IGNOU BA (BAG) Syllabus Structure 2026 – Complete Details

The IGNOU BA (Bachelor of Arts) syllabus 2026 is designed to give students a flexible and well-structured learning experience. IGNOU follows a credit-based system, which helps students understand how much effort each subject needs and makes course selection easier during admission and re-registration.

Under the BAG programme, students study a mix of core subjects, electives, skill-based courses, and language papers. To complete the BA degree, students must earn a total of 132 credits over six semesters.

This guide explains the latest IGNOU BA syllabus 2026, including semester-wise structure, disciplines, subject lists, and the credit system in a clear and student-friendly way.

IGNOU BA Syllabus 2026: Key Highlights

Particular	Details
Programme Name	Bachelor of Arts (BA / BAG)
University	IGNOU
Academic System	Semester-wise
Total Credits Required	132
Credits per Semester	22
Course Category	Undergraduate

Students can choose subjects from available elective options, while core and compulsory courses are fixed and must be completed by everyone.

IGNOU BA Current Syllabus 2026 Overview

To earn an IGNOU BA degree, a student must complete 132 credits, which means 22 credits in each semester. Course selection is done at the time of fresh admission or re-registration for the next semester or year.

The syllabus is divided into different course categories, which help students gain subject knowledge, language skills, and practical abilities.

Disciplines Available in IGNOU BA Programme

IGNOU offers the BA programme across 14 major disciplines, allowing students to study subjects they are truly interested in.

Anthropology, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Hindi, Urdu, English, Sanskrit, Education, Philosophy, and Mathematics are the main disciplines offered under the BA programme.

BA Course Categories Explained

The IGNOU BA syllabus 2026 includes the following course categories:

Course Category

Core Courses (CC)

Ability Enhancement Compulsory Courses (AEC)

Discipline Specific Electives (DSE)

Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC)

Generic Electives (GE)

Each category plays a different role in building academic knowledge and practical skills.

IGNOU BA Semester-wise Course Structure

First & Second Semester

Category	Credits	Category	Credits
AEC	4	AEC	4
MIL	6	MIL	6
CC-1	6	CC-1	6
CC-2	6	CC-2	6
Total	22	Total	22

Third & Fourth Semester

Category	Credits	Category	Credits
SEC	4	SEC	4
MIL	6	MIL	6
CC-1	6	CC-1	6
CC-2	6	CC-2	6
Total	22	Total	22

Fifth & Sixth Semester

Category	Credits	Category	Credits
SEC	4	SEC	4
Generic	6	Generic	6
DSE-1	6	DSE-1	6
DSE-2	6	DSE-2	6
Total	22	Total	22

Selection of Disciplines

Students must select two disciplines, but only one subject per group can be chosen.

Group	D1	D2	D3	D4
Group 1	English	Hindi	Urdu	Sanskrit
Group 2	Sociology	Education	–	–
Group 3	Political Science	Public Administration	Mathematics	Philosophy
Group 4	Economics	Anthropology	–	–
Group 5	History	Psychology	–	–

Core Courses (CC) – Discipline-wise Subjects

Anthropology

Course Code	Course Name	Credits
BANC 131	Anthropology and Research Methods	6
BANC 132	Fundamentals of Biological Anthropology	6
BANC 133	Fundamentals of Social & Cultural Anthropology	6
BANC 134	Archaeological Anthropology	6

Economics – Core Courses (CC)

Course Code	Course Name	Credits
BECC 131	Principles of Microeconomics-I	6
BECC 132	Principles of Microeconomics-II	6
BECC 133	Principles of Macroeconomics-I	6
BECC 134	Principles of Macroeconomics-II	6

History – Core Courses (CC)

Course Code	Course Name	Credits
BHIC 131	History of India from the Earliest Times up to c. 300 CE	6
BHIC 132	History of India from c. 300 to 1206	6
BHIC 133	History of India from c. 1206 to 1707	6
BHIC 134	History of India from c. 1707 to 1950	6

Political Science – Core Courses (CC)

Course Code	Course Name	Credits
BPSC 131	Introduction to Political Theory	6
BPSC 132	Indian Government and Politics	6
BPSC 133	Comparative Government and Politics	6
BPSC 134	Introduction to International Relations	6

Psychology – Core Courses (CC)

Course Code	Course Name	Credits
BPCC 131	Foundations of Psychology	6
BPCC 132	Introduction to Social Psychology	6
BPCC 133	Psychological Disorders	6
BPCC 134	Statistical Methods and Psychological Research	6

Public Administration – Core Courses (CC)

Course Code	Course Name	Credits
BPAC 131	Perspectives on Public Administration	6
BPAC 132	Administrative Thinkers	6
BPAC 133	Administrative System at Union Level	6
BPAC 134	Administrative System at State and District Levels	6

Sociology – Core Courses (CC)

Course Code	Course Name	Credits
BSOC 131	Introduction to Sociology	6
BSOC 132	Sociology of India	6
BSOC 133	Sociological Theories	6
BSOC 134	Methods of Sociological Enquiry	6

Discipline Specific Electives (DSE)

Students choose DSE subjects from their selected discipline. Each subject carries 6 credits. Popular options include:

Anthropology (Applied Anthropology), Economics (Indian Economy I & II), History (European History, Environment History), Political Science (India’s Foreign Policy, Gandhi Studies), Psychology (Counselling, Organisational Psychology), Sociology (Urban Sociology, Family & Kinship), and language-based electives in Hindi, Urdu, English, and Sanskrit.

Read also: IGNOU BA Study Material

Ability Enhancement Compulsory Courses (AEC)

Course Code	Course Name	Credits
BEVAE 181	Environmental Studies	4
BEGAE 182	English Communication Skills	4
BHDAE 182	Classical Urdu Ghazal	4
BUDAE 181	Urdu Progressive Poetry	4

Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC)

Skill-based subjects help students gain practical knowledge. Each course carries 4 credits.

Examples include Emotional Intelligence, Stress Management, Data Analysis, Business Communication, Translation Studies, Media Studies, Entrepreneurship, and Computer Applications in Business.

See also: IGNOU BA Admission

Generic Electives (GE)

Generic electives allow students to explore subjects outside their main discipline.

Discipline	Course Name	Credits
Psychology	General Psychology	6
Public Administration	Disaster Management	6
Sociology	Indian Society	6
English	Creative Writing	6
Philosophy	Applied Ethics	6
Social Sciences	Understanding Ambedkar	6

IGNOU BA Credit System Explained

IGNOU follows a credit-based learning system, where each course has a fixed number of credits. To receive the BA degree certificate, students must successfully earn 132 credits by completing all required courses.

The university regularly updates the syllabus to match current academic and career needs. IGNOU has the authority to revise or modify the syllabus whenever needed to keep the programme relevant.

Students are advised to always refer to the latest syllabus while planning their studies and choosing courses.

Final Note

The IGNOU BA (BAG) syllabus 2026 offers flexibility, wide subject choices, and skill-focused learning. Whether you aim for higher studies, government exams, or job-oriented skills, this syllabus is designed to support your academic journey in a clear and structured way.