BA Economics Subjects & Syllabus 2026: Download Semester-wise PDF, Important Books

Updated on Apr 21, 2025 06:01 IST
Bhavya Jain

Bhavya JainContent Author

BA Economics is a 3-year under-graduation course which can be pursued by students after completing their Class 12 from a recognized board of India. BA Economics is one of the specializations of Bachelor of Arts which requires a minimum percentage of 45% in Class 12 for admission in most colleges of India.

BA Economics Subjects are generally include 14 core courses, 8 elective courses, and 4 skill & ability enhancement courses, which is covered into 6 semesters in 3 years. Most colleges follow learning outcome-based approach, graduate attributes, program objectives, and evaluation schemes for better learning of students.

Most admissions to BA Economics courses are based on merit, but some popular colleges may also ask for entrance exam scores for accepting admission. BA Economics course is popular among UPSC preparing students and provide an edge over preparation.

How many semesters are there in BA Economics?

There are a total of 6 semesters covered in 3-year duration in BA Economics course which may differ for different colleges in India. Each semester is divided into core courses, discipline specific electives, general electives, career enhancements and ability enhancements courses. BA Economics course is distributed in approximately 148 credits from each course in many colleges of India.

The following table shows a general overview of the BA Economics syllabus provided in most government and private colleges of India.

BA Economics Subjects Particulars

BA Economics Subjects Details

Core Courses

14 (6 credits each)

Discipline Specific Electives

4 (6 credits each)

Generic Electives

4 (6 credits each)

Skill Enhancement Courses

2 (4 credits each)

Ability Enhancement Compulsory Courses

2 (4 credits each)

Note - The information above is taken from official sites and may vary.

BA Economics: Core Subjects List

There are 14 core subjects under BA Economics course which is compulsory for all students. The core subject list and numbers may vary for different colleges in India. Students can check a general overview of the core courses in BA Economics Subject taught in most colleges of India in the following table.

BA Economics Semesters

Core Subjects Topics

BA Economics Semester 1

·       Mathematical Methods for Economics I

·       Introductory Micro -economics

BA Economics Semester 2

·       Mathematical Methods for Economics II

·       Introductory 2 Macroeconomics

BA Economics Semester 3

·       Intermediate Microeconomics I

·       Intermediate Macroeconomics I

·       Statistical Methods for Economics

BA Economics Semester 4

·       Intermediate Microeconomics II

·       Intermediate Macroeconomics II

·       Introductory Econometrics

BA Economics Semester 5

·       Indian Economy I

·       Development Economics I

BA Economics Semester 6

·       Indian Economy II

·       Development Economics II

Note - The information above is taken from external sites and may vary.

BA Economics: Elective Subjects List

There are 8 complusory elective courses which is chosen from a list of elective courses provided in BA Economics course in most colleges of India. The elctive subject list and number may vary for different colleges in India. Students can check some of the BA Economics elective subjects provided in colleges of India from the following table.

BA Economics Subjects Types of Electives

BA Economics Elective Subjects

General Elective

·       General Elective I

·       General Elective II

Discipline Specific Elective

·       Game Theory

·       International Trade

·       Public Economics

·       Financial Economics

·       Applied Econometrics

·       Economic History of India (1857-1947)

·       Political Economy I

·       Economics of Health and Education

·       Environmental Economics

·       Open Economy Macroeconomics

·       Money and Financial Markets

·       Comparative Economic Development (1850- 1950)

·       Law and Economics

·       Political Economy II

Skill Enhancement Courses

·       Data Analysis

·       Research Methodology

·       Contemporary Economic Issues

Ability Enhancement Compulsory Courses

·       Art of Communication

·       Environmental Science

Note - The information above is taken from external sites and may vary.

BA Economics: Elective Subjects in Top Colleges

As mentioned earlier, BA Economics subjects have different electives in different colleges of India. There are two types of elective courses such as general elective and discipline specific elective. Students can check the general elective course topics for BA Economics course in best colleges of India from the following table.

BA Economics Best Colleges

General Elective Subjects

Hansraj College

·       Introductory Microeconomics

·       Introductory Macroeconomics

·       Data Analysis

·       Money and Banking

·       Indian Economy I

·       Economic History of India

·       Public Finance

·       Indian Economy II

·       Global Political Economy

·       Game Theory

St. Xavier’s College Mumbai

·       Advanced Macroeconomics

·       Macroeconomics: Theory and Practice

·       Economic Development: Policy & Applications

·       Introduction to Political Economy

·       International Finance: Theory & Policy

·       Mathematical Techniques for Economics

·       Indian Financial Markets

Miranda House

·       Introductory Microeconomics

·       Introductory Macroeconomics

·       Money and Banking

·       Global Political Economy

Lady Shri Ram College for Women

·       Introductory Microeconomics

·       Introductory Macroeconomics

·       Money and Banking

·       Global Political Economy

Kirori Mal College

·       Introduction

·       Consumer Theory

·       Production and Costs

·       Perfect Competition

·       Financial markets: Introduction

·       Interest Rates

·       Central Banking and Monetary policy

Note - The information above is taken from external sites and may vary.

BA Economics: Popular Books and Authors

Some of the most popular books taught and studied by students in most colleges of India for BA Economics courses along with their authors are: 

BA Economics Popular Books

Author Name

Mathematics for Economic Analysis

Sydsaeter, K., Hammond, P

Microeconomics

Bernheim, B., Whinston, M

Principles of Economics

Mankiw, N

Mathematics for Economic Analysis

Sydsaeter, K., Hammond, P

Macroeconomics

Blanchard, O.

An Introduction to Game Theory

Osborne, M.

Indian Economy

Misra & Puri

Development Economics

Debraj Ray

Note - The information above is taken from external sites and may vary.

Distance BA Economics Syllabus

Here are some of the best Distance BA Economics colleges in India along with their course fees.

Distance BA Economics Colleges in India Total Tuition Fees (annually)
IGNOU 9,600 - 12,000
University of Madras 16,710
University of Mumbai 17,460
NSOU Kolkata 9,900
Tamil Nadu Open University 3,000

Note - The information above is taken from external sites and may vary.

BA Economics Subjects in Best Colleges

The following table shows detailed syllabus link for BA Economics course which is taught in best colleges of India.

Best BA Economics Colleges in India

BA Economics Syllabus

Hansraj College

BA Economics Syllabus

St. Xavier’s College

BA Economics Syllabus

Miranda House

BA Economics Syllabus

Lady Shri Ram College for Women

BA Economics Syllabus

Kirori Mal College

BA Economics Syllabus I

 BA Economics Syllabus II

Hindu College

BA Economics Syllabus

Loyola College

BA Economics Syllabus

Note - The information above is taken from external sites and may vary.

Table of contents
  • Popular BA Economics Colleges in India
  • Popular Private BA Economics Colleges in India
  • Popular BA Economics Specializations
  • Most Popular Courses

Popular BA Economics Colleges in India

Following are the most popular BA Economics Colleges in India. Learn more about these BA Economics colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
4 Courses
₹540
₹8.4 LPA

#5 India Today

2 Courses
₹92.01 K
₹9.5 LPA

#1 India Today

4 Courses
₹49.98 K
₹7 LPA

#2 Outlook

5 Courses
₹53.03 K - 54.89 K
₹5.4 LPA

#4 India Today

1 Course
₹720
₹4.62 LPA

#6 India Today

5.0
₹3.44 LPA
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Popular Private BA Economics Colleges in India

₹60 K - 72 K
₹3 LPA
─
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1 Course
₹2 L
─
─
─
₹1.2 L
4.0
─
─
─
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#97 The Week

1 Course
₹1.26 L
₹2 LPA
─
─

Economics Applications open. Apply Now

₹1.15 L
3.0
─

Popular BA Economics Specializations

Following are the most popular BA Economics Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Popular Specializations

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Answered 2 weeks ago

As a part of the admission process, Indian students can increase their chances of admission to Hohenheim Uni Master in International Business and Economics course, if they submit a GMAT / GRE score. Students can apply to this Master's course via HohCampus application portal. 

  • A Bachelor's degree requ

...Read more

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Nishtha Shukla

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Popular Courses for Indian students at Trier University are:

  • Applied Statistics (MSc)
  • Business Mathematics (MA)
  • Data Science (MSc)
  • Economics (MSc)
  • Natural Language Processing (MSc), etc.

A

Ansh Gumber

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a month ago

The highest package offered during the placements at Chitkara University Institute of Engineering and Technology is INR 1.11 crore offered by Amazon.

A

Akanksha Yadav

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Both  Chandigarh University and Chitkara University are top choices for a B.Sc. in Hotel Management. 

You can check the detailed comparison from the link given below-

https://www.shiksha.com/compare-chandigarh-university-cu-vs-chitkara-university-45668-25096

A

Akanksha Yadav

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

UniversityFee(for 4 year approx)Average CSE PlacementOverall Value 
ThaparAround INR 18.0 - 22.0 LakhsINR 11–13 LPAIt has expensive fees but premium industry recognition.
MIT PuneAround INR 14.0 - 16.0 LakhsINR 7–8 LPAIt has high fees and living costs but great location advantage.
Bharati VidyapeethAround INR 6.0 - 8.0 Lakhs
INR 6–7 LPAIt has lower tuition fees compared to MIT Pune and Thapar, offering good ROI.
ChitkaraAround INR 8.8 - 10.4 LakhsINR 6–6.5 LPAThis college has better controlled environment than CU/LPU.
Chandigarh UnivAround INR 10.4 - 12.0 LakhsINR 5.5–6.5 LPACollege offers good infrastructure, but you must fight hard in mass placements.
LPUAround INR 11.2 - 12.8 LakhsINR 5.5–6.5 LPAThe college has an exceptional campus life, but high student crowd.

 

A

Akanksha Yadav

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Go to the official application portal of  Chitkara University Institute of Engineering and Technology and register to fill the apllication form.

  • After form-filling, attach or provide supporting documents such as your Class 10th and 12th mark sheets.
  •  Next, pay the non-refundable application fee.
  •  At la

...Read more

A

Akanksha Yadav

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

For better vision, you can check the comparison below-

Chandigarh UniversityChitkara University
It is ranked as India's #1 institution in Hotel & Hospitality Management by the QS World University Rankings by Subject, placing it among the top 100 globally.It is ranked as 4th among top private hotel management institutes in India by GHRDC and #1 in the North region and Punjab.
The college features advanced labs, including molecular gastronomic equipment in culinary training spaces.The college is known for strong practical learning modules,   and solid industry touchpoints.
Recruiters like top global chains like JW Marriott, Taj, Oberoi, Hyatt Regency and IT visit the college for placements.

Top recruiters for hotel and hospitality management programs at Chitkara University include major hospitality brands and luxury hotel chains.

 

A

Akanksha Yadav

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Top recruiters that participate in placements at the Chitkara School of Planning and Architecture, Chitkara University include Google, Infosys, Wipro, TCS, HCL Technologies, Airtel, Adani Group, Amazon, Accenture, Capgemini.

A

Akanksha Yadav

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Chitkara University

Chandigarh University

Strong specialised tracks and practical collaborations with companies like AWS, Nvidia, and IBM, alongside active startup incubation support.

The college offers extensive international tie-ups and student exchange programs with foreign universities.

In comparison to CU, the batches are smaller. Also, rigid academic discipline, structured day-to-day routine and focused study atmosphere.

The college has very large batch sizes mean high competition for top-tier packages, requiring individual proactive efforts.

Students get hands-on learning, a more focused/personalized academic environment and strong core industry ties.

College has massive campus life, high volume of corporate recruiters and global exposure.

Solid placement percentage with a reliable core and IT company turnout, though total peak mass offers can be lower than CU.

High volume of mass recruiters and tier-1 tech giants (Google, Microsoft, Amazon, IBM) visit the campus, yielding thousands of offers annually.

A

Akanksha Yadav

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Chitkara University

Chandigarh University

For the complete B.Tech program, the fee is around INR 6LPA to INR18.9 LPA.

Here, the fee is around INR 5.7LPA to INR14.8L for the full B.Tech program.

For admission, the college accepts national exams like JEE Main alongside merit

College ses its own CUCET exam for entry and scholarship.

Students get hands-on learning, a more focused/personalized academic environment and strong core industry ties.

College has massive campus life, high volume of corporate recruiters and global exposure.

College has high placement percentage of 85%+ with robust practical training and good packages.

College conducts boot camps, technical training and soft-skills grooming to match industry standards.

A

Akanksha Yadav

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Chandigarh University 

S

Suraj Prajapat

Beginner-Level 1

Answered a month ago

Financial and business consulting is considered as one of the most lucrative and versatile paths to choose after graduating with economics. Apart from this, below are the top jobs/positions after studying economics.

  1. Investment Banking
  2. Financial Analysis/Analyst
  3. Data Analyst/Business Intelligence
  4. Managem

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Upasana Khandelwal

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a month ago

The UK and the USA, in general are considered to be the top countries for pursuing a degree in economics abroad. Both of these countries are concentrated with the highest number of top-ranked economics universities in the world. 

A

Abhishek Khanna

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a month ago

Yes LPU generally allows students with awaited Class 12 results to apply for programs like BA (Hons) Economics on a provisional basis. However admission remains subject to meeting the eligibility criteria and submitting the required documents once the board results are declared.

Many students apply e

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a

aayra rana

Beginner-Level 5

Answered a month ago

A rank of at least 849 is required for students in the General AI category to gain admission to the MSc in Economics course. The highest rank for other categories, is given in the table below.

Category IIT Roorkee cutoff 2026
General849
OBC984
SC2012
ST3310
EWS1132

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

General AI category students need to secure a rank of at least 22, or preferably lower for admission to MSc in Economics programme. For other categories, the highest acceptable rank is given below for the same course.

CategoryIIT Delhi MSc cutoff 2026
General22
OBC202
SC391
ST475
EWS51
PWD497

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

London School of Economics is one of top ranked universities in world. As per QS Rankings, London School of Economics is ranked #62 under category of “World University Rankings 2027”. University is ranked among top 10 universities in UK as per QS Rankings 2027.

 
 

K

Kanishka Gambhir

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

You can check the college portal for the previous years' papers.

https://www.shiksha.com/college/psg-college-of-arts-and-science-psgcas-coimbatore-1855

A

Akanksha Yadav

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, you can get admission in a BA Economics course without appearing for an entrance exam. Many colleges in India offer admission on the basis of class 12th scores. But, candidates should verify with college of their eligibility criteria and admission policy.

B

Bhavya Jain

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 months ago

BSc Economics is very maths centric. Students have to study concepts including calculus, linear algebra and advanced statistics. 

BA Economics has more theory. It involves studying policy history, political structures, human behaviour and economic history. It is a more social science.

B

Bhavya Jain

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 months ago

You don't have to be a Mathematics genius to study BA Economics. But you should have a strong hold on at least class 12th level maths. 

You should be able to understand parts of math like calculus, algebra and basic statistics.

B

Bhavya Jain

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 2 months ago

Students can visit the official WBCHSE website and open the Model Question Paper Books or previous year paper section. From there, they can download the Economics sample paper for their required semester.

S

Shobhit Saini

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

The paper has three sections. Section A carries 2-mark questions, Section B carries 4-mark questions, and Section C carries 6-mark questions, adding up to 40 marks.

S

Shobhit Saini

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Semester III Economics generally follows an objective, MCQ-based format worth 40 marks. It covers National Income Accounting, the Keynesian system, and early Indian Economic Development topics

S

Shobhit Saini

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

The WBCHSE Class 12 Economics Semester IV paper carries 40 marks and runs for 2 hours. It covers Macroeconomics and Indian Economic Development topics from the semester syllabus.

S

Shobhit Saini

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

The total tuition fee of Vishwakarma University BSc Economics course is INR 3.9 lakh.

M

Manashjyoti Piplani

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Sure, I am sharing the details about the BS in Economics programme at IIT Patna below.

The course duration is 4 years.You need to have a valid score in JEE Advanced and 75% marks in 10+2 (HSC) or equivalent.

A

Akanksha Yadav

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Students need at least 35 out of 100 marks to pass the TS Inter Economics exam.

S

Shobhit Saini

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

The sample paper is a useful tool, but it should be used along with the textbook and class notes. not as a complete replacement for them.

S

Shobhit Saini

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

TGBIE usually releases model papers a few months before the board exams. Students can check this page for the latest update once the paper is out

S

Shobhit Saini

Contributor-Level 10

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