If you have been contemplating leaving your Master’s in Public Policy program at NLSIU Bangalore to pursue an MA in Development and Labour Studies at JNU, it is not worth it. Here's why: Pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy from a reputed institute like NLSIU Bangalore opens doors to promising and lucrative career opportunities. In comparison, job prospects in Development and Labour Studies are relatively meager. A Master’s in Public Policy program helps you develop a wholesome understanding and a holistic idea of Policy Making. It also allows you to understand the broader spectrum of key issues related to policy-making. In contrast, the MA program in Development and Labour Studies at JNU may not provide a 360º approach towards understanding public issues or cultivate a knack for Policy Making, as this course is primarily focused on issues related to Labour and Trade Unions. There are several reputed Think Tanks in India that offer lucrative and respectful career opportunities to Public Policy Graduates. Some of them are - the Centre for Policy Research, NITI Aayog, Observer Research Foundation, Research Foundation for Governance in India, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, India Policy Foundation, Indian Institute for Advanced Studies, and so on. In conclusion, if you are already selected for pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy at NLSIU Bangalore, it is not worth leaving it to pursue an MA in Development and Labour Studies at JNU. Pursuing Public Policy at a reputed institute like NLSIU Bangalore will open doors to lucrative career opportunities and help you develop a wholesome understanding and a holistic idea of Policy Making.

JNU is a better option, especially for postgraduate degrees. JNU has a different aura altogether. The environment on campus is extremely accepting. You will meet people on campus who are intellectuals, readers, writers, and speakers. Simply being on JNU campus can be rewarding. It has a different culture entirely which motivates the holistic development of personality. JNU has an excellent faculty base.  In financial terms as well JNU is a better option. The course fees and hostel fees are lower compared to DU. As per JNU University course fees, an MSc degree costs around INR 692.   

JNU MA International Relations is among the best master's courses in International relations in the country. If you want to understand the different dynamics of diplomatic relations, this is the best place to be in. The faculties of the School of International Studies at JNU are the leaders in their respective fields.  After completing the course you can join embassies, academics, think tanks, or work as a diplomate. The syllabus of JNU IR can be quite useful if you are planning on preparing for civil services. 

In order to prepare efficiently for JNU entrance, you will need to study smart. Read the editorial and international relations page of Hindu and IE to get a fair idea of what is happening around the globe. Read Arihant’s guide for JNU entrance for IR. Rafer to some good magazines like Frontline, EPW, etc.  The exam of JNU Entrance would be computer-based and Multiple Choice Questions would be asked. Make sure to study the following crucial portion of International Relations (IR).  Period of Cold War Treaties like CTBT, NPT, Kyoto Protocol United Nations Bretton Woods Institutions (IMF, WB, WTO) Environment Topics like Climate Change Indian Foreign Policy US Foreign Policy The majority of questions in entrance will be from History, Economics, International Relations, Philosophy, Indian Politics, and Contemporary Issues. Here are some books that you can refer to.  The Globalization of World Politics - Baylis, Smith & Owens. India after Gandhi - Ramachandra Guha International Relations in the 21st Century - Pushpesh Pant Global Politics - Andrew Heywood Just prepare thoroughly without losing faith in yourself and be honest with your studies and you shall do well in your entrance. 

JNU offers decent B.Tech courses. The faculties are among the sharpest minds in the country. Most of the professors are alumni of IIT, NIT, and IISc. The reputation of JNU lives no space for doubt about the quality of academics.  The curriculum and syllabus followed are diversified and similar to top IITs and NITs. The syllabus also includes Humanities courses.  In the school, there is a lack of cultural events, but the institute is working on it. There are a few problems regarding the hostel accommodation, but nothing too big. The engineering school is located in a secluded part of the campus. 

I have a friend who did his master’s from JNU and he was able to give some insight regarding the entrance test for MA Sociology.  In the entrance examination, there will be questions from out of the syllabus. You may be asked to give a sociological interpretation of the current situation, event, etc. So, stay updated with contemporary social issues. Here is a list of sections from where you can expect questions. Sociological Thought: Marx, Durkheim. Weber, Parsons, Spencer, Comte, etc. Research Methodology and techniques Indian Society: Poverty, Family, Kinship, etc. Society and polity Society and economy Technology Caste and class system Concepts like Globalization, Modernization, Sanskritization, and Localization. Go through the list of topics assisted to you and make sure you prepare them thoroughly. As you can see the majority of the questions are from the syllabus itself.

JNU placements for MCA are good. Some of the major recruiters for MCA are Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Adobe, etc. Students usually receive an average CTC of around INR 4-5 LPA. While the highest CTC goes up to INR 9-11 LPA.  But JNU is a research-oriented university. If you want excellent placement in the technical field, it will be better to join the top IIT or NIT. You will get better technological exposure at these institutes. 

One of my friends was selected for BA French at JNU a few years back and here are his tips on how to do well in the entrance exam.  G.K: You should incorporate every little detail from Arts, Literature, Drama, Culture, Dress, Cuisines, Geography, Nobel Laureates, and more to become familiar with the language you have pursued. Reasoning Skills: You should be proficient in solving several coding-decoding problems, especially alphabetical orders, blood relations, syllogisms, direction, and ranking tests. English: It is equally important to be as strong in English as you are in other subjects. Various course areas, like the Basic grammatical Rules, Vocabularies, Reading Comprehension, and Passages should be on the tip of your tongue. For best results, you should follow the editorial and articles published in “The Hindu.”  English includes a major marking scheme for all the other sections. Now, since an essay alone contains a scheme of about 20-30 marks, it is best that you practice writing ingeniously without using heavy vocabulary. JNU appreciates the artistry of innovation and it is best to keep their tastes intact. Simplicity is encouraged along the lines of critical thinking, at least more than sophisticated word formations.  It is best to keep your thoughts perfectly aligned with the subject area, and not outside of it. 

Comparably REVA University is better. Both of these universities are new, but REVA offers better academics, placement, and campus life. It has a brilliant faculty base. REVA University placements are decent as well. According to the placement highlights of recent years, around 83.5% of students get placed each year. The average CTC received by the students is around INR 3.5 - 5.5 LPA. 

JNU allows you to enroll in any liberal arts course if you pass the entrance exam, regardless of your background. Around 2000 people apply for 30 M.A. English seats, and then there are reservations, so competition is fierce. Because you will be competing against people with English Hons backgrounds, you will need to become acquainted with the history and movements of English Literature. It is about replicating the language and comprehending the concept. Begin with a comprehensive history of English literature. Begin with Chaucer but don't spend too much time on him or the early Elizabethan period. Read as many Shakespearean plays as you can and try to grasp what he is saying about how his works are relevant in terms of literary merit and philosophy. Continue on to Renaissance, studying it not only as an English literary movement but also as a philosophical concept of humanism and its aesthetics.  Then go to the Jacobean period and Milton, and read what you can without wasting too much time. Examine the age of reason and the 18th century in a similar, albeit more detailed, manner.  Continue on to Romanticism and read as much as you can of Keats, Shelly, Coleridge, and others, as well as the history of the movement.  Apart from reading the history, you should look at the Victorian era and read some Tennyson and a Dickens novel or two. Remember that as you approach modernism, postmodernism, and postcolonialism, your scrutiny of them should increase because the emphasis at JNU is on what is relevant, and postcolonial theories are very important in this context. You should be able to analyze a Shakespearean play from a postcolonial perspective. A knowledge of English history after 1400 would also be beneficial. Then read some American literature. Spend some time reading Indian English Literature, and don't stop at the 1980s. Essentially go to and read poetry at random. Read black American, Australian, and Indian poets, and you might get a read poem or an easier one. Write about how you feel about a specific piece of poetry to practice interpretation. When it comes to books, simply read any good book that covers the history of EL from ancient times to the present. Last but not least, be thorough with literary terms, history, and theory, at least on a factual level if not in detail. The emphasis at JNU is always on how you can represent an idea in an original way while also possessing your own mind. Try to write to develop a love of the language, appreciate the works, and express yourself. Many questions are posed with the intention of eliciting your personal opinion on them. you should be interested in related topics such as politics and history.