The Department of Geological Sciences (erstwhile Geology Department) was established in 1950 initially with undergraduate course and subsequently upgraded to a post graduate department in 1956. It was the first department of geology to be set up in the Northeastern region of India which has played a vital role in human resource development catering to the need of various geoscientific organizations in the country and abroad. It was rechristened as the “Department of Geological Sciences” in 1986 keeping in mind the wider perspective of the subject. The department provides a vibrant academic ambience with emphasis on interactive teaching, continuous evaluation and various student enrichment programmes including regular thematic lectures and periodic workshops etc. The syllabus is periodically revised to incorporate recent development in geology and keeping in mind the needs and demands in different fields. After completion of the course, the students get absorbed in various organizations through competitive examinations and occasional campus recruitment.

The department spreads over a large floor area, with modest laboratory and classroom facility apart from a well stocked Geological Museum and Departmental Library. In addition to in-house grants from the university, grants have also been received under:

                                   (i) COSIST programme of the UGC (1984) 

                                  (ii) FIST programme of the DST (2003-2008)

                                 (iii)  FIST programme of the DST (2016-2021) and, 

                                  (iv) RUSA programme of the UGC(2016-17)

These infrastructural development programmes have helped the Department to develop and maintain the infrastructural facilities. Significant grants under research projects have also been received from various organizations in recent past. The Department has also signed an MoU with the Oil India Ltd. (OIL) in 2017 to collaborate in research under the 'Industry-Academia' initiative of the OIL.