NEW DELHI: On March 5, 2025, the Jindal India Institute (JII) of O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) launched its fully online, one-year Master of Arts (MA) in India Studies programme at the JGU International Academy, Taj Mahal Hotel, Man Singh Road, New Delhi. This MA in India Studies marks a significant milestone as the first full-degree Master’s programme in India Studies offered by OP Jindal Global University. It enables learners to explore India through a scholarly lens rooted in its intellectual traditions and contemporary realities.
As India’s global influence grows, this programme meets the rising demand for a nuanced, interdisciplinary understanding of the 1.5-billion-strong nation’s perspective, context, and worldview. Designed as a fully online learning experience, the programme offers flexibility for learners, especially working professionals, to engage with India’s diverse cultural and intellectual landscape from anywhere in the world.
This programme particularly benefits international audiences, including diplomats, members of the global Indian diaspora, business professionals, Indophiles, and aspiring scholars of India and South Asia. It equips them with the knowledge to critically examine and appreciate the complexities of India’s civilisation and the contemporary significance of the world’s largest democracy with scholarly depth, objectivity, and insight.
The launch event featured a panel discussion titled “Engaging with India: The Role of Specialised Knowledge about India for Effective Diplomacy,” where four distinguished diplomats shared their experiences of engaging with India at the highest levels.
MA in India Studies at OP Jindal Global University
The panel featured esteemed diplomats, including H.E. Prof. (Dr.) Anil Sooklal (South Africa), H.E. Mr. Mariano Agustín Caucino (Argentina), H.E. Ganbold Dambajav (Mongolia), and H.E. Mr. Roman Babushkin (Russia). They discussed how specialised knowledge of India enhances diplomacy and shared personal insights on India’s vastness, diversity, and significance. Caucino called India “the country of the future,” while Dambajav highlighted Mongolia’s spiritual ties. Babushkin, an Indophile, praised India’s unique weddings and elections. Sooklal, from the Indian diaspora, called the MA in India Studies a “necessity” for fostering deeper global understanding of India.
MA in India Studies
The MA in India Studies at OP Jindal Global University offers a structured, interdisciplinary approach to understanding India’s rich history, diverse traditions, and global role. Prof. (Dr.) C. Rajkumar highlighted the need for such a programme, noting that Indian universities often lack a comprehensive framework for studying the country. Prof. (Dr.) Sreeram Chaulia emphasised its relevance, stating that as India rises globally, scholars must engage with its intellectual and civilisational foundations. The launch event brought together diplomats, journalists, and international experts, showcasing the course structure and key learning objectives.
