Is selective IGNOU BA and MA political science sufficient for political science optional in UPSC?

One of my sister's acquaintances wrote 2016 mains with PSIR optional. She had been working in an IT firm till a month before prelims and had been preparing for a year before. Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) is quite fast. The study material provided by IGNOU is good for selective reading for specific topics like Justice, Equality, MN Roy, Sri Aurobindo, Theory of international relations etc. But she had an engineering background and revealed that the notes were not of premium quality. Paper 1- Part A Gauba is not bad. But you will need to read the book more than one time to interpret it completely. The information has been divided unevenly within the chapters making it a difficult read. One more good source is Shubra Ranjan's notes. They summarise the points in the UPSC syllabus format. Paper 1- Part B Complete Laxmikant.Read the interpretations given by famous analysts, their viewpoints, case laws and their history and the politics that played behind the evolution of laws and how and why the judiciary evolved. Again for this look into Shubra Ranjan notes. For the remaining topics look into Oxford publications. Paper 2- part A For this part, the best recommendation is Heywood’s global politics. It’s easy to understand and very well written. Combine this with IGNOU notes and you will get good results. You can also go through questions given in Baylis and Smith because sometimes they appear verbatim and quoting the exact same viewpoint can get you some extra points. Paper 2 - Part B Conduct internet research and make your own notes on the topics included in the syllabus. Then go through commentaries on IDSA /IPCS websites. This will give you a better understanding of and current status of relations. Once you are done with all the study materials, focus on developing the vocabulary for PSIR. Make sure your answers are evenly distributed with theories, quotes, facts, years etc. Practice writing answers a lot.

IGNOU MA Political Science: Fees 2025, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Fees (2025 - 2026)	Year 1 (in INR)	Year 2 (in INR)
Tuition Fees	₹7700	₹7700
Yearly Fees	₹7700	₹7700

Fees	Year 1 (in INR)	Year 2 (in INR)
Tuition Fees	₹7700	₹7700
Yearly Fees	₹7700	₹7700

Year (2025 - 2026)	1	2
Tuition fees	₹7700	₹7700
Yearly Fees	₹7,700	₹7,700

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is praised for its supportive and helpful faculty, maintaining a student-to-faculty ratio of about 50:1. Faculty members assist with assignments, offer self-prepared notes, and resolve student issues promptly. Exams occur biannually in January and June, with around 75% of students passing, supported by a fair marking scheme. The student population is evenly divided between males and females. IGNOU offers programs and certificates that boost career prospects.

The fee structure for master's programs varies with course selection and study material preference. Annual fees typically range from 6,000 to 8,200 INR, with the total cost for a two-year program around 16,000 INR or more. Additional costs include examination fees (200 INR per subject) and registration fees. Opting for hardcopy study materials increases fees, while softcopy options lower them to about 7,400 INR per year. IGNOU does not offer external scholarships but provides internal ones for financially disadvantaged students.

The fee structure is affordable, with no significant yearly increases, and the Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme offers around 10,000 INR for eligible students.

By Collegedunia’s Personal AI

Events	Dates
Date for Submission of Application for July Session 2025 [MA]	May 15, 2025 - Jun 30, 2025

Year	1	2
Tuition fees	₹7700	₹7700
Yearly Fees	₹7,700	₹7,700

Year	1	2
Tuition fees	₹7700	₹7700
Yearly Fees	₹7,700	₹7,700

Why To Join IGNOU - Reviews & Rating

4.1

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4.2

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JANVI MARAPE

2.2

MA, Political Science

Reviewed on Sep 4, 2025(Enrolled 2024)

IGNOU Diaries

Likes

The infrastructure is mostly online but the papers are offline. So the exam center as available at various cities
The curriculum is designed specifically keeping in mind the competitive exams.
The course is online that is why it is super comfortable to pursue this course while preparing for other exams as well

Fees and Financial Aid:

In the first year of my programme I paid ?8200.In which, programme fee was ?7700 developmental fees was ?200 registration fees was ?300 In the current year i.e second year I pas ? 6545. Hnece the total fees of my course is ?14745. This is bacause I belong to ST category and I avail for printed sources which gave a discount of 15%. Otherwise the fees is generally ?15400 for Master of Arts (Political Science). As it is a Open Distance Learning Programme there are no scholarship as of now.

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Umang Rathour

3.8Helpful

Reviewed on Mar 13, 2025(Enrolled 2023)

It's good but little bit disappointed

My course fees was 7000/- yearly and i don't have any idea if there is any scolership facility or not. Every exam time it charges extra for the exam fees, right now this university is not increasing yrealy fees, and every year we have to pay

Numeer

3.2Helpful

Reviewed on Feb 6, 2025(Enrolled 2023)

IGNOU-My honest opinion.

This university offers great flexibility for the students choose when they can appear for the exam and also is great for those who are working.
The course curriculum designed by IGNOU is great and is crafted as per the needs of the students were desires of appearing for further studies and examinations it is

The year wise fees i paid is around ?8000/-. It includes all other charges like tuition fees caution fees registration fees admission fees development fees lab fees and other compulsory charges during the course completion other batsmates had to pay different fees according to the course they had chosen the scholarship we get is prime ministers scholarship scheme and it is around 10000. Overall the course is greatly affordable for everyone.

College Ninja

Reviewed on Jan 21, 2025(Enrolled 2024)

Reviews of Indira Gandhi National open University

It's good for those who want to do job or prepare for government examination along with studies.
The good thing is you don't have to attend the regular classes because it is a distance education.

Dislikes

It doesn't so cheap as it was considered.

The fees structure of masters in political science at IGNOU is around 8200 including hardcopy of study materials. But if you choose soft copy of study materials then the fees will reduce around 7400. It is upon you which you want to choose. The fees structure will very on subjects you choose for masters. IGNOU does not provide any external scholarship scheme because it is a distance education. But IGNOU itself provide various scholarships for weaker section of the society.

AVANTIKA YADAV

2.3Helpful

Reviewed on Jan 15, 2025(Enrolled 2023)

Ignou just for degree

7700 for masters with books and it's good for open college or distance learning Ignou fee without books are 6545 per year. Anf you have to pay for year there are 3 year validity you can select January or July batch

Shivam kuamr

3.6Helpful

Reviewed on Jan 13, 2025(Enrolled 2024)

Ignou the saviour

I am a student of Masters in Political science . I took admission in IGNOU 2024 my session is 24-26 .i charged 8200 per yeae including books of my course.. I belong to general category thats why i don't get any scholarship or subsidy in my fees.

Fakir Sameer usman

5.0

Reviewed on Dec 24, 2024(Enrolled 2022)

Best life at IGNOU

1st year feers is about 6400 2nd year fees about 7000 Exam fees are different from the fees it is quite affordable for master in arts from top open university and fees structure is uniform and there is no other fees taken

Simran kaur

Reviewed on Dec 23, 2024(Enrolled 2024)

I experienced the best college life in Mata Sundri College. Right now I am pursuing Masters from IGNOU.

I paid my IGNOU fees of 6000 rupees per year. Right now I am in first year. I didn't get any scholarships and financial aid that are available to students because, My father is in CISF. But I am trying to pay my next year fee by myself.

Kaushiki patel

4.5

Reviewed on Oct 18, 2024(Enrolled 2022)

Indira Gandhi national open University

Can make a choice regarding study centre and examination centre and when one wish to appear in the exams without wasting an year
Books are available for free on website for all the courses

Ignou first year I paid 75000 inr admission fee along with a registeration fee of 300 inr examination fee is 200 per paper inr I paid 8000 admission fee in 2 nd year I have to pay 250 for my original degree during convocation

Shivani Dahiya Dahiya

4.5Helpful

Reviewed on Oct 17, 2024(Enrolled 2022)

Love to do

The assignment structure then we score good marks.
We only go for giving exams. By this we can manage our job and studys both.

The exams fee paid for every time. That will be not affordable.
Sometimes they don't give the marks of assignment.

The detailed fee structure is 8000 per year. I paid 2 times. Apart from that we also have to pay exam fee for rs. 200 as per subject. I paid without books, if i take book then i will approx 10,000 .