Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh

Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) also known as Arunachal University, established in 1984, is the premier institution of higher learning of the State of Arunachal Pradesh. It has completed seventeen years of its existence. The Foundation Stone of the University was laid by the then Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi on 4th February 1984. Ever since its inception, the University has been trying to achieve excellence and fulfill the objectives as envisaged in the University Act. The University got academic recognition under section 2(f) from the University Grants Commission (UGC) on 28th March 1985 and started functioning from 1st April 1985. It got financial recognition under section 12-B of the UGC Act on 25th March 1994. The University is located atop Rono Hills on a picturesque tableland of 302 acres overlooking the river Dikrong. It is 5.8 km away from the National Highway 52-A and 25 km away from Itanagar, the State capital. The campus is linked with the National Highway by a suspension bridge across the river Dikrong, which is used by pedestrians and three wheelers. A temporary bridge is also constructed every year for use of light motor vehicles during the November-May period to cross the river. These arrangements apart a permanent bridge across Dikrong is likely to come up any time after March 2002. The teaching and research programmes of the University are designed with a view to play a positive role in the socio-economic and cultural development of the State. The University offers Post-Graduate and Ph.D. programmes in Commerce, Economics, Education, English, Geography, History, Political Science, Botany, Zoology and Hindi. The Department of Tribal Studies offers M.Phil programme and Post Graduate programme in Anthropology. The Department of Education also offers B.Ed. programme. There are seven Government Degree Colleges, namely, Jawaharlal Nehru College, Pasighat, Government College, Itanagar, Indira Gandhi Government College, Tezu, Government College, Bomdila, Donyi-Polo Government College, Kamki, Rang-Frah Government College, Changlang and Government College, Tirap, affiliated to the University. The University has been extending educational facilities to the students from the neighbouring States, particularly Assam. The strength of students in different Departments of University and in affiliated colleges has been steadily increasing. The Faculty members have been actively engaged in research activities with financial support from UGC and other funding agencies. During the year under report, a number of proposals on research projects have been sanctioned by various funding agencies to the University. Departments have organized a number of Seminars, Workshops and Conferences. Many faculty members participated in national and international conferences and seminars held within the country and abroad. Eminent scholars and distinguished personalities have visited the University and delivered lectures on various disciplines. The seventeenth Foundation Day celebration was marked by a highly effective programme of social service organized by the University community. Cleaning and beautification of the university campus was taken up. The daylong activity ended with a lecture cum slide show by the Vice-Chancellor. All the members fondly remembered the remarkable growth of the University. The academic year 2000-2001 was a year of consolidation for the University. The switch over from annual to semester system took off smoothly and the performance of the students registered a marked improvement. Various syllabi designed by Boards of Post-Graduate Studies (BPGS) have been implemented. V-SAT installed by the Department of Electronics, Government of India is providing global connectivity through Internet and E-mail. The faculty and students are making good use of this facility. The construction of first floor of the Library building was completed. Environmental Science building, twenty-four residential units and extension of Girl’s Hostel have started during the period under report. In spite of infrastructural constraints, the University has been maintaining its academic excellence. The University has strictly adhered to the academic calendar, conducted the examinations and declared the results in time. The students from the University have found placements not only in State and Central Government Services, but also in various institutions and organizations. Many students have come out successful in the National Eligibility Test (NET). During the period, the University made significant progress in teaching, research, innovations in curriculum development and developing infrastructure. Status: Rajiv Gandhi University is a central University under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India. The University has been converted to a central university by an act of parliament with effect from 9th April, 2007. Rajiv Gandhi University was formerly known as Arunachal University. The Arunachal University was established by the state government of the state of Arunachal Pradesh, in the year of 1984. In 2005 the same has been renamed as Rajiv Gandhi University. Faculty: Faculty of Education * Department of Education Faculty of Languages * Department of English * Department of Hindi Faculty of Social Science * Department of Economics * Department of History * Department of Political Science * Department of Mass Communication Faculty of Basic Science * Department of Mathematics Faculty of Environmental Science * Department of Geography Faculty of Life Science * Department of Botany * Department of Zoology Faculty of Management * Department of Commerce * Department of Management Faculty of Technology * Department of Computer Science & Engineering