peace, Conflict Management, and Social Regeneration. It covers Gandhi's philosophy, social and political thought, economic thought, non-violent movements, peace and conflict resolution, human security, human rights, ecology, and sustainable development. The programme fee is Rs. 7,000 per year (total Rs. 14,300 including registration fee), making it highly affordable. The medium of instruction is both English and Hindi. No entrance exam is required; admission is based on graduation marks. The programme is popular among students, researchers, social workers, NGO professionals, and those interested in Gandhian philosophy, peace studies, and conflict resolution.

Admission for the January 2026 session is currently ongoing. The last date for submission of the application form (for ODL programmes) is 30 March 2026. Applications can be submitted online at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in. The next admission cycle (July 2026) is expected to open tentatively in May 2026, based on the previous year's schedule.

Distance Mode Centres:

The MGPS programme is offered exclusively through Open Distance Learning (ODL) mode. Students are assigned to a Study Centre near their location. The programme is available across a wide network of IGNOU Regional Centres across India, including:

Hyderabad (RC Hyderabad)
Karnal (RC Karnal)
Shimla (RC Shimla)
Jammu (RC Jammu)
Bangalore (RC Bangalore)
Bhopal (RC Bhopal)
Pune (RC Pune)
Imphal (RC Imphal)
Shillong (RC Shillong)
Aizawl (RC Aizawl)
Port Blair (RC Port Blair)
Kohima (RC Kohima)
Bhubaneswar (RC Bhubaneswar)
Khanna (RC Khanna)
Jaipur (RC Jaipur)
Gangtok (RC Gangtok)
Chennai (RC Chennai)
Agartala (RC Agartala)
Lucknow (RC Lucknow)
Kolkata (RC Kolkata)
Itanagar (RC Itanagar)
Srinagar (RC Srinagar)
Dehradun (RC Dehradun)
Ranchi (RC Ranchi)
Vijayawada (RC Vijayawada)
Raipur (RC Raipur)
Nagpur (RC Nagpur)
Jorhat (RC Jorhat)
Delhi 3 Naraina (RC Delhi 3)
Noida (RC Noida)
Guwahati (RC Guwahati)
Trivandrum (RC Trivandrum)
Jabalpur (RC Jabalpur)
Rajkot (RC Rajkot)
Madurai (RC Madurai)
Koraput (RC Koraput)
Siliguri (RC Siliguri)
Darbhanga (RC Darbhanga)
Aligarh (RC Aligarh)
Varanasi (RC Varanasi)
Mumbai (RC Mumbai)
Patna (RC Patna)
Raghunathganj (RC Raghunathganj)
Chandigarh (RC Chandigarh)
Delhi 1 (RC Delhi 1)
Panaji (RC Panaji)
Bhagalpur (RC Bhagalpur)
Vatakara (RC Vatakara)
Visakhapatnam (RC Visakhapatnam)
Bijapur (RC Bijapur)
Saharsa (RC Saharsa)
Deoghar (RC Deoghar)
Jodhpur (RC Jodhpur)
Ahmedabad (RC Ahmedabad)

Key Points

The MGPS programme is offered under the School of Social Sciences (SOSS) at IGNOU.
The medium of instruction is both English and Hindi, making it accessible to a wider student base.
The programme carries 64 credits (32 credits per year) and is structured over 2 years (minimum), with a maximum duration of 4 years.
Year 1 covers core Gandhian philosophy, social thought, political thought, and electives including Gandhi's economic thought, non-violent movements, and ecology.
Year 2 focuses on peace and conflict resolution, Gandhian approach to peace, human security, human rights, women and peace, and civil society.
A Project Work course (MGPE-017, 8 credits) is available as an elective in Year 2 for students interested in research.
The degree is recognised by all member institutions of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
No entrance examination is required; admission is based on qualifying examination marks.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

IGNOU MGPS Fees

The MGPS programme at IGNOU is offered at a highly affordable fee of Rs. 7,000 per year. A one-time Registration Fee of Rs. 300 is payable at the time of admission, along with a Development Fee as notified by the university. Examination fees (Rs. 200 per subject per Term-End Exam) are charged separately. There is no hostel facility for this ODL programme.

Fee Components

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Tuition Fee (Year 1)	7,000
Tuition Fee (Year 2)	7,000
Registration Fee (one-time)	300
Total Fees	14,300

Examination fee (Rs. 200 per subject per Term-End Exam) is charged separately and is not included in the above total.
Development Fee is applicable as per university norms and is charged at the time of admission.
The Registration Fee of Rs. 300 is non-refundable.
Fee can be paid online via Credit Card (Master/Visa), Debit Card (Master/Visa/RuPay), or Net Banking.
Refund Policy: Fee paid will be refunded prior to confirmation of admission. After confirmation, 15% of the programme fee (subject to a ceiling of Rs. 2,000) will be deducted. No refund is admissible after 60 days from the closing date of admissions.
SC/ST students and other reserved category students may be eligible for fee exemption/reimbursement as per IGNOU norms.
There is no hostel facility for this ODL programme.

IGNOU MGPS Admission 2026

IGNOU conducts admissions for the MGPS programme twice a year - in January and July sessions. The January 2026 session is currently open, with the last date for application extended to 30 March 2026. Admission is merit-based (qualifying examination marks), and there is no entrance test. Students can apply online through the IGNOU Admission Portal at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in.

IGNOU MGPS Admission Dates

Event	Date
Admission Portal Opens (January 2026 Session)	December 16, 2025
Last Date for Application Submission (ODL Programmes)	March 30, 2026
Tentative Batch Commencement / Study Material Dispatch	January - March 2026
Contact Programme / Counselling Sessions	February - November 2026
Assignment Submission (Year 1)	March - September 2026
Term-End Examination (June 2026)	June 1 - July 15, 2026 (Tentative)
Exam Form Submission Last Date	April 10, 2026
Result Declaration	August 2026 (Tentative)
July 2026 Session Admission Opens (Tentative)	May 2026
July 2026 Session Last Date (Tentative)	August 2026

Entrance Exam Details

Entrance Exam Details
No entrance examination is required for admission to the MGPS programme. Admission is based on merit in the qualifying examination (graduation).

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree or a higher degree in any discipline from a recognised university.
There is no minimum percentage requirement specified by IGNOU for the MGPS programme.
The programme is open to both fresh graduates and working professionals.

Admission Process

Visit the IGNOU Admission Portal: ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in
Click on "New Registration" and complete the registration process with a valid email ID and mobile number.
Log in and select the MGPS programme.
Fill in the application form with personal, academic, and address details.
Upload scanned copies of photograph, signature, educational qualification certificates, and category certificate (if applicable).
Pay the programme fee online (Credit/Debit Card or Net Banking).
Submit the application form and save/print the confirmation for future reference.
Students will be allotted a Study Centre based on their preferred location.
APAAR ID must be kept ready before starting the application process.

IGNOU MGPS Scholarships 2026

IGNOU students enrolled in the MGPS programme can avail of various government scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) after confirmation of admission. IGNOU also provides fee exemptions and reimbursements for SC/ST students, physically challenged students, jail inmates, and economically weaker sections. Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships as early as possible, as selection is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Benefit	How to Apply
IGNOU Fee Exemption (SC/ST/PwD/Jail Inmates/Weaver Community)	SC/ST, Physically Challenged, Jail Inmates, Weaver Community, Transgender; Family income less than Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum; Age below 35 years	Full or partial fee exemption/reimbursement as per IGNOU norms	Apply through IGNOU Regional Centre; submit form certified by Regional Director
Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses (Minority Students)	Minority community students; Family income less than Rs. 2.5 lakh per annum; Minimum 50% marks in previous exam	Rs. 20,000 per year (tuition + maintenance allowance up to Rs. 1,000/month for hostlers, Rs. 500/month for day scholars)	Apply online at scholarships.gov.in
Scholarships for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities	PwD students with more than 40% disability; Family income less than Rs. 6 lakh per annum	Tuition fee up to Rs. 2 lakh/year; Books/stationery up to Rs. 5,000/year; Maintenance allowance; One-time laptop allowance of Rs. 45,000	Apply online at scholarships.gov.in
Top Class Education Scheme for SC Students	SC students; Family income less than Rs. 8 lakh per annum; Admitted under general category seats	Tuition fee up to Rs. 2 lakh/year; Books/stationery; Living expenses; One-time laptop allowance of Rs. 45,000	Apply at Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment portal
State Government Scholarships	Varies by state; SC/ST/OBC/EWS students	Varies by state scheme	Apply through respective State Social Welfare Office or NSP portal

A student can avail only one scholarship at a time.
Scholarship forms must be certified by the IGNOU Regional Director before submission.
Students must apply for government scholarships on the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) after confirmation of IGNOU admission.
The IGNOU fee exemption for SC/ST students covers the programme fee; the Registration Fee is non-refundable even for exempted categories.
Jail inmates are exempted from all fees including the Registration Fee during their incarceration; applicable fees must be paid upon release.

IGNOU MGPS FAQs

Ques. Is IGNOU MA Gandhi and Peace Studies a good choice for those interested in civil services or social work?

Ans. Yes. The MGPS programme is highly relevant for those preparing for civil services, particularly for papers on ethics, governance, and social issues. It is also valuable for social workers, NGO professionals, and those working in peace-building and conflict resolution. The programme provides a strong foundation in Gandhian philosophy, non-violence, and sustainable development - themes that are increasingly relevant in contemporary governance and social work.

Ques. Is the IGNOU MGPS degree valid for UGC-NET and teaching positions?

Ans. Yes. The MGPS degree from IGNOU is recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and is equivalent to degrees from conventional universities. Graduates are eligible to appear for UGC-NET in relevant subjects and can apply for teaching and research positions in colleges and universities.

Ques. Can I pursue IGNOU MGPS while working full-time?

Ans. Yes. The programme is offered through ODL mode, which means there are no mandatory daily classes. Students study through self-instructional printed material and attend contact/counselling sessions at their assigned Study Centre on scheduled dates. This makes it ideal for working professionals, social workers, and others who cannot attend regular classes.

Ques. What is the Project Work course in MGPS and is it mandatory?

Ans. The Project Work course (MGPE-017, 8 credits) is an elective course available in Year 2 of the MGPS programme. It is not mandatory; students can choose it as one of their elective courses if they wish to undertake a research project in Gandhi and Peace Studies. Students who opt for this course are required to submit a project report.

Ques. What career options are available after completing IGNOU MA Gandhi and Peace Studies?

Ans. MGPS graduates can pursue careers in: teaching and research in Gandhian studies, peace studies, and political science, NGOs and civil society organisations working in peace-building, conflict resolution, and social regeneration, government agencies working on social welfare and community development, journalism and media with a focus on social and political issues, and further research through MPhil or PhD programmes in Gandhian studies, peace studies, or related disciplines.

Ques. Is there an online version of the MA Gandhi and Peace Studies programme at IGNOU?

Ans. Yes. IGNOU also offers an online version of the programme called MAGPSOL (MA in Gandhi and Peace Studies - Online Learning) through its online portal (ignouiop.samarth.edu.in). The fee for the online version is also Rs. 7,000 per year. The ODL (distance) version (MGPS) is available through the regular admission portal at ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in. Both versions carry the same degree and are recognised by AIU.