History

The Delhi School of Economics is one of India’s premier institutes of higher learning. The school was launched in 1949 by V.K.R.V. Rao, with the support of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. It grew out of a vision that a newly independent nation, which aspired to social and economic progress, needed a vibrant centre for advanced studies in the social sciences. The department of economics, along with its sister departments of geography and sociology, has produced many of the country’s leading academics, educators, administrators, policy makers, corporate leaders and journalists. Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and the late Sukhamoy Chakravarty, one of the architects of India’s Five Year Plans, have all taught here

Teaching

The two year MA programme in economics is the department’s flagship teaching programme, rated to be one of the best in the country. It combines rigour with relevance, giving the student a thorough grounding in economic theory, empirical techniques and contemporary policy debates. The programme attracts a talented pool of students from varied undergraduate backgrounds, including not only economics but also mathematics, physics, and engineering. Students get exposure to a wide range of courses and also gain experience in doing field work, analysing data, handling statistical software packages, making presentations and writing reports and papers. The newly revamped MPhil and PhD programmes complete the offering of postgraduate educatio.

Placement

DSE graduates have a world of opportunity open up before them. Many are recruited directly from campus by prestigious Indian and multi-national companies, who highly value the analytical and quantitative skills that our programmes emphasize. The department’s placement cell assists students in finding suitable employment.

Many are admitted to top PhD programmes abroad and go on to establish impressive careers in academia. DSE alumni can be found among the faculty of the world’s leading universities, including Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, LSE and Oxford, in international agencies like the World Bank, IMF or Asian Development Bank, as well as in the higher echelons of government.

Infrastructure and Resources

The Ratan Tata library, considered to be housing the best collection in economics in the country, has over 1,80,000 books, subscribes to nearly 1,25,000 bound periodicals and collects numerous publications of governments and international agencies. The department’s computer labs are well equipped with new computers and printers, high speed internet access and advanced software like STATA, GAUSS, EVIEWS and SCIENTIFIC WORKPLACE. Faculty and students have access to electronic resources and databases like JSTOR and ECONLIT. Two large lecture theatres and several classrooms are fitted with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment. A professional support staff is always standing by.

The DSE Experience

The Delhi School of Economics is much more than an institution for minting degrees and launching careers. It is a place where minds are shaped, lifelong friendships are formed and ideas are born and tested. It is a social and intellectual hub of one of India’s leading public universities. Come here to grab a cup of tea from JP’s stall or a bite from the Dschool canteen. Then chat, mingle, debate, organize and dream.