SCD Government College, Ludhiana is a public college for arts, science and commerce in Ludhiana, Punjab. It was established in 1920, is formally named Satish Chander Dhawan Government College, and is run by the Government of Punjab. The college is affiliated to Panjab University, Chandigarh, is recognised by the UGC, and has NAAC A Grade accreditation.

The college is not listed in the NIRF college rankings. It is ranked by IIRF among government colleges in India, with details given in the rankings section.

SCD Government College works from a 42-acre campus in Ludhiana, which is one of the larger urban government college campuses in Punjab. The institution first began in World War I barracks and later moved into its present campus.

  • BA (3 years), with 13 subjects: Economics, English, Geography, Hindi, History, Music, Physical Education, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Punjabi, Sanskrit, and Sociology
    • Annual fees: INR 17,980 (total 3 years: INR 53,940)
  • B.Sc (3 years), offered in Medical and Non-Medical streams, with annual fees of INR 20,140
  • B.Com (3 years), with annual fees of INR 32,120
  • BBA (3 years), with annual fees of INR 50,650
  • BCA (3 years), with annual fees of INR 60,130
  • MA (2 years), available in Economics, English, Geography, Hindi, and Punjabi, with annual fees of INR 24,985
  • M.Com and M.Com Business Innovation (2 years), with annual fees of INR 32,665
  • M.Sc IT (2 years), with annual fees of INR 79,510
  • M.Sc (2 years), offered in Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics, with annual fees from INR 28,945 to 97,960

SCD Government College does not have a standard campus placement record. Most students move towards government jobs, teaching, or higher studies after graduation. Its well-known alumni include ISRO Chairman Satish Chandra Dhawan and poet-lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi.

Admission Update: Classes for the 2026-27 academic session are in progress. Students planning to apply for the 2027-28 session should check admission.punjab.gov.in from May 2027.

SCD Government College Courses and Fees

SCD Government College has more than 22 programmes in Humanities, Commerce, and Science. Students can study both UG and PG courses at government-controlled fee levels. The annual fee starts at INR 17,980 for BA and goes up to INR 97,960 for M.Sc Physics.

CourseDurationEligibilityAnnual Fee (INR)
BA (13 subjects)3 years10+2 any stream17,980
B.Sc (Medical / Non-Medical)3 years10+2 with PCB or PCM20,140
B.Com3 years10+2 Commerce or any32,120
BBA3 years10+2 any stream50,650
BCA3 years10+2 with Maths60,130
MA (Economics / English / Geography / Hindi / Punjabi)2 yearsRelevant BA or B.Sc24,985
M.Com / M.Com Business Innovation2 yearsB.Com or BBA32,665
M.Sc IT2 yearsBCA or B.Sc (CS/IT)79,510
M.Sc (Chemistry / Mathematics)2 yearsB.Sc with relevant subject28,945
M.Sc Physics2 yearsB.Sc with Physics97,960

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

The fees listed above are annual amounts. The Government of Punjab fixes the fee structure, and small changes may happen every academic year. BBA and BCA cost more because they include self-financing components, while regular arts and science courses remain among the lower-cost options in Punjab.

SCD Government College Admission Process

Admission at SCD Government College is based on merit. UG admission uses 10+2 marks, while PG admission uses graduation marks in the relevant subject. The college does not conduct an entrance exam for UG or PG courses.

UG Programmes (BA, B.Sc, B.Com)

For BA, B.Sc and B.Com, students apply through the Punjab Government centralised admission portal at admission.punjab.gov.in. Seats are allotted through merit lists prepared from 10+2 scores. Reservation for SC/ST and other categories follows Punjab government rules.

  • BA: Any stream in 10+2
  • B.Sc Medical: 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology
  • B.Sc Non-Medical: 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics
  • B.Com: 10+2 Commerce or any stream

BBA and BCA

BBA and BCA are self-financing courses. Admission is decided by merit through the Punjab Government portal or through the college direct admission window. For BCA, students must have Mathematics in 10+2. Punjab government reservation rules apply.

PG Programmes (MA, M.Com, M.Sc)

For MA, M.Com and M.Sc courses, graduation marks decide admission. The required graduation subject changes by course. For example, MA English needs BA English, MA Economics accepts BA Economics or B.Com, and M.Sc IT needs BCA or B.Sc CS/IT. Students apply through the college portal or the government portal, depending on the programme.

SCD Government College Career Outcomes

SCD Government College is mainly a traditional arts, science and commerce college, so it does not publish a formal campus placement record. After completing their degrees, students usually choose higher studies, teaching, or preparation for government service exams.

Common routes after different programmes are listed below.

ProgrammeTypical Career PathwayCompetitive Exams
BA / MAGovernment service, school or college teaching, civil services preparationPPSC, SSC, UPSC, Punjab SET/NET
B.Sc / M.ScResearch, laboratory work, school teaching, science-based government rolesCSIR NET, PPSC, SSC Science
B.Com / M.ComAccounting, banking, finance jobs, CA foundationIBPS PO, PPSC Finance, CA, CMA
BCA / M.Sc ITSoftware development, IT support, further MCA or M.Tech studyGATE, campus interviews for IT companies
BBAManagement trainee jobs, family business, MBA entrance preparationCAT, MAT, Punjab Management entrance

The college has several notable alumni. They include Satish Chandra Dhawan, former ISRO Chairman and the person after whom the college is named, Sahir Ludhianvi, Urdu poet and Bollywood lyricist, Manohar Singh Gill, 11th Chief Election Commissioner of India, and Narinder Nath Vohra, 12th Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.

SCD Government College Rankings

SCD Government College is counted among recognised government degree colleges in India. It is not present in the NIRF ranked list for colleges.

Ranking BodyCategory2025 Rank
IIRFGovernment Colleges15

The IIRF 2025 rank of 15 shows the college's position among government-run degree colleges in India. SCD Government College also has NAAC A Grade accreditation, which is a quality assessment benchmark from the UGC-recognised National Assessment and Accreditation Council.

SCD Government College Campus and Infrastructure

SCD Government College has a 42-acre campus in Ludhiana, making it one of Punjab's larger urban campuses among government colleges. The facilities include a central library, science laboratories, computer labs, a sports ground, and an auditorium. Students can also take part in NSS, NCC, cultural clubs, and student cells.

The college is placed in central Ludhiana and has good access to public transport. Its campus has a heritage identity linked with more than 100 years of academic history and buildings connected to its early 20th-century beginnings. Sports facilities support cricket, athletics, and indoor games.

SCD Government College vs PCM DAV College vs Khalsa College

Students looking for UG arts, science and commerce courses in Punjab often compare SCD Government College Ludhiana with PCM DAV College Ludhiana and Khalsa College Amritsar. These three colleges are affiliated institutions with long academic histories.

ParameterSCD Government CollegePCM DAV CollegeKhalsa College
TypeGovernmentGrant-aidedGrant-aided (Sikh minority)
LocationLudhianaLudhianaAmritsar
NAAC GradeAAA+
AffiliationPanjab UniversityPanjab UniversityGndu / Panjab University
Annual BA FeesINR 17,980ComparableComparable
Campus Area42 acresSmaller300+ acres

Khalsa College Amritsar is ahead in NAAC grade and campus size. SCD Government College has the lowest effective fee structure because it is a fully government-funded college in Ludhiana. PCM DAV is another accessible Ludhiana option for students who do not get a seat at SCD. Final choice usually depends on the preferred city and the subject combinations available.

SCD Government College FAQs

Ques. What does SCD Government College Ludhiana stand for?

Ans. SCD Government College Ludhiana stands for Satish Chander Dhawan Government College, Ludhiana. The college is named after Satish Chandra Dhawan, the former ISRO Chairman and one of its most famous alumni. It is also called SCD Govt. College and is affiliated to Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Ques. How much does BA cost at SCD Government College Ludhiana?

Ans. The BA annual fee at SCD Government College, Ludhiana is INR 17,980 per year. For the full 3-year BA course, the total fee is INR 53,940. The Government of Punjab decides the fees, and the college is among the lower-cost UG options in the state.

Ques. What method is used for SCD Government College admission?

Ans. SCD Government College gives UG admission to BA, B.Sc and B.Com through 10+2 merit. Applications are processed on the Punjab Government centralised portal at admission.punjab.gov.in, and no entrance test is required. For MA, M.Com and M.Sc, students apply through the college portal or the government portal based on graduation marks.

Ques. Does SCD Government College Ludhiana have NAAC accreditation?

Ans. Yes. SCD Government College, Ludhiana has NAAC A Grade accreditation. It is affiliated to Panjab University, Chandigarh, and is recognised by the UGC under Section 2(f).

Ques. What can students do after BA from SCD Government College?

Ans. BA students from SCD Government College commonly prepare for government exams such as PPSC, SSC and UPSC, move into teaching after SET/NET, or continue with MA and other postgraduate studies. Some students also enter banking and finance through the B.Com/BBA route. The college's alumni include Chief Election Commissioners, ISRO scientists and Bollywood lyricists.

Ques. Is SCD Government College Ludhiana ranked by NIRF?

Ans. SCD Government College, Ludhiana is not included in the NIRF ranked list for colleges. It holds IIRF 2025 Rank 15 among Government Colleges in India and has NAAC A Grade, which is a UGC quality accreditation benchmark.