History

Gauhati University was established on 26th January 1948. It was also in the year 1948 that the under graduate and post graduate commerce classes were started in this University. I. Com., B. Com., and two year Diploma course in Secretarial Practice were introduced in the under graduate classes. . I. Com. and B. Com. Classes were held in the New Arts Building of the Cotton College and Secretarial Practice Classes were held in the Don Bosco School Building. The then Vice Chancellor, K.K. Handique, took initiative to start the under graduate classes in the University as there was no arrangement to teach the newly introduced I. Com., B. Com. classes in the college (except in J.B. College, Jorhat).

Gradually the under graduate course was shifted from the University when a number of colleges came up during the late fifties and early sixties with facilities for providing commerce education.

Post graduate commerce department, which catered to the need of higher education in commerce in the region, still continues to be center of attraction not only for the students of the North East Region but also for students outside the region. Over the years, the faculty has successfully framed and implemented new course contents, as and when necessary, at par with the national pattern and improved upon it keeping in view the requirement of manpower resources of the N. E. Region. Accordingly, syllabus for B. Com. and M. Com. courses has been revised at regular intervals. As per arrangement with the State Government the department had to accommodate a special batch of students who have passed the B. Com., under the old (2 year) syllabus in 1987. The Department of Business Administration (MBA) started under this Faculty in the year 1979 and has been catering to the need of Management education of this region under the Faculty of Commerce.

The UGC has identified this Department along with five other Universities of the country as a center of excellence and brought this department under the UGC’s Departmental Special Assistance (DSA) Programme.

In January 2001, the Department has switched over to Semester System of M. Com., course with new revised course curriculum. At present, the department is having First Semester with 80 students and M. Com. final year with 80 students.