Call it a backup option or an interesting subject, Political Science Honours has always been a magnetic course during admissions at the Delhi University mostly because of its versatility.
However, this year, the course turned out to be so popular that it only saw cut-offs in the first list for the top colleges as seats filled up rapidly in spite of high percentages. While academicians feel that this course helps students who want to prepare for the Civil Services, students who have chosen the course claim that it is out of sheer interest and the fact that they didn’t get admission under Economics Honours in the top colleges.
The cut-off for the course was extremely high this year and went up to 98.50 per cent in some colleges. Surprisingly, the course never saw a second or third list for the top colleges in Delhi University. Apart from lady Sri Ram College which even took out a third list for the course, most of the colleges over-admitted students for Political Science (Hons) in the first list itself. This popularity of the subject is mostly credited to the increasing career options available for students.
According to former professor of Political Science and current dean of academics Dr Sangit Kumar Ragi, students get a chance to enter several fields after doing this course. “Cracking the civil services is the most popular choice of students who enroll under this course. However, there are other options as well. This course exposes students for pursuing law in the future. It also promises them a career in journalism if they polish their knowledge with strategic or international affairs. Students can even get into investment because they understand the politics behind it. Even consultation jobs are open for Political Science graduates,” said Ragi.
However, students feel that this course is their second best option after Economics Honours. Akshata Agarwal, who took admission at Ramjas College under Political Science Honours, said, “For Economics (H), we need to have studied Mathematics till Class XII. Thus, a student like me who hasn’t studied Math, Political Science gives me a chance to enter policy making and Government jobs.”
Some students feel that Political Science is scoring subject. Rajesh Jha, member of the Academic Council and professor of the subject, seconds that. “This time a lot of students who applied to the university had studied Political Science in Class XII. Students feel that it is a scoring subject where they can do well and perform as well. It is also a very interesting subject to study with good job prospects,” he informed.
Admissions under the third cut-off list are still underway in many Delhi University colleges. However, Political Science has hardly seen any withdrawals. With this trend having set in, next year’s cut offs in the subject will see a boom, say university officials.