Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 30, 2026

Rajendra University, Balangir offers a 2-year full-time Master of Arts (MA) in Political Science 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 political theory, Indian government, and international relations.

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 Political Science at Rajendra University, a UGC-recognised State Public University in Odisha.
The programme covers political theory, Indian government and politics, comparative politics, international relations, and public administration.
The course is a strong foundation for careers in teaching, civil services, journalism, law, 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 Political Science Fees

The MA Political Science 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 Structure

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 Political Science Admission 2026

Admission to MA Political Science 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) with Political Science 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 Political Science Scholarships 2026

Students enrolled in MA Political Science 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 Political Science FAQs

Ques. Is MA Political Science from Rajendra University useful for UPSC/OPSC civil services preparation?

Ans. Yes, Political Science is one of the most popular optional subjects for UPSC and OPSC civil services examinations. An MA in Political Science from Rajendra University provides a strong conceptual foundation in political theory, Indian polity, and international relations, which directly aligns with the civil services syllabus.

Ques. What is the CPET cutoff for MA Political Science at Rajendra University?

Ans. Based on available CPET allotment data, MA Political Science is among the popular MA programmes at Rajendra University. The cutoff typically ranges between 45-55 marks depending on the year and round of allotment. Students are advised to check the official SAMS portal for the latest cutoff data.

Ques. Can MA Political Science graduates from Rajendra University appear for UGC-NET?

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

Ques. What are the career options after MA Political Science from Rajendra University?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers in teaching (after qualifying SET/NET), civil services (UPSC, OPSC), journalism and media, law (after LLB), NGO and policy research, and PhD programmes. Political Science graduates are also well-suited for roles in government think tanks and international organisations.

Ques. Does Rajendra University offer PhD in Political Science after MA?

Ans. Yes, Rajendra University offers PhD programmes in Political Science. Students who complete MA Political Science can apply for PhD admission at the university, subject to qualifying the university's Research Entrance Test (RET) or having a valid UGC-NET/JRF score.

Ques. Is there any difference in the MA Political Science curriculum at Rajendra University compared to other Odisha universities?

Ans. The MA Political Science curriculum at Rajendra University follows the Sambalpur University affiliation pattern (as a constituent college) and covers standard topics including political theory, Indian government, comparative politics, and international relations. The curriculum is broadly similar to other state universities in Odisha, with minor variations in elective papers.