M.Sc. in Economics

Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR) is an advanced research institute established and fully funded by the Reserve Bank of India for carrying out research on development issues from a multi-disciplinary point of view.

IGIDR was registered as an autonomous society on November 14, 1986 and as a public trust in January 1987. On December 28, 1987 the campus was inaugurated by Late. Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India.

Subsequently, the Institute was recognized as a Deemed University under Section 3 of the UGC Act.

Starting as a purely research institution, it rapidly developed into a full-fledged teaching cum research organisation when it launched a Ph.D. program in the field of development studies in 1990. The objective of the Ph.D. programme is to produce researchers with diverse disciplinary backgrounds who can address issues of economics, energy and environment policies. In 1995, the institute initiated the M. Phil programme. The M.Sc. programme commenced in 2003 to introduce students to the world of research at an earlier stage.

At present the Institute has about 188 employees and students, that include about 26 full time faculty members, 22 non-academic staff and about 140 M.Sc./M.Phil/Ph.D students.

IGIDR Vision Document

• The aims and objectives of the Institute are to promote and conduct research on developmental issues from a broad inter- disciplinary perspective (economic, technological, social, political and ecological). It aspires to gain insights into the process of development and alternative policy options and to further disseminate the knowledge acquired.

The primary objectives of the Institute are:

• To promote and conduct research on development from a broad inter-disciplinary perspective.
• To promote co-operative endeavour and interaction between research scholars and institutions in India and abroad.
• To undertake projects or activity which renders itself useful for the furtherance of development and social welfare.
• To carry out training for advanced degrees viz. Master’s and Doctorate award.

Special emphasis will be laid on the following areas:

• The comparative study of development and policy in different regions and countries.
• The growing interdependence among nations in the world economy and its impact on development strategies and policy options.
• The influence of international trading, financial and economic systems on countries.
• The examination of energy, technology and environment problems in global setting.
• The analytical foundations of the positions adopted by India and other developing countries in international forums and negotiations.
• Economic and technological cooperation among developing countries and India’s development experience and policies.
• Planning techniques and methodology.
• Issues in the choice of technology and social well being.
• The role of innovation and diffusion of technology in development.
• Resource utilisation and environment implications of technological alternatives.
• Social, legal, organisational and institutional aspects of development.
• The Institute shall also serve as a centre for promoting co-operative endeavour and interaction in research activities between Indian scholars and institutions as well as between Indian and foreign scholars and institutions