DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

 

Head of the Department : Dr. N. K. Choudhary

Introduction

Prior to January, 1952 the Post-graduate Department of Economics was a part of Patna College. However, as a result of the promulgation of the Patna University Act 1952, the Post-graduate Department of Economics was separated from Patna College and was accessioned to Patna University. After the bifurcation of the Post-graduate and the Under-graduate Departments took place the Post-graduate Department was given the name of “Department of Economics, Patna University”. The Department continued to be housed in Patna College till 1957 when it was shifted to Darbhanga House. The Department has since been housed and functioning in Darbhanga House.

The Department has had a glorious post. It has carved out a significant place for itself in the realm of teaching and research not only in Patna University and Bihar but also in the country.

Teachers and their Designation

The sanctioned strength of teachers in the Department is nine (09). But at present only four (04) teachers are working in the Department. They are :

(i)       Dr. Nawal Kishore Chaudhary (ii)      Dr. Bhagwan Prasad Singh

          University Professor & Head                     University Professor

(iii)     Dr. (Mrs.) Kumudani Sinha        (iv) Dr. (Mrs.) Rita Singh (On Leave)

          University Professor                               Reader

(v)      Sri. B. K. Lal

          Lecturer

Number of Students

Sanctioned seats in the Department in one session are eighty (80) (excluding students to be admitted on the grounds of Handicapped, Fine Arts, Wards of Military personnel, Wards of Teaching and Non-teaching Staff, Foreign students and Compassionate quota).

Number of students admitted during the session

          Session                                                         Number of Students

          2004-05                                                                  85

          2005-2006                                                               85

Results

(a)      M.A. Economics Part-I Examination 2003-04

          Number of Students            Pass             Fail               Total

                                                57                 4                 61

(b)      M. A. Economics Part - II Examination 2004-05

              First Class     Second Class       Absent                    Total

                   32                  22                02                         56

Hostel Accommodation

The Department does not have any separate hostel for its students. Some students of this Department are allotted seats in the Post-Graduate Hostel, Ranighat, P. G. Hostels at Saidpur and Iqbal Hostel at Patna College. In addition some girl students are allotted seats in the G. D. S. Girls Hostel, Krishna Ghat, Patna University.

Academic Activities

Academic Activities - Apart from imparting education to students and doing research activities - the Department organized some seminars and meeting on important subjects and issues during 3005-06. Some of the important activities of the Deptt. during the year 2005-06 are as under :

Prof. N. K. Choudhary and Prof. B. P. Singh participated in International conference on `Employment and Income Security in India’ held at New Delhi from 6 to 8th April 2005.

On Feb. 26, 2006, Bihar Kisan Sabha and Role of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati was discussed in a day long seminar. The seminars was chaired by Shri Ganesh Sankar Vidyarthi, former General Secretary, CPI(M), Bihar; Prof. N. K. Chaudhary and Prof. B. P. Singh gave a detailed account of establishment of Bihar Kisan Sabha and crucial role played by Swami Sahjanand Saraswati with special reference to crisis in Bihar agriculture. Secretary of Bihar Kisan Sabha, Mr. George, social activist, Dr. Bachachoo Sinha, former Professor of Political Science; Dr. R. N. Sharma, Deptt. of Sociology, P.U. some others political activists, students from Deptt. of Eco., Deptt. of History and Deptt. of Political Science actively participated in the seminar.

Seminar Library

A separate Reading Room facility in the Seminar Library of the Departmentwas created on the Ist of February 2005 probably for the first time since the creation of a separate Department of Economics, Patna University in 1952. The Seminar Library along with the reading room has been opened and working from 9.00 A.M. to 5.00 P. M. since 1st February 2005.

Total Number of Teaching Days

As per the University Calendar.

Requirement of the Department

There are nine sanctioned posts of teachers in the Department out of which five are lying vacant. There is an urgent need to fill up the vacant posts. Additional teachers should be appointed to teach larger number of special groups provided for in the syllabus. Mathematics have been started but due to lack of teachers trained in some of the groups, classes are suffering.

The Department of Economics has a very poor strength in terms of no of teaching staff. At present there are only four hands for doing the Department work. The Department, therefore, requires for its smooth functioning, the following additions hands on an urgent basis:

(a) One Librarian (b) One Sorter for the library (c) One attendant for reading room of the library (d) One Accountant (e) One Office Assistant and (f) One Peon.

          The Seminar library of the Department is in a poor shape. It requires furniture, steel almiraha and a separate bigger space for housing it. The library needs to be enriched by acquiring additional books. A separate fund for subscription of important journals in economics needs to be created for which generous grants may be given.