The Department of Rural Studies (Previously the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) was established in 2009 with a strong interdisciplinary focus offering Two-year Master Degree course in Rural Studies as ‘Master of Rural Studies (MRS)’. Ph. D. programme was also initiated in the year 2011. The Department seeks to combine socially relevant and thematically updated curriculum with emerging innovations to ensure quality teaching as well as meaningful research.

In tune with the interdisciplinary mandate, the Department looks forward to drawing students (Honours Graduate) from different disciplines. Thematically, the course outline exposes the students to the following: (a) Social, institutional and economic issues including globalization which are extremely relevant for in-depth understanding of the rural reality of India in particular (b) A technocratic lens to understand the operational elements within the rural context (c) Environmental issues that are of contemporary relevance (d) A regional framework for holistic appreciation of rural issues.

Besides, the Department also imparts training in statistical and spatial analysis tools through use of software and organizes extensive fieldwork in the rural areas/villages. In addition, the Department also takes initiatives towards a one month internship Programme as a part of its course curriculum in order to enhance institutional linkages. This has emerged as strong capacity building element which helps students to get absorbed in the job market as well as to pursue meaningful research.

Significant Milestones of the Department