Political Scientist
Researches political discourse, government policies, international relations and local politics — including budgets, campaigns and manifestos.
Overview
A Political Scientist is a specialist who reads, understands and researches the political discourse, government policies, government steps, international relations between countries and local political issues. They research different policies and frameworks set up by the government, and analyse the budget, election campaigns, election manifestos, and how voters and the public identify with these policies, campaigns and manifestos.
Where they work
- Central and state government agencies
- Social research organizations
Work environment
You will typically work full time in an office. You might sometimes work additional hours to finish reports and meet deadlines.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You have strong communication skills
- You like to analyze and interpret data
- You have a creative bent of mind
- You pay attention to details
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
- 1Complete 10+2 in any stream.
- 2Complete a Bachelor's degree in Arts in Political Science.
- 3Complete a Master's degree in Arts (M.A.) in Political Science.
- 4Complete a PhD in Political Science or a related field.
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Department of Political Science. This list of institutes is indicative only. Please check if a private institute is affiliated and accredited with UGC before applying.
Government institutes
- Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana
- Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
- University of Delhi, New Delhi
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir
- University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Christ University, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Madras Christian College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Fergusson College, Pune, Maharashtra
- K J Somaiya College of Arts & Commerce, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, Pune, Maharashtra
- Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat
- Banasthali Vidyapith, Tonk, Rajasthan
Distance learning
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Assistant Professor or Political Scientist
- 2Political Scientist or Advisor
- 3Professor or Senior Advisor
Related careers to explore
Public Policy Advisor
Analyses how policies work in practice in government or private organisations and advises on improving or changing them.
Psephologist
Studies election patterns — past voting figures, opinion polls and related data — and uses statistics to estimate future results.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Arts, Any Stream.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to researching.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Amita Singh — An Indian political scientist, described in the source as a professor of Law and Governance at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, a member of the Indian Council of Social Science Research, and chair of the university's Special Center for Disaster Research. She completed a Ph.D. in political science at Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, and serves on a number of government boards and committees on administration and governance.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 2, printed page 843 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Job=Political_Scientist/Salary
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
This card is printed on page 843; the contents list gives 845. Banasthali Vidyapith is printed as being in Jaipur; it is in Tonk district, Rajasthan. The card gives two growth routes — Assistant Professor → Political Scientist → Professor, or Political Scientist → Advisor → Senior Advisor — combined step by step here.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.