BA Political Science Syllabus, Subjects, Semester, Yearly, Entrance Exam, Books, Top Colleges

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Sounak Banerjee

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BA Political Science Hons is a three-year undergraduate course that deals with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political thought, political behavior, and constitutions and laws. Its focus is on historical and modern political systems, public administration, governmental policies, international relations, and public affairs. 

Candidates must satisfy the eligibility criteria of a minimum aggregate of 50% in 10+2 from any reputed University to be eligible for admission. Some universities and Institutions conduct entrance exams for admission to the course. Aspirants are called to write a written test, participate in group discussions, and have a personal interview. The selection will be based on the marks obtained in the entrance test.

See Also: Political Science Courses

BA Political Science Hons program systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, and associated constitutions and laws. BA Political Science Hons graduates can get different job roles such as Editor, News Reporter, Bank Manager, Clerk, etc. The Top companies offering BA Political Science Hons Graduate jobs offer are InterGlobe Technologies, Concentrix Corporation, com Inc, AON Corporation, ICICI Bank Ltd, Cognizant, Viacom Inc and many more.

BA Hons. Political Science Course Details

Course Name BA Hons. Political Science
Course Level Graduate
Duration 3 years
Admission Process Based on merit/entrance tests
Top Entrance Exam LPUNEST, CUET, DUET, SUAT
Eligibility minimum aggregate score of 50% at the 10+2 level
Top Colleges Loyola College, Chennai;
Christ University, Delhi;
Quantum University, Roorkee;
Fergusson College, Pune; and
Madras Christian College, Chennai
Average Fees INR 8,000 to INR 1.3 Lakhs

BA Hons. Political Science Syllabus

Semster I Semester II
Colonialism in India Nationalism in India
Understanding Political Theory Political Processes in India
Concurrent – Qualifying Language Concurrent – Credit Language
Constitutional Democracy and Govt. in India Political Theory: Concepts and Debates
Semster III Semester IV
Introduction to comparative govt. and Politics Political Institutions and Processes in Comparative Perspective
Theories of International Relations and World History Public Policy and Administration in India
Concurrent – Interdisciplinary Concurrent – Discipline Centred I
Theories of Administration Global Politics
Semster V Semester VI
Indian Political Thought I Indian Political Thought II
Classical Political Philosophy Modern Political Philosophy
Development Process and Social Movements in Contemporary India
One optional from the following:
A. Understanding South-Asia
B. The African Experience: Polity and Economy
C. Feminism Theory and Practices
D. Dilemmas in Politics. Public Policy in India
India’s Foreign Policy
One optional from the following:
A. Contemporary Political Economy
B. Feminism and Indian Politics
C. The United Nations and Global Conflicts
D. State Institutions and Civil Society Organisations in India
- Concurrent – Discipline Centred II

BA Hons. Political Science Subjects

BA Hons Political Science subjects are very important to understand before joining the course. 

BA Hons Political Science First Semester Subjects

  • Colonialism in India: It was the part of the Indian subcontinent occupied by European colonial powers during the Age of Discovery. It was exerted both by conquest and trade, especially in spices
  • Understanding Political Theory: Political theory is concerned chiefly with the ideas of the past and present thinkers and proposals of political movements and groups. It studies the concepts which are used to describe, explain, political events and institutions.

BA Hons Political Science Second Semester Subjects 

  • Nationalism in India: Nationalism in India means a change in understanding of the people and their identity and sense of belonging. The growth of modern nationalism is connected to the anti-colonial movement.
  • Political Process in India: India has a multi-party system which means there are a number of national as well as regional parties. A regional party may gain a majority and rule a particular state and a national party is a party that is represented in more than 4 states.

BA Hons Political Science Third Semester Subjects

  • Introduction to comparative govt. and Politics: Comparative politics is the study of other countries, citizens, and different political units either in whole or in part, and analyzes the similarities and differences between those political units. 
  • Theories of International Relations and World History: There are many theories of international relations and world history, but the five main theories of international relations include the following: realism theory, liberalism theory, Marxism theory, constructivism theory, and feminism theory.

BA Hons Political Science Fourth Semester Subjects

  • Political Institutions and Processes in Comparative Perspective: The ECPR Comparative Political Institutions Standing Group brings together hundreds of researchers interested in how political institutions affect public policy, performance, and behavior and attitude of citizens and elites, and how these actors shape political institutions in return.
  • Public Policy and Administration in India: Public policy refers to the process of making organizational decisions and political, management, and financial policies to meet established goals. Public administration studies the use of government policy which includes both government and non-governmental management.

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BA Hons Political Science Fifth Semester Subjects

  • Indian Political Thought I: Indian political philosophy is the branch of philosophical thought in India that addresses polity, statecraft, justice, law and the legitimacy of forms of governance.
  • Classical Political Philosophy: Classical political philosophy is related to political life directly. According to Indian classical thought about society and polity had to deal with a basic dilemma that was set by the fundamental premises.

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BA Hons Political Science Sixth Semester 

  • Modern Political Philosophy: Modern Political Philosophy is the idea that government legitimacy depends on some sort of actual consent. This new idea was part of a new conception of individuals as bearers of rights.
  • Feminism and Indian Politics: Feminism in India is aimed at defining, and establishing equal political, economic, and social rights and opportunities for women. It can be said as a pursuit of women's rights.

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BA Hons Political Science Syllabus DU

BA Hons Political Science Syllabus Delhi University is mentioned below

Semster I Semester II
Language-MIL/ENGLISH Environmental Science  Environmental Science Language-MIL/ENGLISH
Understanding Political Theory Political Theory-Concepts and Debates
Constitutional Government and Democracy in India Political Process in India
Any One of the Following -
  • Nationalism in India
  • Contemporary Political Economy
  • Feminism: Theory and Practice
(swapped by ‘Women, Power and Politics’)
  • Gandhi and the Contemporary World
  • Understanding Ambedkar
  • Governance: Issues and Challenges
  • Politics of Globalization
  • United Nations and Global Conflicts
Any One of the Following - Nationalism in India
  • Contemporary Political Economy
  • Feminism: Theory and Practice (swapped by ‘Women, Power and Politics’)
  • Gandhi and the Contemporary World
  • Understanding Ambedkar
  • Governance: Issues and Challenges
  • Politics of Globalization
  • United Nations and Global Conflicts
Semster III Semester IV
Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics Political Processes and Institutions in Comparative Perspective
Perspectives on Public Administration Public Policy and Administration in India
Perspectives on International Relations and World History Global Politics 
Any One of the Following -
  • Nationalism in India
  • Contemporary Political Economy
  • Feminism: Theory and Practice
  • (swapped by ‘Women, Power and
  • Politics’)
  • Gandhi and the Contemporary World
  • Understanding Ambedkar
  • Governance: Issues and Challenges
Any One of the Following -
  • Nationalism in India
  • Contemporary Political Economy
  • Feminism: Theory and Practice
  • (swapped by ‘Women, Power and
  • Politics’)
  • Gandhi and the Contemporary World
  • Understanding Ambedkar
  • Governance: Issues and Challenges
  • Politics of Globalization
  • United Nations and Global Conflicts
Ability Enhancement course Ability Enhancement course
Semster V Semester VI
Classical Political Philosophy  Modern Political Philosophy
Modern Indian Political Thought-I  Indian Political Thought-II 
Any two of the following-
  • Citizenship in a Globalizing World
  • B Human Rights in a Comparative Perspective
  • Development Process and Social
  • Movements in Contemporary India
  • Public Policy in India
  • Colonialism and Nationalism in India
  • India’s Foreign Policy in a globalizing world
  • Women, Power and Politics (swapped by ‘Feminism:Theory and Practice’)
  • Dilemmas in Politics
Any two of the following-
  • Citizenship in a Globalizing World
  • Human Rights in a Comparative Perspective
  • Development Process and Social
  • Movements in Contemporary India
  • Public Policy in India
  • Understanding Global Politics
  • (Replaced by ‘Colonialism
and Nationalism in India’)
  • India’s Foreign Policy in a globalizing world
  • Feminism: Theory and Practice
  • Dilemmas in Politics

IGNOU BA Political Science Honours Syllabus

BA Political Science Honours Syllabus in IGNOU is mentioned below

1st Year
BPSC 10I Understanding Political Theory BPSC 102 Constitutional Development and Democracy in India
BPSC 103. Political Theory-Concepts and Debates BPSC 104 Political Process in India
2nd Year
BPSC 105 Introduction to Comparative Govt and Politics BPAC 108 Public Policy and Administration in India
BPAC 101 Perspectives on Public Administration BPSC 109 Political Processes and Institutions in Comparative Perspective
BPSC 107 Perspectives on International Relations and World History BPSC 110 Global Politics
3rd Year
BPSC111 Classical Political Philosophy BPSC 113 Modern Political Philosophy
BPSC 112 Indian Political Thought-I BPSC 114 Indian Political Thought-II

DU Entrance Exam Syllabus for BA Hons Political Science

DU Entrance Exam Syllabus for BA Hons Political Science is mentioned below: Check: Political Science in DU 

Politics in India Since Independence
The era of One-Party Dominance Crisis of the Constitutional Order
Nation-Building and Its Problems Regional Aspirations and Conflicts
Politics of Planned Development Rise of New Social Movements
India’s External Relations Democratic Upsurge and Coalition Politics
Challenge to and Restoration of Congress System Recent Issues and Challenges
Contemporary World Politics
Cold War Era in World Politics South Asia in the Post-Cold War Era
Disintegration of the ‘Second World’ and the Collapse of Bipolarity International Organisations in a Unipolar World
US Dominance in World Politics Security in Contemporary World
Alternative Centres of Economic and Political Power Environment and Natural Resources in Global Politics
- Globalisation and Its Critics

BA Political Science Books

The books that are most popular for BA Political Science Hons are mentioned below: 

BA Political Science First Year Books

Name of the Book Author
What is Political Theory Bhargava, R and Acharya
The Constituent Assembly: Microcosm in Action G. Austin
Political Philosophy Knowles, Dudley.
Political Philosophy: A Beginners Guide for Student’s and Politicians Swift, Adam.

BA Political Science Second Year Books

Name of the Book Author
Comparative Politics: Interests, Identities, and Institutions in a Changing Global Order.  J. Kopstein, and M. Lichbach
Public Administration and Public Affairs Nicholas Henry
Understanding Public Policy T. Dye
International Relations: A Concise Introduction M. Nicholson
Theory, Institutional and Comparative Politics M. Pennington
Indian Development: Select J.Dreze and Amartya Sen

BA Political Science Third Year Books

Name of the Book Author
A History of Political Thought: From Ancient Greece to Early Christianity J. Coleman
Some Reflections on the Hindu Tradition of Political Thought B. Parekh,
Sraman Tradition: Its History and Contribution to Indian Culture G. Pandey
The Cosmic Vision: Manu’, in Foundations of Indian Political Thought V. Mehta
Woman’s Place in Religion and Society P. Ramabai

BA Political Science Top Colleges

BA Political Science Syllabus: FAQs

Ques. What is BA Hons. Political Science?

Ans. BA Political Science Hons is a three-year undergraduate course that deals with studying both national and international political systems. It delas with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, and associated constitutions and laws.

Ques. Who can do BA Hons. Political Science?

Ans. Applicants must have passed the class 12 examination with at least 50% marks from CBSE/DBSE or any recognised Board to be eligible.

Ques. What are the top colleges for BA Hons. Political Science?

Ans. Loyola College, Chennai; Christ University, Delhi; Quantum University, Roorkee; Fergusson College, Pune; and Madras Christian College, Chennai are the top colleges for BA Hons. Political Science.

Ques. What are the job options after BA Hons. Political Science?

Ans. Job options after BA Hons. Political Science

  • Public Relations Specialist. 
  • Social Media Manager. 
  • Marketing Research Analyst. 
  • Political Consultant. 
  • Attorney. 
  • Intelligence Analyst.

Ques. What is the average salary of BA Hons. Political Science graduate?

Ans. The average salary offered by companies to BA Political Science Hons Graduate is between INR1.2 to 5 LPA.

Ques. What are core subjects of BA Hons. Political Science?

Ans. Core subjects of BA Hons. Political Science:

  • Political Theory
  • Constitutional Government and Democracy in India
  • Environmental Studies
  • Perspectives on International Relations and World History
  • Perspectives on Public Administration
  • Global Politics

Ques. What are the electives in BA Hons. Political Science?

Ans. Electives in BA Hons. Political Science are:

  • Human Rights in a Comparative Perspective
  • Development Process and Social Movements in Contemporary India
  • Governance: Issues and Challenges
  • Indian Polity
  • Gandhi and the Contemporary World
  • Human Rights in a Comparative Perspective
  • Citizenship in a globalizing world

Ques. What are the project topics for BA Hons. Political Science?

Ans. The project topics for BA Hons. Political Science are:

  • The economic implication of the Boko haram insurgency in Nigeria
  • Corruption in Nigeria; a threat to sustainable economic development
  • Resource control agitations and political stability in Nigeria (a case study of south-south)
  • An analytical study of labor unrest and underdevelopment in Nigeria

Ques. What are the courses that can be done after BA Hons. Political Science?

Ans. Courses that can be done after BA Hons. Political Science

  • MA in Political Science 
  • specialize in Government and International Politics, 
  • MA Conflict Analysis and Resolution, 
  • MA Public Policy, 
  • MA Global Studies, 
  • MA Public Administration, 
  • MA International Economics and Commercial Diplomacy
  • MBA

Ques. Is it worth doing BA Hons. Political Science?

Ans. Yes, because BA in political science graduated can prepare for civil services as the main examination includes various questions from the subject. It also gives a good social skill and language skill. A degree in Political Science can lead to powerful careers in state and local governments, etc.

Ques. What are the BA Political Science Hons Teaching Methodology?

Ans.

  • Assignments
  • Following course module books
  • Case studies/ Research work
  • Internships

Bachelor of Arts [BA] (Political Science) : 11 answered questions

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Ques. Which is better for UPSC CSE PREPARATION BA or BA Hons in political science from DU?

● Top Answer By Yuvraj Dua on 07 Oct 22

Ans. BA and BA Honors are both excellent choices for UPSC CSE. It will aid you in your preparation for the Prelims and Main exams. In BA course, you must study three different subjects, such as political science, history, and geography, which means that 50% of the syllabus has already been covered, and if you choose Political Science as an optional subject, another 40% has already been covered. So taking a BA course will improve your chances.  Now, moving on to the BA (Hons), you will study political science in depth, which will help you in the Mains because, as we all know, the difficulty level of optional is higher than the Bachelor level but lower than the Master's level, so it will benefit you greatly. However, because you will only be studying two subjects in your bachelor's programme, you will have to study the third subject on your own. Thus, you should pursue a BA General course. However, as everyone knows, UPSC is all about extreme hard work, luck, proper planning, guidance, and several other factors. Make your own decision and put in your best effort.Read more
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Ques. Which books should I read in order to crack an MA in Political Science at JNU?

● Top Answer By Deepika Sinha on 05 Aug 23

Ans. You can crack the entrance exam for a master’s in Economics with consistency and a daily study routine. Initially, try to get a fair idea about the exam by referring to the syllabus and the previous year’s question papers. The syllabus followed in the entrance examination for economics is given below Microeconomics deals with Demand Curves, Price and Income Elasticity of Demand, Cost Curves, and Equilibrium of firms under Perfect Competition and Monopoly Macroeconomics – focus on the National Income Theory of Income Determination, Monetary Policy, Trade, and Balance of Payments Descriptive statistics - This topic includes Mean, Median and Mode, and Standard Deviation. The correlation coefficient, and elementary probability theory Problems of Economic History, Underdevelopment, and Growth India's Economic Development Prior to Independence- India's Planning and Development Experience Since Independence; Basic Indicators of Development. International Economics Issues of Contemporary Relevance   Suggested Readings Hal Varian - Intermediate Microeconomics, Rubinfield and Pindyk  - Microeconomics Dornbusch and Fisher - Macroeconomics | Mankiw - Macroeconomics RGD Allen - Mathematical Analysis for Economics AC Chiang - Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics Sydsaeter and Hammond - Mathematics for Economic Analysis Nagar and Das - Basic Statistics All the best, stay motivated, and focus on your goalRead more
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Ques. Does IGNOU provide a BA (Hons.) degree in political science?

● Top Answer By Saurabh Gupta on 14 Jul 22

Ans. Yes, IGNOU offers BA (Hons) in Political Science. In order to get the BA (Hons) degree, you will have to complete 48 credits in it, during the 3 years. IGNOU course materials are thorough and to the point. IGNOU study materials can be helpful if you are planning on preparing for competitive examinations such as UPSC. The degree has the same valuation as any other Hons degree. Read more
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Ques. Is selective IGNOU BA and MA political science sufficient for political science optional in UPSC?

● Top Answer By Prithviraj Debbarma on 21 Oct 22

Ans. 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. Read more
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Ques. What is the Cutoff for BA Political Science in Fergusson College Pune?

● Top Answer By Nitesh Kumar Verma on 30 Sept 21

Ans. For BA, the cut-off is usually around 80-85% as of previous year’s records for the Maharashtra students. If you belong to other states, the cut-off will be around 90-95%. depends on how the rest of your peers have performed. These cut-offs are as per the 1st merit list for Open category students. If you fail to secure a seat, then try during the 2nd and 3rd merit list. If you are financially stable, then there is an option to get admission at the college after paying donation money.Read more
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Ques. Which one is better for B.A (Hons.) in political science: Hindu College, University of Delhi, or St. Xavier's Kolkata?

● Top Answer By Arnav Roy on 24 Jul 23

Ans. While my brother was preparing a list of top colleges offering Political Hons, he never came across St. Xavier’s Kolkata while Delhi University and Hindu College specifically topped his list. This in itself proves Hindu College to be better than St. Xavier’s. Additionally, most of the teachers and seniors advised him to choose Hindu.  He was lucky enough to clear the cutoff and join the college. To date, he has no regrets about his decision. The best part of the institute is its superior location in Delhi. The crowd this college welcomes is another reason he was inclined towards it. The seniors are very cooperative and ragging is not tolerated.  The faculty pool comprises professors from top national and international universities. Most of the students pursuing political science either target Civil services or are inclined toward international relations and other political issues. While many may find flaws here because it’s a government college, trust me in the long run it’s your efforts and talents that matter. A college can only provide for you; it is you who has to make the most out of it.Read more
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Ques. How better is Shyam Lal College evening for a B.A. Hons in political science?

● Top Answer By Priya Sen, on 03 Nov 21

Ans. One of my friends studied at Shyam Lal College (SLC) Evening. Let me share his views about the college which might give you some information. The overall performance of the faculty is average. Ad-hoc teachers only take regular classes.  The student crowd is not good. Students who are focused on their career are less, therefore have no sense of enthusiasm or competition. The library is not good. Lots of study materials are unavailable. Due to careless teaching and less dedication in studies, the students during the internals are bound to get low scores. No extracurricular activities take place. Societies are for namesake. They exist only on papers. It is suggested that you opt for other colleges because if you are very ambitious, you might get disheartened studying here.Read more
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Ques. What books should I opt for achieving a gold medal in BA 1st year political science in CSJM?

● Top Answer By Shakshi Chaudhary on 01 Oct 21

Ans. I have a friend who completed her BA in Political Science from CSJM. Here are some of the books she suggested.  Laxmikant - Indian Polity or Gauba J.C Lahiri, B.L Fadia - Public Administration World Constitution - Vidya Bhushan Political Thought - Asraf Ali U.R Ghai - International Relations These books are necessary for B.A Political Science.  Here are some other factors that can help you get a gold medal.  Conceptual clarity. Real-world examples should be provided to back up your answer. Finish the whole syllabus. Read simple language books. Avoid using guides. Every day is a challenge. Having good handwriting also helps. Read more
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Ques. Which college of DU is better for political science hons: Dyal Singh College or Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College?

● Top Answer By Akriti Banerjee on 15 May 23

Ans. My knowledge is limited to the individual institutes and not their political science departments. In my opinion, Dayal Singh is a better choice than ARSD. here are a few reasons that justify my opinion Dyal Singh College has better infrastructure, a great location, and easy access to the metro station. Whereas. The metro line is still under construction near ARSD College. Both colleges are listed among the top 10 colleges in India.  The crowd quality is similar in both the colleges with Dyal Singh giving a slight edge to ARSD.  Dyal Singh has excellent amenities with a basketball court and spacious ground. Dyal Singh houses a massive library with more than 58,000 books on different disciplines, ranging from rare to the latest. It has a fully air-conditioned reading room with computers Dyal Singh has the facility of UGC-INFLIBNET through which the students can also access e-journals. All these points strongly claim that Dyal Singh is a better choice than ARSD unless you chose ASRD because of personal preferences.Read more
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Ques. What is the fee for BA hons political science course in LPU?

● Top Answer By Admin on 10 May 24

Ans. If we talk about the tuition fees then it is INR 3,00,000 and the rest charges are for examination fees which is INR 4,000 per semester. B.A. (Hons.) in Political Science at LPU is a 3 years course offered at the UG level. To get admitted to B.A. (Hons.) in Political Science course at LPU, applicants must meet the entry requirements - 60% in 12th.Read more
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Bachelor of Arts [BA] (Political Science) Colleges IN INDIA

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1.35 L first year fees
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22 K first year fees
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Fergusson College
Pune, Maharashtra
12.8 K first year fees
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3 L Total fees
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Presidency College
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
1.25 K first year fees
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St. Xavier's College
Mumbai, Maharashtra
7 K first year fees
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28.55 K first year fees
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43.6 K first year fees
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