Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

The BA (Jyotish) programme at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi is offered as Shastri (Hons.) in Jyotish under the Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vigyan (SVDV) Faculty - one of the most prestigious faculties for traditional Indian knowledge systems in the world. The programme is offered in two specialisations: Jyotish Falit (predictive astrology) and Jyotish Ganit (mathematical astronomy). It is a 4-year full-time on-campus programme. Jyotish Falit has 27 seats and Jyotish Ganit has 28 seats. The total course fee is Rs. 21,200 for the entire 4-year duration. Admission is based on CUET UG scores. BHU's SVDV Faculty is one of the few institutions in India offering a rigorous academic programme in Jyotish, combining traditional Vedic knowledge with modern academic methodology. The programme is popular among students with a background in Sanskrit and an interest in Vedic astrology, astronomy, and traditional Indian sciences.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic session are upcoming. The CUET UG 2026 registration window has already closed (January 3 - February 26, 2026). The CUET UG exam is scheduled from May 11 to May 31, 2026 (tentative), with results expected in early July 2026. BHU counselling registration is expected to begin in the third week of July 2026, following CUET result declaration.

Key Points

Offered under BHU's prestigious Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vigyan (SVDV) Faculty, one of the world's leading centres for traditional Indian knowledge systems.
Two specialisations available: Jyotish Falit (predictive astrology, 27 seats) and Jyotish Ganit (mathematical astronomy, 28 seats).
The curriculum integrates classical Vedic texts on Jyotish with modern academic study of astronomy and mathematics.
Graduates are well-positioned for careers in Jyotish consultancy, academic research, teaching, and publication of traditional texts.
BHU's location in Varanasi - the traditional centre of Sanskrit learning - provides an unparalleled environment for studying Jyotish.
The programme provides a strong foundation for postgraduate studies (MA/PhD) in Jyotish and related Vedic sciences.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
Cutoff
FAQs

BHU Latest Updates and News

20 Apr, 2026 CUET UG 2026 Exam will be held from May 11 to 31, 2026. The city intimation slip and admit card will be released soon @cuet.nta.nic.in.

BHU BA (Jyotish) Fees

The Shastri (Hons.) in Jyotish programme at BHU has a total course fee of Rs. 21,200 for the entire 4-year duration. Hostel accommodation is available separately and is not mandatory.

Course Fee Structure

Fee Component	Total (4 Years) (INR)
Tuition Fee	21,200
Total Fees (excluding hostel)	21,200

Hostel Fees (Optional)

Hostel Component	Per Year (INR)
Hostel Fee (Male)	~5,375
Mess Charges	~18,000 - 24,000 (approx.)

Hostel accommodation is not mandatory and is subject to availability.
Mess charges are separate and vary based on the hostel and meal plan chosen.
A caution/security deposit may be collected at the time of admission, which is refundable at the end of the course.
Students from Uttar Pradesh may be eligible for UP Government Scholarship, which can reimburse a significant portion of fees.
Paid seats (up to 15% of total seats) are available at a higher fee for students who narrowly miss the merit cutoff.

BHU BA (Jyotish) Admission 2026

Admissions to Shastri (Hons.) in Jyotish at BHU are conducted through CUET UG scores (Sanskrit subject test), followed by BHU's own counselling process at bhucuet.samarth.edu.in. The 2025 General category CUET cutoff for Shastri (Jyotish Falit with Jyotish Ganit) was approximately 177.79 marks (Round 1). For the 2026-27 session, students must first appear in CUET UG 2026 with Sanskrit as the domain subject and then register for BHU counselling after results are declared.

BHU Admission Dates

Event	Tentative Date
CUET UG Registration Start	January 3, 2026 (Completed)
CUET UG Registration End	February 26, 2026 (Completed)
CUET UG Admit Card Release	May 5, 2026 (Tentative)
CUET UG Exam	May 11 - May 31, 2026 (Tentative)
CUET UG Answer Key Release	June 17, 2026 (Tentative)
CUET UG Result Declaration	July 4, 2026 (Tentative)
BHU Counselling Registration Opens	Third week of July 2026 (Tentative)
Last Date for BHU Counselling Registration	First week of August 2026 (Tentative)
BHU UG First Seat Allotment	Second week of August 2026 (Tentative)
BHU UG Second/Third Allotment	Second-Third week of August 2026 (Tentative)
Batch Commencement	October/November 2026 (Tentative)

CUET UG Exam Dates

Event	Date
Registration Start	January 3, 2026
Registration End	February 26, 2026
Admit Card Release	May 5, 2026 (Tentative)
Exam Date	May 11 - May 31, 2026
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 Madhyama Examination of BHU / Madhyama / Uttar Madhyama / Upa Shastri / Intermediate or 10+2 or equivalent with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate.
Sanskrit must be one of the subjects in the qualifying examination and the candidate must have passed in Sanskrit.
Candidates who have passed a one-year certificate course in Sanskrit from BHU after passing 10+2 with 50% marks (in both 10+2 and the certificate course) are also eligible.
Age: Not more than 22 years as on July 1, 2026.

Admission Process

Register and appear for CUET UG 2026 at cuet.nta.nic.in, selecting Sanskrit (Subject Test 325) as the domain subject.
After CUET result declaration, register for BHU UG counselling at bhucuet.samarth.edu.in.
Pay the BHU counselling registration fee (General/OBC/EWS: Rs. 500; SC/ST/PwD: Rs. 250).
Enter course and college preferences (Shastri Jyotish Falit / Jyotish Ganit) in the BHU counselling portal.
Seat allotment is done based on CUET normalised score and preference order.
Accept the allotment and pay the commitment fee within the stipulated deadline.
Document verification is conducted online; ineligible candidates' offers are withdrawn.
Pay the balance admission fee and report to the SVDV Faculty, BHU on the specified date with original documents.

BHU BA (Jyotish) Scholarships 2026

BHU offers a range of scholarships and financial aid options for students. Given the relatively low fee structure of this programme, most students can also benefit from government scholarship schemes. Students from Uttar Pradesh are particularly well-placed to receive UP Government Scholarship.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship	Eligibility	Amount/Benefit
UP Government Scholarship (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. 30,000-60,000 per year)
National Scholarship Portal (NSP)	Students from other states; merit-cum-means basis	Varies by category and course
BHU Merit Scholarship (Rank Holders)	1st rank holder in the department	One-time reward of Rs. 4,000
BHU Merit Scholarship (2nd Rank)	2nd rank holder in the department	One-time reward of Rs. 3,000
BHU Scholarship for Economically Weak Students	Family income below Rs. 1 lakh per annum; 75% attendance	Free meals (lunch and dinner) for 7 months; Rs. 2,000 annually for 100 students
BHU Scholarship for Physically Challenged Students	Physically handicapped students	Rs. 4,000 one-time per year (25 students)
S.N. Ranade Scholarship	Students with excellent academic record	Amount varies based on performance

Students already receiving any other scholarship are not eligible for BHU institutional scholarships.
UP Scholarship applications are typically submitted online through the UP Scholarship portal (scholarship.up.gov.in) at the beginning of each academic year.
Students must maintain at least 75% attendance to remain eligible for BHU scholarships.

BHU BA (Jyotish) FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between Jyotish Falit and Jyotish Ganit at BHU?

Ans. Jyotish Falit focuses on predictive astrology - the interpretation of planetary positions and their effects on human life, including natal charts (Janma Kundali), muhurta (auspicious timing), and prashna (horary astrology). Jyotish Ganit focuses on mathematical astronomy - the calculation of planetary positions, eclipses, and astronomical phenomena using traditional Vedic mathematical methods. Both are integral parts of the Jyotish tradition, and BHU offers them as separate specialisations within the Shastri (Hons.) programme.

Ques. Is Sanskrit mandatory for admission to Shastri (Jyotish) at BHU?

Ans. Yes, Sanskrit is mandatory. Candidates must have studied Sanskrit as a subject in their qualifying examination (10+2 or Madhyama) and must have passed in Sanskrit. They must also appear in CUET UG with Sanskrit (Subject Test 325) as the domain subject. Students without a Sanskrit background are not eligible for this programme.

Ques. What career opportunities are available after Shastri (Jyotish) from BHU?

Ans. Graduates can pursue careers as Jyotish consultants and practitioners, academic researchers and teachers in Jyotish and Sanskrit studies, authors and publishers of traditional texts, and roles in cultural and religious organisations. After completing Shastri, students can pursue MA (Jyotish) and then PhD, which opens doors to academic positions in universities. Some graduates also work with government bodies involved in traditional knowledge preservation and the Indian calendar (Panchang) preparation.

Ques. What is the scope of Jyotish as an academic discipline in India?

Ans. Jyotish has been recognised as a legitimate academic discipline by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and is taught at several central and state universities. BHU's SVDV Faculty is one of the most prestigious centres for Jyotish studies in India. There is growing interest in Vedic sciences both in India and internationally, and graduates with a rigorous academic background in Jyotish from BHU are well-regarded in both traditional and academic circles.

Ques. Can students from non-Sanskrit backgrounds apply for Shastri (Jyotish) at BHU?

Ans. Students who have not studied Sanskrit at the 10+2 level but have passed a one-year certificate course in Sanskrit from BHU (after 10+2 with 50% marks) are also eligible. This provides an alternative pathway for students who are interested in Jyotish but did not study Sanskrit in school. However, they must still appear in CUET UG with Sanskrit as the domain subject.

Ques. How is the academic environment in BHU's SVDV Faculty for Jyotish students?

Ans. BHU's SVDV Faculty is one of the world's leading centres for traditional Indian knowledge systems, with a distinguished faculty of scholars in Jyotish, Vedic mathematics, Sanskrit, and related disciplines. The academic environment combines rigorous study of classical texts with modern academic methodology. Students have access to BHU's extensive library, which houses one of the largest collections of Sanskrit manuscripts and Jyotish texts in India. The faculty regularly organises seminars, workshops, and conferences on Vedic sciences.