IGNOU BPYM-161 Assignment 2026-27New
Philosophy: An Introduction
Last updated by IGNOU: 21 Oct 2026. Guide written from the official PDF on 23 Oct 2026, 01:12 am.
| Course code | BPYM-161 |
|---|---|
| Course title | Philosophy: An Introduction |
| Programme | BAFPY PhilosophyBAFPY |
| Session | TEE December 2026 and TEE June 2027 |
| Maximum marks | 100 |
| Weightage | 30% |
| Last date (June exam) | 30 Apr 2027 |
| Last date (December exam) | 31 Oct 2027 |
| Medium | English, Hindi |
About the BPYM-161 assignment
The BPYM-161 assignment covers Indian and Western philosophy, including the Upanishads, Buddhist thought, Indian materialism, liberation, Greek thinkers and medieval and contemporary Western philosophy. It also explores ethics, knowledge and paths of action.
There are five compulsory questions worth 20 marks each, with choices within them. Questions 1 and 2 require about 400 words each. Question 3 requires two answers of about 200 words each, Question 4 requires four answers of about 150 words each, and Question 5 requires five short notes of about 100 words each.
What the assignment asks
| Question | Marks | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 20 | Explain the Upanishads and their ideas of Atman and Brahman, or discuss the nature of philosophy and its fundamental questions and dogmas. |
| Q2 | 20 | Discuss either Aristotle’s contribution to philosophy or the contribution of contemporary Western philosophy to human beings. |
| Q3 | 2*10=20 | Choose two topics from Plato’s theory of Ideas, the Indian philosophical quest of life, Socratic ethics and Buddhist dependent origination. |
| Q4 | 4*5=20 | Choose four topics from Indian materialism, the origin and development of Mahavakya, Stoic ethics, Moksha in Vedic schools, medieval Western philosophy and the claim that everything is numerical. |
| Q5 | 5*4=20 | Write notes on five topics selected from Aristotle’s four causes, Vedanga, Heraclitus’s union of opposites, Logos, Nişkāmakarma, Karma marga, Plato’s cave allegory and epistemology. |
This is a summary of each question. Download the official PDF above for the exact questions and word limits.
How to write and submit it
- Attempt all five main questions; each carries equal marks.
- For Questions 1 and 2, choose one alternative in each and write about 400 words per answer.
- In Question 3, answer any two options in about 200 words each.
- In Question 4, answer any four options in about 150 words each.
- In Question 5, write any five short notes in about 100 words each.
- Where a selected question has multiple parts, address every part.
Submission dates: 30 April 2027 (June TEE); 31 October 2027 (December TEE). Dates can differ by session; these deadlines follow the current listing.
Frequently asked questions
Which session is the BPYM-161 assignment for?
The official listing identifies July 2026 and January 2027. The PDF heading identifies TEE December 2026 and TEE June 2027.
What are the BPYM-161 assignment submission deadlines?
The current listing gives 30 April 2027 for the June term-end exam and 31 October 2027 for the December term-end exam. Dates can differ by session; the listing dates take priority over the PDF’s exam-period heading.
What are the maximum marks and assignment weightage?
The assignment carries 100 marks, with five main questions worth 20 marks each. The official listing gives a weightage of 30%.
Do I have to answer every option in BPYM-161?
No. Attempt all five main questions, choosing one alternative each in Questions 1 and 2, two options in Question 3, four in Question 4 and five in Question 5. Complete all parts of any selected question.
What are the answer lengths for this assignment?
Write about 400 words each for Questions 1 and 2, about 200 words per selected answer in Question 3, about 150 words per selected answer in Question 4 and about 100 words per selected note in Question 5.
Which language versions are available for BPYM-161?
The official listing provides English and Hindi versions.
Other IGNOU BAFPY assignments
- BPYC-101: Introduction to Philosophy: Perspectives, Issues and Early History
- BPYC-102: Ethics
- BPYC-103: Indian Philosophy: Classical and Contemporary
- BPYC-104: Modern Western Philosophy
- BPYC-105: Logic
- BPYC-106: Social and Political Philosophy
- BPYC-107: Philosophy of Religion
- BPYC-108: Contemporary Western Philosophy
- BPYC-109: Metaphysics
- BPYM-162: Ethics: An Introduction
Assignment details and PDFs come from IGNOU's official website; the guide is a summary of the official PDF. Always check the latest instructions and last dates on ignou.ac.in or with your Regional Centre before submitting.