Department of Population Studies

Orissa has a sizable population of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Communities. The socio-economic and demographic scenario of the state is in a transitional phase with high infant and child mortality, declining sex ratio, reducing tribal population, increasing aged population, low status of women, increasing geographical imbalances and frequent natural calamities.These

interrelated problems need to be comprehensively studied and acted upon through research and extension activities. The Department stated functioning from the 2004-05 academic session on the objective of providing education and research facilities to the students of the region with an adverse socio-economic and demographic background. To begin with, a two-year (four-semester) Master Degree programme was introduced with a student intake of sixteen. In the meantime, one-year (two-semester) M. Phil. programme has been approved to begin from 2006-07 with an intake of four. Besides, the Ph. D. programme has also come into force since March, 2006. Along with teaching and research, the department has been taking up extension activities under the programme of University-Society Interface for creation of awareness among the people on various population and health problems in both rural and urban areas, especially among the underprivileged.