Department of Economics at Kumaun University Campus Nainital came into being in 1951, with the setting up of the DSB Government College (Now a Campus of Kumaun University). However, the Department of Economics at Almora, Kumaun University Campus started functioning much earlier. The Department ever since its inception has had the distinction of being associated with teachers of illustrious career and extra ordinary academic background. The founder head of the department was Dr. S. G. Tewari who was also associated with Statistics Department, New Delhi and also worked as National Income Accounting expert in the UNO team. Later he was taken as Chief of National Income Unit of Planning Commission. The persons who followed him in the chair excelled in their own ways. Dr. K. N. Srivastava, a veteran Labour Economist, Dr. Maya Ram, a great Public Finance theoretician and Director Higher Education in 1977, Dr. K. D. Upadhyay, an exponent of Economic Theory and Dr. P. P. Elhance was a teacher of Statistical Analysis par excellence. All of these academicians nourished and reared up the department from its infancy to mature adulthood.

Dr. D. N. Agarwal who was associated with the Department right from the beginning also served as the first ever selected Professor and Head of the Department. In that capacity he not only laid the foundation of the Department in the new outfit of the university culture but also shared the responsibility of formulating the courses and promoting Ph. D. researches. Before joining over as Professor, he also served as the first Registrar of the University and was responsible for framing the University’s Statutes. His students of all times always remember him for his excellent eloquence on Economic Thought. Dr. Elhance during whose tenure students’ performance in the university examination was outstanding succeeded Professor Agarwal. Prof. G. C. Pande and Prof. P. C. Pande were selected as the two worthy Professors of the Department in 1989. Prof. G. C. Pande acted as the Head of the Department from 1989 to 1998 till his retirement. He also worked as Dean of the Arts Faculty for one term. He supervised research of a number of students and carried out research projects. His project on Adult Education sponsored by the Uttar Pradesh Govt., is a Landmark. Prof. P. C. Pande took over as the Head of the Department from Prof. G. C. Pande in 1998. He holds more than one strategically important office besides functioning as the Head of the Department. He was also Pro Vice – Chancellor of the University and Dean Arts Faculty. In all these capacities the contribution of Prof. P. C. Pande in the university building process led by our Hon’ble Vice – Chancellor Prof. B. S. Rajput is very significant. Prof. Pandey was a specialist of Economic Thought. After Prof. P.C. Pande’s retirement in 2002 Prof. D.C. Pande took over the Campus Head of the Department. He served as head of the Campus Department from 2002 to 2005 till his retirement. Thereafter Dr. Nirmala Bora headed the Campus Department till July 2009. Dr. R.S. Jalal remained Campus Head from August 2009 till June, 2012. In July, 2012 Prof. L.S. Bisht (University Head of the Department) joined from Almora Campus and took charge of Head Economics and Dean, Arts Faculty. In October, 2012, the policy of rotational headship came into effect and consequently Prof. Nirmala Bora took charge of University Head of Department for three years i.e., 10-10-2012 to 09-10-2015 followed by Prof. R.S. Jalal on 10-10-2015 and presently, Prof. Padam S. Bisht is University Head, Department of Economics, since 10-10-2018 and also the Convener of Board of Studies and Research Degree Committee, Kumaun University, Nainital.

Economics as a Subject is being taught at the undergraduate and postgraduate level in both campuses viz., DSB Campus, Nainital and SSJ Campus Almora. Pre Ph.D Course and Research Facility is also available. For regular students Master of Arts (M.A.) Post Graduate degree course is available only through Semester System from Academic session 2011-12 onwards. From Session 2020-21 Credit Based Choice System (CBCS) is adopted at PG level. The Syllabus has been revised to follow the guidelines of UGC in spirit and meaning. Compulsory Papers on Quantitative Methods have been introduced as directed in the UGC guidelines. With the invasive growth of knowledge economy at the global level Economics has emerged as the front-line discipline to address the contemporary issues of stability, growth and humanitarian inclusiveness at the grass root, national and international level. Since Economics is the most dynamic subject, therefore students aspiring to pursue the course in the subject in a fruitful manner are expected to remain abreast with the current developments in the economic world through newspapers, periodicals, internet, library facilities in addition to regular class room attendance. Scholars are also registered in Post-Doctoral (D.Litt.) in Economics and successfully working their research work.

Head Economics Department

Name : Prof. Rajnish Pande

Phone : 09412084716

Email : hodeconomics@kunainital.ac.in

About the Chairman:Prof. Rajnish Pande, M.A., Ph.D. (Economics) is Professor and Head of the Economics Department at Kumaun University, Nainital. He is an alumnus of Kumaun University. He has more than 30 years of teaching experience at the graduate & post-graduate level. His area of research interest are Regional Economics and Labour Economics. He has contributed a number of research papers in leading National & International Journals. He has edited four books and contributed a number of chapters in edited books.

He has also participated and chaired various seminars. A number of students have been awarded Ph.D. degree under his valuable guidance. He was appointed as Controller of Examination at Kumaun University, Nainital (2014 to 2017) and appointed as Non-official Independent Director on the Board of Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd. (SJVNL), Shimla, Himachal Pradesh (2019 to 2022) by Hon'ble President of India. In the year 2022 he has also been appointed as the Director of I.P.S.D.R., Kumaun University, Nainital.

Courses offered:-

1. Graduation in Economics (Semester System)
2. Post-Graduation in Economics (C.B.C.S. Semester System)
3. Ph.D. in Economics