DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

The Department of Economics is one of the eight departments of Gauhati University which was established in 1948. Initially, classes were held in the Earle Law College at Panbazar. The Department shifted to the Arts Block in Jalukbari in 1952 and subsequently shifted to the New Academic Building in January 2013. Initially teaching was started in the Department with an intake of less than 50 students in the Post Graduate classes. The intake had to be raised up to 108 in response to growing demand for post graduate education in Economics in the state and the region. However, the intake had to be pegged back at 65 in 2001 as the Department adopted the semester system for its M.A./M.Sc. programmes. All PG programmes of the Department are now in the Choice Based Credit System platform. The intake for MA in Economics at present is 75. Students graduating from the Department have been regularly clearing UGC-NET-JRF.

In 2009, the department of Economics in a unique endeavor jointly offered the highly innovative Master of Business Economics Programme in collaboration with the Department of Business Administration. Now redesignated as MBA (Business Economics), the programme is now highly sought after and is an example of successful inter-departmental collaboration.  Besides the 150 enrolled in its MA programme and 60 more in its MBA (BE) programme, the department has responded to the growing demand for post graduate learning in Economics, by offering MA in Economics under its distance education programme in Institute of Distant and Open Learning of the University. The department is also responsible for framing syllabi and overseeing the implementation of Undergraduate Major and Elective Courses in Economics in colleges affiliated to the University.

The Department has been carrying forward a vibrant research programme. Quality of Ph.D./M.Phil programmes are ensured through rigorous course work, which are initiated  through pre-registration workshops to guide the scholars to start their research with confidence.  This is done over and above following the UGC recommended best practices which are rigorously followed. Apart from research under its M Phil and Ph D programme, the faculty members have been pursuing research sponsored by various government and non-government, national and international  funding agencies. The Department has been regularly bringing out a peer reviewed journal Assam Economic Review, where contribution s are received from within and outside the Northeast Region of India. The Department successfully completed UGC-SAP-DRS-1 in 31 March 2016 and has been recommended by the UGC Expert Committee for the next stage i.e., DRS-2

Right from the beginning the teachers of the Department were associated with various assignments. Professor P.C. Thomas served as educational advisor of UNESCO in Nepal for a year, as did Professor Sarangapani who went abroad on an UN assignment for a year. Teachers of the Department have also extended their services to the Government in various capacities in the State Planning Board, State Finance Commissions, State Level Advisory Committee of 20-Point Programme, High Level Committee for Farming, Formulation of Long Term Plan for Assam's Economic Development, Committee to Enquire Into The Economic Significance of The First Brahmaputra Bridge, different Pay Commissions, Gauhati Municipal Corporation, State Level Advisory Committee on Small Savings, Power Boards etc. The Department was also involved in the preparation of the Assam Human Development Report, 2003. In recent years the department had conducted studies for the Thirteenth Finance Commission and Fourteenth Finance Commission and also for the Planning Commission. Faculty members have served in various committees of National level bodies like the UGC and the ICSSR.

The department follows democratic and gender friendly principles. All faculty members are integral part of the decision making process and are equal stakeholders in all its activities.

 A Department of Institution Builders:

Initially, the Department started operation with a pan-Indian faculty, which included  stalwarts like Dr. P.C. Thomas (Head of the Department), Professor S. Sarangapani, Shri K. Krishnamurty and Dr. V. Venkata Rao. Professor Mehrotra of Commerce Department reinforced the department as a part time teacher. Subsequently, Dr. U.N. Bordoloi, Shri Dhirendra Nath Sarma, Shri Jyotish Gogoi, Dr. K. Alam, Dr. Atul Goswami, Dr. B. P. Misra etc joined the Department.

Prof. Srinath Baruah, former HoD was the founding Director of  the Gauhati University Institute of Distance and Open Learning (GU IDOL) also and had built up the first state open university in the region, Krishna Kanta Handique State Open University (KKSHOU) as its first Vice Chancellor.

Prof. Archana Sharma,  as Director  nurtured the  UGC sponsored Women’s Studies Research Centre , Gauhati University for 16 years and  established the  Department of Women’s Studies.

Prof. M. P. Bezbaruah, former HoD, has significant contribution to the formation and growth of North Eastern Economic Association (NEEA), which is a common forum for the students, teachers and researchers of Economics of the region. He is also rendering his service to the Gauhati University Institute of North East India Studies(GUINEIS).

The Present HoD, Prof. Ratul Mahanta is an awardee of Raman Post Doctoral Fellow to the USA. He is also involved in many projects at national and International levels. Prof. Mahanta is the recipient of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India sponsored major research project. At present Prof. Mahanta is also serving Gauhati University as an Academic Registrar.