What is Online MA: Full Form, Course Duration, Admission 2026, Colleges, Syllabus, Salary & Scope

Updated on Feb 11, 2026 12:37 IST
Akansha Bisht

Akansha BishtSenior Executive

An Online MA or Online Master of Arts is a 2-year PG degree course available in a variety of specializations. Online MA courses give students the best of both worlds- the comfort and flexibility with the equivalent that is acquired through an on-campus, conventional Degree.

Hundreds of colleges in India and abroad provide an MA Online in different specializations. The average course fee in India ranges from INR 5,000 to INR 4.5 Lakh. Though some recruiters require you to have a regular MA degree, plenty of companies in different fields hire Online MA postgrads. 

These fields include Education, Research, Media, Public Relations, NGOs, etc. If interested, you can continue reading the article for more details on Online M.A. courses.

Links useful for an Online M.A -

MA vs MBA: Which Is Better for Humanities Students?

Online MA Course Details: Highlights

An Online MA is indeed flexible and affordable. You can refer to the following table, highlighting key points of Online MA courses.

Particulars Course Details
Online MA Course Duration 2 Years (But Flexible)
Online MA Course Eligibility Criteria A BA or any other relevant degree.
Online MA Course Admission Criteria Primarily Merit-based
Online MA Course Entrance Exams CUET-PG
Top Online MA Colleges Aligarh Muslim University, Amity Online, Chandigarh University, Parul University, Gujarat University, Dr MGR Chennai, etc. 
Online MA Course Fees INR 5,000 - INR 4.5 Lakh
Online MA Jobs Journalist, Photographer, Writer, Professor, Social Worker, Public Relations Specialist, Translator, Interpreter, Historian, etc.
Top Online MA Recruiters Jagran New Media, India Today Group, UnAcademy, Wipro, Infosys, BBC India, The Hindu, etc.
Average Online MA Salary INR 3.9 LPA

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

Links relevant to an Online M.A. -

All about Delhi University Online Courses 2026

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Q:   Is an online MA a valid degree in India?
A:

Of course, it is. An Online MA degree is valid in both India and abroad. You need to pursue it from a UGC-approved university.

If you get your online MA degree from an accredited university, you're equally employable in both government and private sectors.

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Online MA Courses

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Q:   Which are the best college options abroad for an Online MA?
A:

You'll find more than 80 MA colleges abroad offering Online MA courses. Some of the top options are here. Take a look

Online MA Colleges AbroadCourse Fees
The of OxfordINR 33 Lakh
The University of British ColumbiaINR 15 - 16 Lakh
The University of MelbourneINR 17 Lakh
Felician UniversityINR 5 Lakh
The University of EdinburghINR 13 - 15 Lakh

Note - The information is taken from the official site of the college.

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Online MA Courses

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Table of contents
  • Online MA Eligibility Criteria & Admission Process 2026
  • Online MA Course Syllabus
  • Best Online MA Colleges in India
  • Popular Private Online M.A. Colleges in India
  • Online MA Salary: Job Profiles, Career Scope & Top Recruiters
  • Online MA Course FAQs
  • Most Popular Courses
  • Course Cutoffs
  • Popular Online M.A. Specializations
  • Top Ranked Colleges by Location
View More

Online MA Eligibility Criteria & Admission Process 2026

The eligibility requirements for an Online MA course are pretty similar to a regular degree. Here are some basic conditions you can fulfill for a seamless admission procedure.

Particulars Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
  • A bachelor's degree (BA / BSc / BCom / BVOc).
  • Any relevant discipline based on your MA specialization.
  • From a recognized university.
Entrance Exams
  • The admission is majorly based on the merit system; some colleges may ask for the CUET PG score.
Age Limit
  • No prescribed age limit.

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

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Online MA Admission Process 2026

The admission process for an Online MA course in India is similar to the regular MA admission but is generally simpler and less time-consuming. Here are some steps you can follow to complete it.

Particulars Details
Eligibility Criteria Check the eligibility criteria for your desired college and ensure its fulfillment.
Registration & Application Register on the college's official website. With the login credentials, fill out the application form, upload documents, and pay the application fee.
Verification Wait for the college/university to verify your application/documents. You'll then receive a confirmation email.
Fee Payment Lastly, complete the admission formalities by paying the course fees.
Access Learning Management System (LMS) Now, you'll receive the login credentials to access the online classes and study materials.

 

Q:   Which documents should I prepare for an Online MA application process?
A:

Some documents that you must keep handy during the Online MA application process are

  • A UG degree from a recognised university
  • A Photo ID Proof like Adhaar, Passport, DL, PAN Card
  • Passport-sized photographs (at least two)
  • Caste Certificate (if any)

Since it's an online process, you must have online attested copies of these docs.

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Q:   Can I get admission in online MA without an entrance exam?
A:

Yes, you can find admission for online MA with any entrance exam in many UGC-recognised institutions in India. IGNOU, CU-Online, and similar do not require you to take any national- or university-level test. But you will require to have a valid bachelor's degree in any subject from a recognised university.   

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Online MA Course Syllabus

The Online MA course syllabus and subjects are similar to regular MA courses. The only difference between the subjects and curriculum is because of the specializations. For your reference, here are some top Online MA specializations with their syllabi.

Online MA in English Syllabus

You can refer to the following table offering the MA English course syllabus idea in an online mode.

Online MA English Subjects Semester I
Drama – I Poetry – I
Fiction – I Literary, Theory, and Criticism – I
Online MA English Subjects Semester II
Drama – II Poetry – II
Fiction – II Literary, Theory, and Criticism – II
Online MA English Subjects Semester III
American Literature Indian English Literature
Literature and Environment (Elective) Introduction to Cinema Studies (Elective)
Commonwealth Literature (Elective) -
Online MA English Subjects Semester IV
Gender Studies in Literature Dissertation
Postcolonial Literature (Elective) Evolution of Theatre (Elective)
World Literature (Elective) -

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

Useful topics on the Online MA Syllabus -

IGNOU MA English Syllabus

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IGNOU MA Political Science Syllabus

Online MA in Political Science Syllabus

The MA Political Science course syllabus in an online mode is given below. Take a look

Online MA Political Science Subjects Semester I
Comparative Politics Public Administration
Western Political Thought Indian Knowledge System
Foundation of Indian Culture (IDC) -
Online MA Political Science Subjects Semester II
Political Theory Indian Political Thought
International Relations Federalism in India
Political Sociology Ancient Indian Political Institutions
Cultural Heritage of Bharat (IDC) -
Online MA Political Science Subjects Semester III
India and South Asia India and Regional Dynamics in the Indo-Pacific
India and Central Asia Research Methodology in Social Sciences
Indian Foreign Policy Review of Literature in Research: A Basic Guide
The Basics of Writing a Research Proposal -
Online MA Political Science Subjects Semester IV
International Organizations Issues and Challenges of Indian Democracy
Dissertation Indian Administrative System

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

 

Q:   How do online MA degree students get study materials?
A:

Online MA students generally get their study material from the Learning Management System (LMS) portal. They usually have login credentials for their specific university, where they get the study material, including e-books, live sessions, recorded lectures, syllabus PDF, etc.

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MA Courses

Q:   Can I clear my doubts with the professors in an Online MA course?
A:

Of course, you can. These modern online classrooms are designed in a way they give you the freedom to get academic support from your mentors. 

They have multiple channels for student-faculty interactions, sometimes even more flexible than in-campus learning. 

Know more about -

Online MA Courses

Best Online MA Colleges in India

More than 60 Humanities & Social Sciences colleges in India provide Online MA courses. These courses are offered in various specializations; hence, the curriculum, subjects, course fee, placement stats, etc., can differ. You can refer to this section for more details on some of the top Online MA colleges in India.

Best Online MA Colleges Course Fees
Directorate of Correspondence Courses and Distance Education, Bangalore University INR 11,460
Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology INR 18,000
SASTRA (Deemed to be University) INR 18,000 - 60,000
School of Distance Education, University of Kerala INR 20,610
Parul University INR 50,000
Parul University Online INR 60,000
Chandigarh University (CU) INR 75,000
Shoolini University INR 80,000
Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute INR 1 Lakh - 1.32 Lakh
Amity University Online INR 1.3 Lakh - 2.5 Lakh

Note - The information is taken from the official site of the college.

More on Online MA Colleges -

Top MA Colleges in India 2026 - Admissions, Courses, Fees, Placements, Cut Off

 

22 Courses
55.95 K - 86.01 K
9.24 - 9.5 LPA

#1 NIRF

35 Courses
432 - 18.5 K
8.4 LPA

#3 NIRF

65 Courses
500 - 19.09 K
7 LPA

#2 NIRF

25 Courses
33.81 K - 50.45 K
5.4 LPA

#4 NIRF

1.4 L - 1.42 L
8 LPA

#5 NIRF

22.2 K - 6.82 L
5.5 - 6.22 LPA

#8 NIRF

Q:   Can you suggest some affordable Online MA colleges in India?
A:

Of course. Some top Online MA colleges in India with a fee range under INR 50,000 are here. Take a look

Online MA colleges in IndiaCourse Fees
School UniversityINR 50,000
School of Distance Education, University of KeralaINR 20,610
Sathyabama Institute of Science and TechnologyINR 18,000
Bangalore UniversityINR 11,460
Sri UniversityINR 24,000

Note - The information is taken from the official site of the college.

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Online MA Courses

Q:   Which are the top government colleges for an Online MA course?
A:

Some of the top government colleges for an Online MA course are here. Take a look

Top Government CollegesCourse Fees
Periyar UniversityINR 40,000 - 60,000
Kuvempu UniversityINR 81,510 - 83,510
Aligarh Muslim UniversityINR 21,000 - 31,000
Kurukshetra University OnlineINR 40,000
Barkatullah UniversityINR 10,100

Note - The information is taken from the official site of the college.

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Online MA Courses

Popular Private Online M.A. Colleges in India

1.07 L - 16 L
3.4

#75 India Today

Humanities & Social Sciences Applications open. Apply Now

1.6 L - 5.36 L
3.8

Humanities & Social Sciences Applications open. Apply Now

2.1 L

Humanities & Social Sciences Applications open. Apply Now

4 Courses
9 L
53 Courses
1 K - 90 K
3.1
1.69 L - 4.92 L
4.0

Humanities & Social Sciences Applications open till Apr 17, 2026. Apply Now

Online MA Salary: Job Profiles, Career Scope & Top Recruiters

Though many recruiters in India and abroad prefer a regular degree as a job criterion, you can still get plenty of career options in many fields. 

Online MA Salary and Job Profiles

Some common job options after completing your Online MA course are here. Take a look
Job Profiles Job Description MA Salary

Teachers

A teacher must also mentor pupils daily for them to not only study their curriculum but also grow into responsible adults. INR 3 LPA

Administrative Officers

An administrative officer manages office stocks, prepares reports on expenses as well as the office budget, and also organizes the records of the company.

INR 5.5 LPA

Social Workers

In this particular job profile, one needs to identify and thereafter help people cope with the problems at hand.

INR 2.9 LPA

Journalists

A Journalist is expected to research, write, and present the events/ news in an honest, unbiased, and ethical manner.

INR 4.2 LPA

Counsellors

In this job profile, one needs to speak to individuals who are facing personal or professional difficulties and help them overcome their problems, and thereafter make appropriate changes in their lives.

INR 3.8 LPA

Content writers

A content writer creates well-crafted written material for offline and online platforms.

INR 3.8 LPA
Note - The salary is taken from Ambitionbox.com.

Learn More About Online MA Salary -

Career After MA

Salary of a Content Writer in India: Per Annum Average Salary for Writers

Government Teacher Salary in India

Top Online MA Recruiters

Some of the top companies hiring Online MA postgrads for different job roles are here.

Online MA Recruiters

The Times of India

Amazon

Hindustan Times

Jagran New Media

Wipro

BBC

Infosys

NDTV Convergence

Taj Group

HDFC Bank

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

 

Q:   Do recruiters prefer a regular degree over an online degree?
A:

I believe the preference for regular degrees has narrowed in recent years. Now recruiters mainly focus on a candidate's skills and expertise. To be honest, there are certain industries and roles where regular degrees are still preferred. For example, Law courses are not recognised by the Bar Council of India. Medicine or specific engineering fields do not prefer online or distance courses.

On the other hand, IT, Media, Digital Marketing, etc., fields consider them equal.

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Online MA Courses

Q:   Which are the top employment fields for Online MA postgraduates?
A:

There are many. It's you who'll choose where you want to go via your chosen specialization. You can join

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Online Master of Arts Courses

Online MA Course FAQs

You can refer to this section for some frequently asked questions on Online MA courses in India.

Q:   What are the pros of pursuing an Online MA course?
A:

There are many. First, online courses are flexible and affordable. You can literally attend your class from the sofa in your living room. 

There's no restriction on attending a class at a specific time. You can access your study materials at any time of the day and even use them as your go-to notes. 

In many colleges, they even provide faculty interaction flexibility, which means you can talk to your professors at any time of the day and clear your queries. 

Online MA courses are generally cheaper than the regular ones. 

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Full-Time MA Courses

Course Cutoffs

The cutoffs of popular Online M.A. colleges is given below:
B.A. in Psychology and English : Mumbai University Admission 2025 Last Round Closing Percentage (General-All India)Accordion Icon V3
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M.A. in Visual Effects and Animation : JMI Entrance Exam 2022 Last Round Closing Percentage (General-All India)Accordion Icon V3
Master of Physical Education (M.P.Ed.) : CUET-PG 2025 Last Round Closing Score (General-All India)Accordion Icon V3
College202320242025
Banaras Hindu University– / –– / –410
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Popular Online M.A. Specializations

Following are the most popular Online M.A. Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Popular Specializations

Top Ranked Colleges by Location

Following are the top ranked colleges for Online M.A. based on rankings published by The Week, Business Today and National Institutional Ranking Framework (MHRD).

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Answered 2 days ago

MIT School of Education and Research offers MA in Education for two-years at the PG level. This course is equivalent to M.Ed. The only difference is that MA in Education can be done after any bachelor's degree. Aspirants need to pass B.Ed to apply for M.Ed.

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered 2 days ago

There are 15 seats available in MA Education at MIT School of Education and Research. The seats are offered to candidates in MA based on their qualifying exam scores. There is no entrance test mentioned on the school's website.

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered 2 days ago

No, for taking admission in MA Psychology at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, candidates should pursued a three-year Bachelor degree with Psychology subjects. This is the compulsory eligiblity criteria that needs to be fulfiled.  

R

Raj Priya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

Institute CategoryPotential IITsAdmission Chance
Newer IITsIIT Jammu, IIT Bhilai, IIT DharwadHigh
Mid-Tier IITsIIT Patna, IIT Mandi, IIT PalakkadModerate (Likely in later rounds)
Old IITsIIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT KanpurLow for core M.Tech

S

Sidhartha Singh

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 3 days ago

MIT School of Humanities MA admissions are given to eligible students only. The requirements are as below:

  • UG degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate + SOP + PI

A

Anupama Garg

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

Yes, MIT School of Humanities does offer MA programme. It is offered in full-time mode for a duration of two years. Interested and eligible students can apply online for the programme.

V

Virajita Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

MIT School of Indian Civil Services, MIT-ADT University MA fees is INR 3.66 lakh. MIT School of Indian Civil Services, MIT-ADT University fee structure includes many componnets. The total fees may differ at the time of payment due to the variables of the fee structure.

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

Candidates who complete the MA course of MIT School of Humanities will be able to build a career in several fields such as the following:

  • Professorship
  • Teaching
  • Public Speaking
  • Translator Services
  • Public Relations
  • Journalism
  • Editorial and Content Developers
  • Critics
  • Literature Researchers

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

Yes, MIT School of Humanities does offer a MA course which is offered in one specialisation which is MA in English course.

MA at MIT School of Humanities is a two year course which covers four semesters. Admissions to MA course are decided based on merit in last qualifying exam score.

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

The hostel fees at MIT School of Humanities remains the same for all categories at INR 4.29 Lacs for the MA course. However, EW category students are only charged INR 89,100 as tuition fees for two year MA course. This makes the total fees for EWS category MA students INR 5.18 Lacs in 2026.

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

Candidates who wish to compare MIT School of Humanities MA courses first need to collect data regarding MA course fees, placements statitstics, rankings, infrastructure, faculty and more. 

This data will be required from both MIT School of Humanities and the institutes which are picked for comparison

...Read more

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

MIT School of Humanities reserved 3 seats in total from the intake of 10 of MA courses for special category candidates. Within these seats, 1 seat is reserved for EWS category and the remaining 2 seats for other categories.

EWS candidates must note that the reserved seats are only offered to student

...Read more

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

Yes, MIT School of Humanities does refund the MA fees to candidates who are yet to apply for the MA course at MIT School of Humanities. These refunds are offered based on UGC norms where early cancellation results in higher refunds.

There will be a processing charge that is deducted from the refunded

...Read more

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

For MA admissions at MIT School of Humanities in offline mode, candidates need to first register on the admission portal. From here, candidates get the option to download and print the admission form which then can be filled offline. To submit this admission form, candidates can either post it to th

...Read more

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

MIT School of Humanities MA admission process requires candidates to provide the copies of these following documents with their admission forms:

  • Class 10th and Class 12th passing certificate and marksheet
  • UG level passing degree
  • Statement of Purpose
  • ID and address proof
  • Two passport sized photographs
  • Tran

...Read more

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

Generally, MA admissions at MIT School of Humanities follow the same timeline as other instittues of MIT-ADT University. Other institutes usually close their admissions for both UG and PG level courses around the month of July. Thus, candidates can assume that MA admissions at MIT School of Humaniti

...Read more

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

Yes, MIT School of Humanities has opened admissions for all courses except PhD for the academic year 2026. Candidates who want to apply for MA course need to go to MIT-ADT University's website and register on its admission portal.

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

MIT School of Humanities has not mentioned the requirement of BA in English specifically to be eligible for MA admissions. Generally, MA admissions accept admissions for all candidates who have completed their UG level education. Thus, candidates can assume that they are eligible for MA at MIT Schoo

...Read more

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

MIT School of Humanities does not mention any entrance exams for admissions to the MA in English course. Thus, candidates CA assume that they are not required to appear for any entrance exam to qualify for MA admissions.

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

With 59 marks out of 300 in CUET PG 2026 as a General Category student, securing a seat for MA English in top-tier Central Universities like DU, JNU, or BHU is highly unlikely.

 

For a General category student, 180+ is considered a "Good Score" for MA English, while below 100 typically limits options

...Read more

S

Sidhartha Singh

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 6 days ago

Students have to fulfil the Punjabi University Patiala MA eligibility to get admission in the university. The requirements are as below:

  • UG degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate + counselling

A

Aishwarya Malhotra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 6 days ago

The total tuition fees for MA is INR 25,000 - INR 29,000 at Shri Bhawani Niketan Mahila P.G. Mahavidyalaya. Aspirants selected based on their merit need to pay the course fees to confirm their seat. Candidates must pay the fees before the last date to avoid admission cancellation.

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered 6 days ago

Shri Bhawani Niketan Mahila P.G. Mahavidyalaya offers MA for two-years at the PG level. Candidates can apply for below MA specialisations after completing graduation:

  • Political Science
  • Public Administration
  • English Literature
  • Sanskrit
  • Geography/ Psychology

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered 6 days ago

MIT School of Indian Civil Services conducts an entrance test for admission to BA (Administration). This test is of 100 marks. It is a MCQ-type test with 50 questions. The detailed syllabus will be available on the website of MIT-SICS.

S

Saumya Gairola

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 6 days ago

To be eligible for MA (Administration) at MIT-School of Indian Civil Services, candidates need to have a Bachelor's degree in any stream with atleast 50% (45% for reserved category and persons with disability).

S

Saumya Gairola

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 6 days ago

For admission in the MA (Administration) programme at MIT School of Indian Civil Services, students require the following documents:

1. Photo ID Proof
2. Passport size photographs (6)
3. Class 10 Marksheet
4. Class 12 Marksheet
5. Caste Certificate (For Reserved Category candidates)
6. GAP certificate (In

...Read more

S

Saumya Gairola

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 6 days ago

MIT-School of Indian Civil Services conducts an entrance test for admission to its MA (Administration). The syllabus of the test conducted by MIT-SICS covers the following topics:

  1. English
  2. Logical Reasoning
  3. Data interpretation
  4. General Mental Ability
  5. General Issues on Environment
  6. Current Events (National &

...Read more

S

Saumya Gairola

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 6 days ago

Yes, there is a fee concession available for students belonging to EWS category in the MA (Administration) programme at MIT-School of Civil Services. For two year MA, EWS students have to pay the course fee of INR 1.75 lakh. If they continue the programme in the third year at MIT-SICS, they have to

...Read more

S

Saumya Gairola

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 6 days ago

For two-year MA (Administration) programme at MIT School of Indian Civil Services, students have to pay a course fee of INR 2.84 lakh. If students continue the programme in the third year, they have to pay a fee of INR 3.34 Lacs at MIT-SICS.

S

Saumya Gairola

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 6 days ago

No, it is not mandatory to continue the MA (Administration) programme at MIT-School of Indian Civil Services in the third year. In the third year, students attend lectures of optional subjects of UPSC CSE exam (History, Geography, Political Science). They also appear for 5 Mock Exams as per the patt

...Read more

S

Saumya Gairola

Contributor-Level 10

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