The Centre aims at developing inter-disciplinary programme of teaching and research within the broad framework of Regional Development and Planning. It admits students to M.A. and M.Phil / Ph.D. programmes of the University.

The Centre has developed teaching and research programme around three major streams namely Geography, Economics and Population Studies. Entrance to these streams is through separate entrance examination but teaching and research are highly inter-disciplinary in nature. The following specialized areas have emerged with the interface of the three main disciplines. These are:

i) Agricultural Studies : These cover regional dimensions of agricultural development in India; quantitative      techniques for research in agricultural economics and geography; political economy of agricultural      development; ecological, technological and infrastructural correlates of agricultural productivity and growth;      employment, poverty and income distribution in the agricultural sector; agricultural development and problems      related to international agreements and globalization.

ii) Natural Resource Base Studies : The areas covered under the stream include geomorphological,      pedological and climatogical bases of distribution and utilization of natural resources especially land and water      resources with special reference to arid zones, flood and drought prone areas; ecosystem approach to natural      resource management; natural resource base and sustainable development in India; application of GIS and      remote sensing in resource management.

iii) Population Studies : These pertain to demographic methods and techniques; census and vital statistics:      socio-economic aspects related to fertility, mortality and family planning; spatial dimensions of urbanization and      migration; settlements and Human Ecology; Population, environment and sustainable development; food      security; labour force; population theory and policy; and reproductive and child health and status of women.

iv) Regional, Urban Analysis and Planning Methods : This stream covers methods of regional analysis      including regional modeling; political economy of regional development and measurements of inter-      regional disparities; resource base-physical, human and fiscal; sectoral development and inter-sectoral      linkages of agriculture, industry, transport and social infrastructure; Multi-Level Planning and Integrated Area      Development ; industrialization, employment in organized and unorganized sectors; processes of urban growth      and access to basic amenities; urban governance and financing; housing and problems of the slums;      techniques of micro and macro-level regional and urban planning; specific problems of the development of the      backward areas in India.

v) Analysis of Socio-Cultural Elements in the Indian Regional Structure : This stream covers the evolution of the      regional structure in India, socio-cultural dimensions of regionalization with special reference to ethnic, tribal,      caste, linguistic/dialectal; gender and religious identities; regional dimension of political behaviour; social well-      being and its measurement; social infrastructure particularly health and education; social transformations and      the role of social/ecological factors in the development of backward areas; economics of discriminations-      ethnicity, caste and gender.

The focus of the programme is on the modern concepts of Geography with special reference to problems of regional development in India. It is a mix of general and topical courses, field methods, quantitative techniques and specialized courses. Papers like “History of Geographical Thought”, “Human Ecology” and “Regional Development” deal with theoretical aspects in Geography. Courses on topical Geography include “Geomorphology and Pedology”, “Climatology and Biogeography”, “Hydrology and Oceanography”, “Economic Geography”, “Social Geography” and “Population and Settlement Geography”. All these courses have emphasis on India. The problems related to regional aspects are dealt with in courses on “Regional Geography of India”, “Meso Regional Studies”, “Levels of Regional Development in India” and “Regional Development Theory”.

Courses in quantitative, GIS and Remote Sensing techniques, computer aided cartography and field survey methods train students in latest tools of analysis in Geography. In the fourth and final semester, students can opt for any one of the following specialization streams:

a) Advanced Techniques in Geography
b) Agricultural Geography
c) Physical Resources and Geomorphology
d) Population and Settlement Geography
e) Regional Development and Planning and
 f) Social Geography