For the first time an IIT has set up Economic Sciences department. What-more, IIT Kanpur’s new department is already funcitional. Students clearing JEE Advanced 2017 and also willing to pursue Bachelor of Science (BS – Economic Sciences) programme can apply for the same.
Director IIT-Kanpur, Prof Indranil Manna informed, “Economics was taught as a subject in IIT-Kanpur at the undergraduate level as a requirement in Humanities and Social Sciences department. From 2005, a unique five year integrated MSc programme was launched here where the students who came into this programme were selected through JEE Advanced. In 2011, this programme was reshaped as a four year BS and five year BS-MS dual degree programme in Economics.
First IIT to start Department of Economic Sciences
He added that although the Economics programme already existed in the institute, there was no separate department for the same. Professor Manindra Agarwal, Deputy director, IIT-K, said that IIT-K is first amongst IITs to start Department of Economic Sciences.
Need for the new department
While interacting with reporters at the institute campus on Saturday evening, Professor Manna said, “The undergraduate programme in Economics had become very popular with more and more higher ranking JEE students opting for it. Thus we felt a need for a new department.” The economics students continue to have excellent placements.
Head of department of Economic Sciences department, Professor Joydeep Dutta informed that the department will consist of 13 faculty members. It will continue to run four year BS and five year BS-MS dual degree programme in Economics along with PhD programme. He also mentioned that they are planning to start a new two year interdisciplinary Masters programme in Economic Sciences, a first of its kind in the country.
