Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The Master of Arts in Economics at Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth (TMV), Pune, is a 2-year postgraduate programme offered by the Nehru Institute of Social Sciences (NISS) under the Faculty of Social Sciences. Spread across four semesters, the programme is designed as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 guidelines and covers core areas of economic theory, applied economics, research methodology, and policy analysis. The course is open to graduates from Economics or any science/engineering/professional background, making it accessible to a wide range of students. Admission is merit-based with no entrance examination required. The total programme fee is approximately Rs. 42,000 for the two years, making it one of the most affordable MA Economics programmes in Pune. The programme is offered in full-time, on-campus mode at the Sadashiv Peth campus of TMV.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic year are expected to open in June-July 2026, with classes commencing in July-August 2026. For the 2025-26 batch, admissions are already closed. The programme is popular among students aspiring to careers in government services (UPSC, MPSC, RBI, NABARD), banking, financial research, and academia.

Key Points

The programme is offered under the Nehru Institute of Social Sciences (NISS), which also offers MA in History, Political Science, and Sociology.
The curriculum is aligned with NEP-2020 and includes Research Methodology, On-Job Training (OJT)/Field Project, Indian Knowledge System (IKS), and a mandatory Research Project.
Students have the option to choose elective courses each semester, allowing for some specialisation within the broad Economics curriculum.
The programme covers Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Agricultural Economics, International Economics, Public Finance, Indian Economy, and Econometrics, among other topics.
On-Job Training/Field Project/Internship is a compulsory component, providing practical exposure.
The passing criteria is 40% in both internal and external evaluation.
TMV is a NAAC re-accredited (Second Cycle) university with a "B++" grade and over 100 years of academic legacy.

Official Link:

Go To Website

Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

TMV MA (Economics) Fees

The MA (Economics) programme at TMV is among the most affordable postgraduate Economics courses in Pune. The total programme fee for the 2026-27 batch is approximately Rs. 42,000 across two years, with Year 1 fees around Rs. 20,000 and Year 2 fees around Rs. 22,000. A refundable Library Deposit is collected separately. The detailed fee breakup is as follows (students are advised to verify the exact fee structure from the official TMV website or NISS department):

Fee Breakdown

Fee Component	Year 1 (Rs.)	Year 2 (Rs.)	Total (Rs.)
Eligibility Fee	1,000	-	1,000
Admission Fee	1,000	1,000	2,000
Examination Fee	2,000	2,000	4,000
Tuition Fee	14,000	16,500	30,500
Library Fee	500	500	1,000
Other Charges	1,500	2,000	3,500
Total Fees	20,000	22,000	42,000

Library Deposit: Rs. 2,000 (refundable at the time of leaving the institution).
Fees are subject to revision each academic year; students must verify the exact fee structure from the official TMV/NISS prospectus for the relevant academic year.
TMV has a hostel on campus with a refundable deposit of Rs. 5,000; hostel is not mandatory for this programme.

TMV MA (Economics) Admission 2026-27

Admission to the MA (Economics) programme at TMV is merit-based, with no entrance examination required. Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree in Economics or any science/engineering/professional programme from a recognised university. Applications are submitted online through the TMV Admission Portal (tmv.academydesk.com). Admissions typically open in June-July each year, with classes commencing in July-August.

TMV MA (Economics) Admission Dates

Event	Date (Tentative)
Application Start Date	June 2026
Application Last Date	July 31, 2026
Merit List / Seat Allotment	August 2026
Commencement of Classes (Semester I)	June 16 - December 12, 2026
Commencement of Classes (Semester II)	December 30, 2026 - April 30, 2027

Relevant Exam Dates

Exam	Event	Date
CUET PG 2026	Registration Start	December 14, 2025
CUET PG 2026	Registration End	January 25, 2026
CUET PG 2026	Admit Card	March 3, 2026
CUET PG 2026	Exam Date	March 6 - March 27, 2026
CUET PG 2026	Result	May 6, 2026

Note: TMV's MA (Economics) admission is merit-based and does not mandatorily require CUET PG. Candidates are advised to verify the latest admission notification on the official TMV website (tmv.edu.in).

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria:

Bachelor's degree in Economics from any recognised university.
OR Bachelor's degree in any science, engineering, or professional programme from any recognised university.
A minimum of 50% marks at the graduation level is generally required (45% for reserved category candidates).

Admission Process:

Visit the official TMV Admission Portal at tmv.academydesk.com and register.
Fill in the online application form and upload required documents (graduation mark sheets, passing certificate, school leaving certificate, caste certificate if applicable, and passport-size photographs).
Submit the application form online or in person at the TMV/NISS office.
A merit list is prepared based on graduation marks.
Selected candidates complete document verification and fee payment to confirm admission.
Classes commence as per the academic calendar (Semester I: June 16 to December 12; Semester II: December 30 to April 30).

TMV MA (Economics) Scholarships 2026-27

TMV does not offer exclusive institutional scholarships for the MA (Economics) programme. Students can avail of various government scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal and MahaDBT. Students aspiring to careers in economics research may also explore fellowships from institutions like ICSSR (Indian Council of Social Science Research).

Available Scholarships

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount	Application Portal
Government of India Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)	SC/ST students with family income below prescribed limit	Covers tuition and other fees (varies by state norms)	scholarships.gov.in (NSP)
MahaDBT - Post Matric Scholarship (OBC/SBC/VJNT)	OBC/SBC/VJNT students from Maharashtra	Covers tuition fees as per government norms	mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in
Central Sector Scholarship (Merit-based)	Students with family income below Rs. 4.5 lakh p.a.; top 20 percentile in Class 12	Rs. 10,000 per annum (PG level)	scholarships.gov.in (NSP)
Minority Post-Matric Scholarship	Minority community students with family income below Rs. 2 lakh p.a.	Covers maintenance and tuition fees	scholarships.gov.in (NSP)
ICSSR Junior Research Fellowship	Students pursuing social science research at PG/Ph.D. level	Rs. 25,000 per month (JRF)	icssr.org

Application deadlines for NSP scholarships are typically between October and December each year.
MahaDBT applications open annually; students must apply fresh each year.
ICSSR fellowships are highly competitive and require a separate application; students are advised to check the ICSSR website for current fellowship notifications.

TMV MA (Economics) FAQs

Ques. Is a background in Economics mandatory to apply for MA Economics at TMV, or can students from other streams apply?

Ans. No, a background in Economics is not mandatory. The eligibility criteria allow graduates from any science, engineering, or professional programme to apply, in addition to Economics graduates. This makes the programme accessible to students from diverse academic backgrounds who wish to transition into economics studies at the postgraduate level.

Ques. What is the On-Job Training (OJT) component in MA Economics at TMV? Where do students typically do their OJT?

Ans. The On-Job Training (OJT)/Field Project/Internship is a compulsory component of the MA Economics programme under NEP-2020 guidelines. Students typically undertake internships or field projects with government departments, NGOs, banks, financial institutions, or research organisations. The department facilitates OJT placements, and students are evaluated based on their OJT report and performance.

Ques. What are the career prospects after MA Economics from TMV? Is it useful for competitive exams?

Ans. MA Economics from TMV is well-suited for careers in government services (UPSC, MPSC, Indian Economic Services, Indian Statistical Services), banking and financial institutions (RBI, NABARD, SBI), market research, financial consulting, and academia. The degree also qualifies graduates to appear for SET/NET for teaching positions and to pursue Ph.D. in Economics. The strong theoretical and applied economics curriculum provides a solid foundation for competitive examinations.

Ques. Does TMV offer MA Economics through distance mode as well? What is the difference?

Ans. TMV's Directorate of Distance Education (DDE) offers MA in Social Sciences through distance mode, which covers subjects including Economics. However, the MA (Economics) offered by the Nehru Institute of Social Sciences (NISS) at the main campus is a regular, full-time on-campus programme with a more structured curriculum, OJT, and research project components. The regular programme is more comprehensive and preferred for students seeking academic depth and research exposure.

Ques. What is the academic calendar for MA Economics at TMV? When do semesters start and end?

Ans. As per the official TMV academic schedule, Semester I runs from June 16 to December 12, and Semester II runs from December 30 to April 30. The programme follows this pattern across all four semesters over two years. Students are advised to check the official TMV website for the exact academic calendar for the relevant year, as dates may vary slightly.

Ques. Is the MA Economics degree from TMV recognised for government jobs and higher studies?

Ans. Yes. TMV is a UGC-recognised Deemed University, and its MA Economics degree is fully recognised for government jobs, competitive examinations, and higher studies (Ph.D., M.Phil.). Graduates can apply for positions in the Indian Economic Services, RBI, NABARD, and other government bodies, as well as appear for SET/NET for teaching positions. The degree is also accepted for Ph.D. admissions at TMV and other recognised universities across India.