Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 30, 2026

Rajendra University, Balangir offers a 2-year full-time Master of Arts (MA) in Economics programme, structured across 4 semesters. The total course fee is Rs. 8,418 for the entire duration, making it one of the most affordable PG social science programmes in Odisha. Admission is through the Odisha Combined PG Entrance Test (CPET), and the programme is offered in full-time on-campus mode. The course is popular among students from western Odisha due to the university's government status, affordable fees, and strong academic grounding in micro and macroeconomics, econometrics, and development economics.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic session are upcoming. The Odisha CPET 2026 registration is currently open (February 27 - March 15, 2026), with the exam scheduled from April 27 to May 10, 2026. Results are expected tentatively in July 2026, after which college-level admissions will commence.

Key Points

Offered under the Department of Economics at Rajendra University, a UGC-recognised State Public University in Odisha.
The programme covers microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, development economics, public finance, and Indian economic policy.
The course is a strong foundation for careers in teaching, banking, civil services, research, and competitive exams like UGC-NET/JRF and OPSC.
Reservation norms as per Government of Odisha apply for SC, ST, OBC, and other categories.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Cutoff
FAQs

Rajendra College Balangir Latest Updates and News

17 Apr, 2026 Odisha CPET 2026 subject-wise examination schedule is out. Exams from May 5 to 16. Hall tickets will be available to download from Apr 30, 2026. Read news!

Rajendra University MA Economics Fees

The MA Economics programme at Rajendra University is highly affordable, with a total fee of Rs. 8,418 for the complete 2-year course. The fee is Rs. 4,209 per year, covering tuition and other academic charges. No separate development fees are reported beyond this amount.

Fee Breakdown

Fee Component	Year 1 (Rs.)	Year 2 (Rs.)	Total (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	4,209	4,209	8,418
Other Charges	Included	Included	Included
Hostel Fee (Optional)	~3,600 (approx. Rs. 300/month)	~3,600	~7,200
Total Fees (without Hostel)	4,209	4,209	8,418

Hostel accommodation is optional and not mandatory for the course.
Hostel fee is approximately Rs. 300 per month (Rs. 3,600 per year), charged separately.
Mess/food charges at the hostel are additional and paid on a monthly basis as per consumption.
Fees are refundable as per university norms in case of withdrawal before the academic session begins.
No EMI facility is officially mentioned; fees are generally paid at the time of admission each year.

Rajendra University MA Economics Admission 2026

Admission to MA Economics at Rajendra University is done through the Odisha CPET conducted by the Government of Odisha. The 2026 admission cycle is currently in the registration phase. Candidates must apply through the SAMS portal and appear for CPET. Seat allotment is based on CPET scores, followed by document verification and fee payment at the university.

College Admission Dates

Event	Date
CPET 2026 Application Start	February 27, 2026
CPET 2026 Application Last Date	March 15, 2026
CPET 2026 Admit Card Release	April 23, 2026
CPET 2026 Exam Dates	April 27 - May 10, 2026
CPET 2026 Result (Tentative)	July 1, 2026
College Admission / Counselling	July 2026 (Tentative, based on 2025 pattern: June 2 - July 24)
Batch Commencement	August 2026 (Tentative)

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam Event	Date
Registration Opens	February 27, 2026
Registration Closes	March 15, 2026
Admit Card	April 23, 2026
Exam Date	April 27 - May 10, 2026
Result (Tentative)	July 1, 2026

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree (BA/B.Com/B.Sc) with Economics as a major/honours subject from a recognised university.
A minimum of 50% aggregate marks in the qualifying examination is required for General/OBC category; relaxation applicable for SC/ST as per Odisha government norms.
Candidates must qualify in the Odisha CPET conducted by the state government.

Admission Process:

Register and apply online through the SAMS Odisha portal (samsodisha.gov.in).
Appear for the Odisha CPET entrance examination.
Check merit list/seat allotment published on the SAMS portal based on CPET score.
Report to Rajendra University with original documents for verification.
Pay the admission fee at the university counter to confirm the seat.
Attend classes as per the schedule announced by the university.

Rajendra University MA Economics Scholarships 2026

Students enrolled in MA Economics at Rajendra University can avail several government-funded scholarships. Given the very low course fees, even a single scholarship can effectively cover the entire programme cost. Both central and state government schemes are available.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount
Post-Matric Scholarship (State - Odisha)	SC/ST students enrolled in PG courses	Rs. 2,000 - Rs. 3,000 per year (SC/ST); up to Rs. 8,000 for OBC/General
NSP - PM-USP Yojana (Central)	Students in AICTE-recognised UG/PG courses, parental income up to Rs. 4.5 Lakhs, 80% in Class 12	Up to Rs. 82,000 per annum
National Scholarship for PG Studies (UGC)	First-time PG students under 30 years in UGC-recognised full-time programmes	Rs. 10,000 per year or Rs. 15,000 per month
Biju Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana (State)	Odisha domicile students	Laptop award (in-kind benefit)
Merit-based Scholarship (University)	High-achieving students	Up to Rs. 25,000

Post-Matric Scholarship applications are submitted online through the state scholarship portal.
NSP scholarships require renewal each academic year with proof of attendance and marks.
Students must maintain a minimum of 75% attendance and 50% marks to remain eligible for most scholarships.
Scholarship amounts and eligibility criteria are subject to revision by the respective government bodies.

Rajendra University MA Economics FAQs

Q1. What career options are available after MA Economics from Rajendra University?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers in teaching (after qualifying SET/NET), banking and finance (RBI, NABARD, IBPS), civil services (UPSC, OPSC), economic research, policy analysis, and PhD programmes. Economics graduates are also well-suited for roles in international organisations like the World Bank and IMF.

Q2. Can MA Economics graduates from Rajendra University appear for UGC-NET?

Ans. Yes, MA Economics graduates are eligible to appear for UGC-NET in Economics. Qualifying this exam opens doors to Assistant Professor positions in colleges and universities, as well as Junior Research Fellowships for PhD research.

Q3. Is MA Economics from Rajendra University useful for banking sector jobs?

Ans. Yes, MA Economics provides a strong foundation for banking sector competitive exams like RBI Grade B, NABARD Grade A, and IBPS PO/SO. The knowledge of monetary policy, public finance, and Indian economic policy is directly relevant to these examinations.

Q4. Does Rajendra University have a strong Economics department?

Ans. Yes, the Economics department at Rajendra University is one of the well-established departments. The Head of Department, Shri Satyaban Badhei (Assistant Professor), is known for his academic contributions. The department regularly organises seminars and guest lectures on economic issues relevant to the region.

Q5. Can MA Economics graduates pursue MBA after completing the degree?

Ans. Yes, MA Economics graduates can pursue MBA programmes. The strong quantitative and analytical background from MA Economics is an advantage in MBA entrance exams like CAT, XAT, and MAT, particularly for specialisations in Finance, Economics, and Business Analytics.

Q6. What is the scope of MA Economics from Rajendra University for research in tribal and rural economics?

Ans. Given Rajendra University's location in Balangir, a region with significant tribal and rural population, the MA Economics programme offers unique opportunities to study regional development, tribal economics, and rural poverty. Students interested in development economics research can find rich fieldwork opportunities in the surrounding areas.