IGNOU BECM 161 Principles of Microeconomics: Assignment, Question Papers and Study Blocks
Part of IGNOU Study Material: IGNOU Study Material 2026: How to Check Book Status and Download eSLM PDF?
BECM 161 Principles of Microeconomics at a glance
| Detail | BECM 161 |
|---|---|
| Course code | BECM 161 |
| Course title | Principles of Microeconomics |
| Credits | 4 |
| Study hours | 120 hours |
| Course type | Minor |
| Programme (term) | BSCFMT (Minor Discipline Specific Courses) |
| Programme medium | English & Hindi |
| Study blocks | 4 blocks on eGyanKosh |
| Term-end exams | June and December |
| Assignment code | BECM-161/2025-26 |
| Assignment last date | June 2026 Term End Examination: 31 March 2026; December 2026 Term End Examination: 30 September 2026 |
| Term-end exam | 2 Hours, 50 marks (June 2026 paper) |
BECM 161 subject name and where it sits in IGNOU BSCFMT
BECM 161 is titled Principles of Microeconomics. This 4-credit minor course is part of the IGNOU Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) (BSCFMT) programme. It is offered through the School of Sciences (SOS) in both English and Hindi mediums. A 4-credit course requires 120 hours of learner study, as one IGNOU credit equals 30 hours of study.
In the same term as BECM 161, BSCFMT students also study other courses. These include BBYCT 131 Biodiversity (Microbes, Algae, Fungi and Archegoniates) and BBYCT 133 Plant Ecology and Taxonomy, both 4-credit courses. Additionally, there are BCHCT 131 Atomic Structure, Bonding, General Organic Chemistry and Aliphatic Hydrocarbons, and BCHCT 133 Chemical Energetics, Equilibria and Functional Group Organic Chemistry – I. The programme also lists BGYCT 131 Physical and Structural Geology, BGYCT 133 Crystallography, Mineralogy and Economic Geology, BGYCT 135 Petrology, and BGYCT 137 Stratigraphy and Palaeontology, all carrying 4 credits each. While BECM 161 is listed in the BSCFMT course table, other IGNOU programmes may also carry this course.
The whole programme: IGNOU BSCFMT syllabus and IGNOU BSCFMT fees, eligibility and admission.
BECM 161 syllabus: the 4 study blocks on eGyanKosh
BECM 161 Principles of Microeconomics study material is available on eGyanKosh. This course has 4 credits and is a Minor type course. The study blocks are structured to introduce core concepts and then build on them, moving from foundational principles to more complex market analysis.
The first block, ‘Introduction’, establishes the basic ideas of microeconomics. Following this, ‘Theory of Consumer Behaviour’ in Block 2 examines how individuals make economic choices. Block 3, ‘Production and Costs’, then covers how firms operate and manage expenses. These 4 blocks provide a complete overview of the BECM 161 syllabus.
The 4 blocks hold 15 units between them:
- Block 1: Introduction
- Unit 1: Introduction of Economics and Economy
- Unit 2: Demand and Elasticity of Demand
- Unit 3: Supply and Elasticity of Supply
- Unit 4: Demand and Supply in Practice
- Block 2: Theory of Consumer Behaviour
- Unit 5: Consumer Behaviour: Cardinal Approach
- Unit 6: Consumer Behaviour: Ordinal Approach
- Unit 7: Applications of Consumer Theory
- Block 3: Production and Costs
- Unit 8: Production Function
- Unit 9: Returns to Scale
- Unit 10: The Cost of Production
- Block 4: Market Structure and Market Failure
- Unit 11: Perfect Competition: Firm and Industry Equilibrium
- Unit 12: Monopoly: Price and Output Decisions
- Unit 13: Monopolistic Competition: Price and Output Decisions
- Unit 14: Oligopoly: Price and Output Decisions
- Unit 15: Market Failure and the Role of the State
Getting the printed books and e-books: IGNOU study material.
BECM 161 assignment: download, submission and marks
BECM 161 Principles of Microeconomics assignments are compulsory.
Official IGNOU assignment files that include BECM 161 are available for download on the website for the current session. The IGNOU BECM 161 English Assignment Booklet July 2025 January 2026 covers the Four Year Under Graduate Programme (FYUG)/BAM for the July 2025-Jan 2026 session. The IGNOU BECM 161 Hindi Assignment Session 2025 2026 also covers the Four Year Under Graduate Programme (FYUG)/BAM for the July 2025-Jan 2026 session.
Learners must submit their Tutor Marked Assignments to the Coordinator of their Learner Support Centre. If an assignment fails, it must be re-submitted. Once an assignment has passed, it cannot be re-submitted to improve the grade. BECM 161 is a Minor Discipline Specific Course with 4 credits, part of the Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) (BSCFMT) programme in the School of Sciences (SOS). The programme medium is English and Hindi.
Official IGNOU assignment files that include BECM 161
| Assignment file | Session or label | Status |
|---|---|---|
| IGNOU BECM 161 English Assignment Booklet July 2025 January 2026 | English — Four Year Under Graduate Programme (FYUG)/BAM) July 2025-Jan 2026), 2026 | current file |
| IGNOU BECM 161 Hindi Assignment Session 2025 2026 | Hindi — Four Year Under Graduate Programme (FYUG)/BAM) July 2025-Jan 2026), 2025 | current file |
BECM 161 assignment questions: July 2025 and January 2026
Assignment BECM-161/2025-26 has 10 questions. Together they carry 100 marks.
| Q. | Question | Marks | Unit to read |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explain with illustration the three stages of production. Why should a rational producer under competitive condition should produce in stage II? What is production possibility curve (PPC)? How does a PPC provide an economy's menu of choices?
|
20 | Unit 8: Production Function Block 3: Production and Costs |
| 2 | What is indifference curve? Explain its properties. A consumer has utility function for goods X and Y as under : U(X,Y)=𝑋0.2𝑌0.7 I. What will be the consumer's marginal utility for X. II. What will be the consumer's marginal utility for Y
|
20 | Unit 6: Consumer Behaviour: Ordinal Approach Block 2: Theory of Consumer Behaviour |
| 3 | How does want and utility are interconnected to each other? How is the cardinal approach different from ordinal approach to consumer behavior? On what grounds, the law of diminishing marginal utility is criticized by the modern economists?
|
10 | Unit 5: Consumer Behaviour: Cardinal Approach Block 2: Theory of Consumer Behaviour |
| 4 | What are implicit costs? How are these implicit costs estimated? Do you think that these costs be included as part of costs of production? Give reasons for your answer | 10 | Unit 10: The Cost of Production Block 3: Production and Costs |
| 5 | Distinguish between public monopoly and private monopolist. How does public monopoly firm makes its price and output decisions? Illustrate. What do you understand by the term ‘market failure'? Explain the various sources of market failure. Which policy instruments can be resorted to regulate the inefficient market situations?
|
10 | Unit 15: Market Failure and the Role of the State Block 4: Market Structure and Market Failure |
| 6 | Explain how does ‘scarcity' lie at the root of all economic activities? | 6 | Unit 1: Introduction of Economics and Economy Block 1: Introduction |
| 7 | Explain with diagrams the approaches that are used to decompose the price effect into substation effect and income effect | 6 | Unit 6: Consumer Behaviour: Ordinal Approach Block 2: Theory of Consumer Behaviour |
| 8 | Discuss the relationship between marginal and average product curves | 6 | Unit 8: Production Function Block 3: Production and Costs |
| 9 | Distinguish between any two of the followings
|
6 | Unit 15: Market Failure and the Role of the State Block 4: Market Structure and Market Failure |
| 10 | Given the following supply and demand functions of a commodity X, determine its equilibrium price and quantity. 𝑄𝑑 = 8000 −1000𝑃𝑥 𝑄𝑠 = −4000 + 2000𝑃𝑥 | 6 | Unit 4: Demand and Supply in Practice Block 1: Introduction |
Questions as printed in IGNOU’s file: BECM 161 assignment PDF. Check the Assignments page before you write, since IGNOU replaces the file each year.
Assignment rules that apply to every IGNOU course: front page format, paper and margin rules, binding and envelope and checking assignment status.
IGNOU student services
BECM 161 question papers and the term-end exam
Previous year question papers for BECM 161 Principles of Microeconomics are available on IGNOU’s Previous Question Papers page. These papers are arranged by programme and course. The term-end examination for BECM 161 is held twice a year, in June and December sessions. For example, the December 2026 TEE will have two sessions daily: 10 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 5 PM.
The examination fee is Rs. 200 per theory course for the December 2026 TEE. Learners may write the exam in Hindi even if they registered in English medium, except for language programmes. Examination centres are located across the country and abroad. Hall tickets are uploaded on the University website and not sent by post.
Only term-end theory exams can be re-evaluated; projects, practicals, workshops, assignments, or seminars are not eligible. A copy of the answer script costs Rs. 100 per course (January 2026). Bachelor’s and Master’s students who are within 2% marks of a 2nd or 1st division may apply for improvement, with one opportunity only (January 2026). Early declaration of results costs Rs. 1000 per course for Indian students, requiring proof of selection for a post or further studies (January 2026).
BECM 161 previous year question papers
The last 2 term-end papers on IGNOU’s question paper site:
| Exam | Questions on the paper | Official file |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 9 | Question paper PDF |
| December 2025 | 10 | Question paper PDF |
BECM 161 exam pattern
The June 2026 paper runs 2 hours and carries 50 marks. The instruction at the top reads: “Attempt questions from each Section as per instructions given.”
BECM 161 topics asked in more than one exam
Read across the 2 papers, these subjects came back:
| Topic | Asked in | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Central problems of an economy | June 2026, December 2025 | Unit 1: Introduction of Economics and Economy |
| Determinants of demand for a commodity | June 2026, December 2025 | Unit 2: Demand and Elasticity of Demand |
| Price elasticity of demand and its measurement | June 2026, December 2025 | Unit 2: Demand and Elasticity of Demand |
| Indifference curves and ordinal approach of consumer behaviour | June 2026, December 2025 | Unit 6: Consumer Behaviour: Ordinal Approach |
| Market failure and role of government intervention | June 2026, December 2025 | Unit 15: Market Failure and the Role of the State |
How the questions in these papers spread over the blocks (19 of 19 questions match a unit):
| Block | Questions |
|---|---|
| Block 1: Introduction | 7 |
| Block 2: Theory of Consumer Behaviour | 3 |
| Block 3: Production and Costs | 5 |
| Block 4: Market Structure and Market Failure | 4 |
For the exam itself: previous year question papers by programme, the exam form, the date sheet and results and grade card.
Official IGNOU links for BECM 161
- eGyanKosh: BECM-161 Principles of Microeconomics
- IGNOU previous term-end question papers
- IGNOU assignments page
- IGNOU BECM 161 English Assignment Booklet July 2025 January 2026
- IGNOU BECM 161 Hindi Assignment Session 2025 2026
Common IGNOU Questions
Where can I find the study material for BECM 161 Principles of Microeconomics?
The study material for BECM 161 Principles of Microeconomics is available on eGyanKosh. It is organised into four blocks: Block 1: Introduction, Block 2: Theory of Consumer Behaviour, Block 3: Production and Costs, and Block 4: Market Structure and Market Failure. IGNOU also provides printed self-instructional study material.
How many credits is BECM 161, and what is the expected study load?
BECM 161 Principles of Microeconomics is a 4-credit course. This means you should plan for 120 hours of learner study, as one IGNOU credit equals 30 hours of study. This course is listed as a Minor Discipline Specific Course.
Is BECM 161 Principles of Microeconomics part of other IGNOU programmes?
Yes, BECM 161 Principles of Microeconomics is listed in the course table of the IGNOU Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) (BSCFMT) programme. It is part of the Minor Discipline Specific Courses within the School of Sciences (SOS). Other IGNOU programmes may also carry BECM 161.
Where can I download the assignments for BECM 161?
IGNOU’s file for the July 2025 & January 2026 is here (PDF), assignment code BECM-161/2025-26. Its questions are listed in the assignment section of this page, each with the unit that covers it. Tutor Marked Assignments go to the Coordinator of your Learner Support Centre.
Where do I submit my completed assignments for BECM 161?
You must submit your Tutor Marked Assignments for BECM 161 to the Coordinator of your Learner Support Centre. Assignments are compulsory and must be written before you can take the Term-End Examination.
Where can I find previous year question papers for BECM 161?
IGNOU posts previous term-end question papers on its Previous Question Papers page, which is available at webservices.ignou.ac.in/Pre-Question. These papers are arranged by programme and course, allowing you to find BECM 161 papers.
What is the examination fee for BECM 161?
The examination fee for BECM 161, as a theory course, is Rs. 200 per course. This fee applies to the Term-End Examination sessions held twice a year, in June and December.