PG course on Northeast Studies in Jamia Millia soon

The first-ever full-fledged Post Graduate course in Northeastern Studies will be introduced in Jamia Millia Islamia University here from next year while an 'optional paper' on the region will begin from forthcoming academic session beginning August, 2015.
Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh said the 'optional paper' in Northeastern Studies will commence for students undertaking exam for Masters Degree in the University from coming academic session, an official release said.
The curriculum of the course will be comprehensive and cover diverse aspects of Northeast India including history, geography, heritage and current affairs.
Singh's announcement came after a detailed briefing by Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia University Prof Talat Ahmad and Director, Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research Sanjoy Hazarika.

While complimenting Jamia Millia for the initiative, Singh said an institutionalised study and research on Northeast India will provide inputs for professionals and policy-makers on key issues relating to the region and thus help create a bridge between the policy-making desk and realities on the ground.
The Minister said ever since he was given the charge of the DoNER Ministry, he noticed that everyone talked about bringing NER closer to mainstream India but hardly anyone spoke of bringing mainstream India closer to the Northeast.
"The new initiative will, therefore, make up for this missing link in a big way," he said.

The Vice Chancellor informed the Minister that while the optional papers for the Northeastern Studies for Post-Graduate students will start from the current session, the University plans to start a full-fledged Master's Degree in Northeastern Studies from the next year.