“Economics is everywhere, and understanding economics can help you make better decisions and lead a happier life” By Tyler Cowen

Have you ever pondered how governments can reduce budget deficits or how businesses can increase profit margins? Economics provides insights into making well-informed decisions in such scenarios. It's difficult to make sound decisions without knowledge of the economy. By learning economics, you can develop an awareness of the world's financial structure, comprehend how businesses operate, and analyze markets to make accurate decisions.

Several colleges in India offer a full-time undergraduate course, Bachelor of Arts Honours in Economics, which spans three years. This degree program emphasizes the management of limited resources, including their production, distribution, and conservation.

Top colleges to pursue Bachelors in Economics

1. Shri Ram College of Commerce

Affiliated with Delhi University, Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) is a prestigious college that was founded in 1920 by Sir Shri Ram, an industrialist, educationist, and philanthropist. SRCC offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Commerce and Economics, including B.A. (Hons.) Economics, B.Com (Hons.), M.Com, M.A. Economics, and a postgraduate diploma in Global Business Operations. Admissions to SRCC are based purely on merit, and the college is renowned for its academic excellence, infrastructure, and faculty. Recruiters from various sectors, including banking, finance, and insurance, frequently visit the college. The admission process involves online registration, and students must meet category-specific cutoffs. SRCC also provides various facilities, such as accommodation for male and female students, spacious mess and common rooms, labs, a swimming pool, medical facilities, and a gym.

Website- http://www.srcc.edu/

2. St. Stephens College

Established in 1881, St. Stephens College is the oldest college in Delhi and holds an A Grade accreditation by NAAC. The college offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including B.A., B.Sc., M.A., and M.Sc. with departments in Chemistry, English, Computer Science, Physics, Economics, History, Hindi, Political Science, Philosophy, Sanskrit, and Physical Education. The college's advanced placement cell has placed many students in well-paying jobs, and Delhi University provides scholarships to eligible students. Admissions to St. Stephens College are based solely on the results of the student's previous examination.

Website- http://www.ststephens.edu/

3. Lady Shri Ram College

Located in South Delhi, Lady Shree Ram College is a women's college that is currently ranked among the top institutions for Humanities, Social Science, and Commerce. It holds the top position in Arts Education, the second position in Commerce Education, and the third position in Mass Communication Education. LSR offers undergraduate courses only, and the Department of Economics provides a B.A. (Hons.) Economics program. Many students have received scholarships due to their excellent academic performance. The admission process includes both an entrance examination and merit-based admission.

Website- http://www.lsr.edu.in/

4. Miranda House

Affiliated with Delhi University and accredited by UGC, Miranda House is located at the North Campus of DU, established in 1948. It is one of the top-ranked colleges in India, holding an 'A' grade accreditation by NAAC and has also been ranked as Rank 1 by NIRF. The college offers courses in Arts and Science, including B.A. (Hons.) Economics and M.A. in Economics offered by the Department of Economics. Admission to Miranda House is based entirely on merit, and the cutoffs are released at the appropriate time by Delhi University after the exams.

Website- http://www.mirandahouse.ac.in/

5. St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata

Established in 1860 by a Catholic Minority Religious body, St. Xavier’s College is a private college affiliated to Calcutta University. The college offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Arts, Commerce, and Science with various specializations, including a Ph.D. program in Commerce. The admission process involves an entrance test followed by a counseling procedure. Applications for all undergraduate and postgraduate courses start in May and continue until June. The college offers B.Sc in Economics for students interested in pursuing economics as a career, but they do not offer any postgraduate degree in Economics.

Website: http://www.sxccal.edu/default.htm

6. Loyola College, Chennai

Established in 1925 by the Society of Jesus, Loyola College is a highly regarded autonomous college for men, affiliated with the University of Madras. It has been recognized as a College of Excellence for its excellent teaching and research practices, making it one of the top colleges in India. Loyola College offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including 19 UG courses and 19 PG courses. It offers B.A. (Hons.) Economics and M.A. in Economics. Loyola College has been awarded as "The Best Men's College on Employability Skills", and more than 100 companies visit the campus each year to recruit talented candidates. The college has a 100% placement record every year. The admission process involves online registration, and selected candidates are called for an interview along with their parents.

Website: http://www.loyolacollege.edu/

7. Christ University, Bangalore

Christ University, established in 1969, is recognised by UGC and accredited as ‘A’ by NAAC. The institute became autonomous in 2004 and was declared a ‘Deemed to be University’ in 2008. It has three campuses in Bangalore and offers a combined economics course comprising the following:

• Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Political Science, Sociology
• Bachelor of Arts in History, Economics, Political Science.
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Sociology, Economics.
• Bachelor of Science in Economics, Mathematics, Statistics.

Christ University provides a specialised postgraduate degree in M.Phil in Economics and also offers a Ph.D. in Economics. The university organises various placement activities to improve students' skills, ultimately leading to better job placements.

Website: http://www.christuniversity.in/

8. Presidency University, Kolkata

Presidency University, previously known as Hindu College, is a public state University located in Kolkata, renowned for its excellence in arts and science education. In 2010, it was established as a University, having previously been affiliated with Calcutta University. The institution earned an A rating from NAAC, marking its first achievement as a university, and in 2016, it was included in NIRF's top 50 list. Admission to the university's various undergraduate and postgraduate programs is granted through an entrance examination conducted by the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination Board (WBJEEB). The University offers B.Sc in Economics and M.Sc in Applied Econometrics, and conducts PUBDET (Presidency University Bachelor’s Degree Entrance Test) for the undergraduate courses and PUMDET (Presidency University Master’s Degree Entrance Test) for the postgraduate courses.

Website:http://presiuniv.ac.in/web/

9. Madras Christian College, Chennai

Madras Christian College, established in 1837, has a remarkable academic reputation and is recognized among the top 10 colleges for arts and science. It has been accredited with an ‘A’ grade by NAAC. The college offers diverse courses across various streams, including B.A. in Economics and M.A. in Economics. Several companies visit the campus to hire students as per their requirements. The admission process for economics courses, both undergraduate and postgraduate, is solely based on the student's prior examination results, and there are no entrance tests.

Website: https://www.mcc.edu.in/

10. Hindu College

Hindu College, established in 1899 and affiliated with Delhi University, is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious institutions in India. The college excels in the fields of Humanities, Science, and Commerce, offering a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses across various disciplines. The admission process is purely merit-based. The college has been ranked 7th by India Today in the Top Best Colleges for Commerce and 5th best for Arts. It offers a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics.

Website: http://www.hinducollege.ac.in/

Top Colleges to pursue Masters in Economics

1. Delhi School of Economics

In 1949, the Delhi School of Economics was founded by Professor V.K.R.V. Rao, with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru serving as the President. This institution prioritizes research and teaching in economics, as well as related fields in the social sciences. The Delhi School of Economics has three departments: Economics, Geography, and Sociology. It provides a range of courses, including B.A.(Hons.) Economics, B.A.(Programme), M.Phil/Ph.D., and M.A. Economics. Admission to the school is based solely on merit.

Website: http://dse.du.ac.in/

2. Indian Statistical Institute

The Indian Statistical Institute, founded by Professor P.S. Mahalanobis in Kolkata, is dedicated to the study, teaching, and practical application of statistics and social sciences. Established on December 17th, 1931, it offers courses such as the M.S. in Quantitative Economics and the Masters of Statistics. Admission is based on the candidate's performance in their previous exams or their bachelor's degree.

Website: https://www.isid.ac.in/

3. Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research

The Reserve Bank of India established the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research as a research institute dedicated to research and development activities. It became an autonomous society on November 14, 1986, and was inaugurated by Late Rajiv Gandhi on December 28 of the same year. Later, it was recognised as a deemed university. The institute provides various courses such as M.Sc. Economics and M.Phil and Ph.D. in Development Studies. To get admission, candidates must pass an online test designed specifically for each course and an interview.

Website: http://www.igidr.ac.in/

4. Madras School of Economics

Located in Chennai, the Madras School of Economics is a private institution established in 1995 with the aim of providing advanced education in economics through research and teaching. The school offers postgraduate programs in General Economics, Financial Economics, Applied Quantitative Finance, Actuarial Economics, and Environmental Economics affiliated with the Central University of Tamil Nadu. Additionally, it provides a Ph.D. program affiliated with the University of Madras. The admission process requires candidates to appear for the CUCET (Common Universities Common Entrance Test), and the selection of candidates is based on their performance in this exam.

Website: http://www.mse.ac.in/

5. Centre of Development Studies, Kerela

The Center of Development Studies is a self-governing research institute founded by the Government of Kerala and the Indian Council of Social Science Research. It gained establishment on October 19, 1970. CDS has earned international recognition for its research in applied economics. The institute is affiliated with Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and offers M.A, M.Phil, and Ph.D. programs in Applied Economics. The admission process involves a written entrance test, followed by an interview.

Website: http://www.cds.edu/

6. Gokhale Institue of Politics and Economics

The Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, established in 1930 by R.R. Kale, is an accredited research and training institute of economics with an ‘A’ grade by NAAC. The institute offers M.Sc. programs in Economics, Agribusiness Economics, Financial Economics, and International Economics, as well as a Ph.D. program. The admission process requires candidates to take the GIPE Entrance Examination, which can be completed online.

Website: http://www.gipe.ac.in/index.php

7. Hyderabad School of Economics

The Hyderabad School of Economics, established in 1974, is a division of the University of Hyderabad with a focus on economic research and education. Professor Gurbaksh Singh served as its Vice-Chancellor during its establishment. The school provides several programs, including M.A, M.Phil, and Ph.D. However, candidates must pass a qualifying examination for all courses. For admission to the M.A program, a written test is required, while for M.Phil and Ph.D. programs, both written and oral exams are necessary.

Website: https://www.uohyd.ac.in/

8. Jamia Milia Islamia

Jamia Millia Islamia, a public central university established in 1925, has been accredited with an 'A' grade by NAAC and ranked 6th in NIRF 2017. It offers a range of undergraduate, postgraduate, M.Phil., and Ph.D. courses, including B.A.(Hons.) and M.A. in Economics. The admission procedure involves a college-conducted entrance test.

Website: https://www.jmi.ac.in/

9. School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Established in 1970, the School of Social Sciences boasts the largest faculty in the university. It offers M.A. level education in five disciplines: Economics, History, Political Science, Geography, and Sociology. In total, the School has 12 centers. For M.A. Economics, admission involves an entrance test called JNUET, conducted by NTA. To gain admission to different programs, candidates must meet the JNU eligibility criteria.

Website: https://www.jnu.ac.in/sss

Students who aim to pursue a master's degree in economics in India generally apply for these institutes.