Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Bachelor of Arts [BA] {Hons.} (Pali) at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is a 3-year full-time undergraduate programme offered by the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies under the Faculty of Arts. Pali is the sacred language of Theravada Buddhism and the language in which the original Buddhist scriptures (Tipitaka) were composed. BHU's programme covers Pali grammar, Buddhist literature, Buddhist philosophy, and the historical spread of Buddhism across Asia. The total course fee is Rs. 6,900 for the entire 3-year duration. With 10 seats available, this is a rare and specialised programme. The programme is conducted in regular on-campus mode at BHU's main campus in Varanasi.

Admissions for the 2026-27 session are upcoming. The CUET UG 2026 exam is scheduled from May 11 to May 31, 2026 (tentative), with results expected in early July 2026. BHU's counselling and seat allotment process (CAP-UG) is expected to begin in the last week of July 2026. The 2025 CUET cutoff for General category was 233-236 marks, making this one of the more accessible specialised language programmes at BHU.

Key Points

BHU's Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies is one of the most distinguished centres for Pali and Buddhist scholarship in India, situated in Varanasi - a city deeply connected to the Buddhist heritage of India (Sarnath, where Buddha gave his first sermon, is just 10 km away).
The programme follows a semester system under the NEP 2020 framework, covering 6 semesters over 3 years.
The curriculum covers Pali grammar and composition, Pali prose and poetry, Buddhist philosophy (Abhidhamma), Buddhist history, and the spread of Buddhism in Asia.
Students have access to BHU's extensive collection of Pali manuscripts, Buddhist texts, and the resources of the Sarnath Buddhist heritage site nearby.
The programme is particularly popular among students from Buddhist communities in India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian countries.
Graduates can pursue MA in Pali and Buddhist Studies, research careers in Buddhist studies, work with Buddhist organisations, and pursue diplomatic or cultural roles in Buddhist countries.

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Cutoff
FAQs

BHU Latest Updates and News

18 Apr, 2026 CUET UG 2026 subject selection edit window is open till April 19, 2026, @cuet.nta.nic.in. The Exam will be held from May 11 to 31, 2026.

BHU BA (Hons.) Pali Fees

BHU offers the BA {Hons.} (Pali) programme at an exceptionally low fee of Rs. 6,900 for the entire 3-year course, approximately Rs. 2,300 per year. The fee structure is uniform across all categories. Hostel accommodation is available separately at approximately Rs. 4,875 per year (non-AC room), with mess charges billed additionally.

Course Fee Structure

Fee Component	Year 1 (Rs.)	Year 2 (Rs.)	Year 3 (Rs.)	Total (Rs.)
Academic Fee (Tuition)	800	800	800	2,400
Development Fee	750	750	750	2,250
Other Charges	150	150	150	450
Yearly Fee	1,700	1,700	1,700	5,100
Registration/Admission (One-time)	1,800	-	-	1,800
Total Fees	3,500	1,700	1,700	6,900

Hostel Fees

Hostel Component	Per Year (Rs.)
Hostel Room Charges (Non-AC)	4,875
Mess Charges	~24,000
Total Hostel + Mess (approx.)	~28,875

The course fee of Rs. 6,900 is the same for all categories (General, OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, ST).
A one-time CAP (UG) registration fee of Rs. 500 (General/OBC/EWS) or Rs. 250 (SC/ST/PwBD) is payable at the time of BHU counselling registration (non-refundable).
Hostel accommodation is optional and subject to availability.
Hostel fees are approximately Rs. 4,875 per year for a non-AC room; mess charges are billed separately at approximately Rs. 40-50 per meal.
A caution/security deposit may be collected at the time of admission, which is refundable at the end of the course.
No EMI facility is available; fees are paid semester-wise or annually as per BHU's schedule.

BHU BA (Hons.) Pali Admission 2026

Admissions to BA {Hons.} (Pali) at BHU are conducted through the CUET (UG) exam, followed by BHU's Combined Allotment Programme (CAP-UG). For 2026-27, the CUET UG exam is scheduled from May 11-31, 2026, and BHU's counselling is expected to begin in July 2026. The 2025 CUET cutoff for General category was 233-236 marks. With 10 seats available, this programme is accessible to dedicated students of Pali and Buddhist studies who score reasonably well in CUET.

BHU Admission Dates

Event	Date (Tentative)
CUET UG 2026 Registration Start	January 3, 2026
CUET UG 2026 Registration End	February 26, 2026
CUET UG 2026 Admit Card Release	May 5, 2026
CUET UG 2026 Exam	May 11 - May 31, 2026
CUET UG 2026 Answer Key Release	June 17, 2026
CUET UG 2026 Result Declaration	July 4, 2026
BHU CAP-UG Registration Opens	Last week of July 2026
BHU CAP-UG Registration Closes	2nd week of August 2026
BHU 1st Allotment List	3rd week of August 2026
BHU 2nd Allotment List	Last week of August 2026
Fee Payment and Physical Reporting	September 2026
Batch Commencement	October/November 2026

CUET UG 2026 Exam Dates

Event	Date
CUET UG Registration Start	January 3, 2026
CUET UG Registration End	February 26, 2026
Admit Card Release	May 5, 2026 (Tentative)
CUET UG Exam	May 11 - May 31, 2026 (Tentative)
Answer Key Release	June 17, 2026 (Tentative)
Result Declaration	July 4, 2026 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination from a recognised board.
Minimum 50% aggregate marks in 10+2 for General/EWS category; 45% for OBC-NCL; 40% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.
Age limit: Not more than 22 years as on July 1 of the admission year (25 years for SC/ST candidates).
Candidates must have appeared in CUET (UG) 2026 and selected the relevant subject(s) as per BHU's eligibility criteria for this programme.

Admission Process

Appear in CUET (UG) 2026 conducted by NTA; select the relevant domain subject(s) as per BHU's eligibility criteria for Pali.
Register on BHU's CAP-UG portal (bhucuet.samarth.edu.in) using your NTA Application Number after CUET results.
Pay the non-refundable CAP registration fee (Rs. 500 for General/OBC/EWS; Rs. 250 for SC/ST/PwBD).
Fill in programme preferences on the BHU portal.
Seat allotment is done based on CUET score, category, and preference order.
Accept the allotted seat and pay the course fee online within the stipulated deadline.
Report physically to BHU with original documents for verification and final admission.

BHU BA (Hons.) Pali Scholarships 2026

BHU offers a range of scholarships and financial aid options for BA {Hons.} (Pali) students. Given the already very low course fee of Rs. 6,900 for 3 years, government scholarships can effectively make the programme nearly free for eligible students. Additionally, several Buddhist organisations and trusts offer scholarships specifically for students pursuing Pali and Buddhist studies.

Scholarship Details

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount/Benefit
UP Government Scholarship (Pre/Post Matric)	UP domicile students; family income below Rs. 2 lakh (General/OBC) or Rs. 2.5 lakh (SC/ST)	Fee reimbursement + maintenance allowance (up to Rs. 60,000/year for some categories)
National Scholarship Portal (NSP) - Post Matric	SC/ST/OBC/Minority students; family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh	Rs. 3,000 - Rs. 10,000 per year depending on category
BHU Merit Scholarship (Rank Holders)	1st rank holder in the department	One-time cash reward of Rs. 4,000
BHU Merit Scholarship (2nd Rank)	2nd rank holder in the department	One-time cash reward of Rs. 3,000
BHU Scholarship for Economically Weak Students	Family income below Rs. 1 lakh/year; 75% attendance	Free meals (lunch + dinner) for 7 months + Rs. 2,000/year
BHU Scholarship for Blind/Visually Impaired	Blind students enrolled at BHU	Free meals under Annadaan Yojana + Rs. 5,000/year for study materials
BHU Scholarship for Physically Challenged	PwBD students	One-time grant of Rs. 4,000
S.N. Ranade Scholarship	Students with excellent academic performance	Variable amount based on performance
Buddhist Organisation Scholarships	Students from Buddhist communities pursuing Pali/Buddhist studies	Varies; check with Mahabodhi Society, Buddhist temples, and Sri Lankan/Thai cultural missions

Students already receiving any other scholarship are not eligible for BHU's internal scholarships simultaneously.
UP Scholarship applications are typically submitted online through the UP Scholarship portal (scholarship.up.gov.in) in October-November each year.
NSP scholarships are applied through the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in).
BHU internal scholarships require submission of application forms at the university administration office.
Minimum 75% attendance is mandatory to remain eligible for BHU scholarships.
Students from Buddhist communities should also check with the Mahabodhi Society of India and foreign Buddhist cultural missions for additional scholarship opportunities.

BHU BA (Hons.) Pali FAQs

Ques. What is Pali and why should I study it at BHU?

Ans. Pali is the ancient language of Theravada Buddhism, in which the original Buddhist scriptures (Tipitaka) were composed. Studying Pali at BHU is particularly meaningful because Varanasi is adjacent to Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon. BHU's Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies has a distinguished tradition of scholarship, and the proximity to Sarnath provides unique opportunities for field study and engagement with living Buddhist traditions.

Ques. Do I need prior knowledge of Pali to apply for BA {Hons.} Pali at BHU?

Ans. Prior knowledge of Pali is not a mandatory eligibility requirement, but familiarity with Sanskrit or any Indic language (Hindi, Marathi, Bengali) is helpful since Pali is closely related to Sanskrit. The CUET may not have a specific Pali domain subject, so candidates should check BHU's eligibility criteria for the specific CUET subjects required for this programme. The department typically welcomes motivated students regardless of prior Pali knowledge.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after BA {Hons.} Pali from BHU?

Ans. Graduates can pursue MA in Pali and Buddhist Studies, work as researchers in Buddhist studies and Indology, teach Pali at school or university level, work with Buddhist organisations (Mahabodhi Society, Buddhist temples, monasteries), pursue diplomatic or cultural roles in Buddhist countries (Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Japan), work as translators of Pali texts, and appear for UPSC with Pali as an optional subject.

Ques. Is Pali an optional subject in UPSC Civil Services?

Ans. Yes, Pali is one of the optional subjects in the UPSC Civil Services Mains examination. A BA {Hons.} in Pali from BHU provides an excellent foundation for this optional. The Pali optional syllabus covers Pali grammar, literature, and Buddhist philosophy, which aligns well with the BHU curriculum.

Ques. Are there opportunities for international study or exchange for Pali students at BHU?

Ans. Yes, BHU has academic connections with Buddhist institutions in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Japan, and other Buddhist countries. Students of Pali and Buddhist Studies may have opportunities for exchange programmes, research collaborations, and study visits to Buddhist heritage sites in these countries. The Sarnath International Nyingma Institute and other Buddhist institutions near Varanasi also provide additional learning opportunities.

Ques. What is the difference between Pali and Sanskrit? Can a Sanskrit student easily learn Pali?

Ans. Pali and Sanskrit are closely related Indo-Aryan languages with similar grammar and vocabulary. A student with a strong Sanskrit background will find Pali relatively easier to learn, as many grammatical structures and vocabulary items are shared. However, Pali has its own distinct phonology, grammar, and literary tradition. Sanskrit students typically adapt to Pali within a few months of dedicated study.