Burdwan Raj College, founded way back on 8th August, 1881, is one of the oldest colleges of the country. The royal family of Burdwan was a great patron to arts and liberal education. Amongst them, Maharaja Tej Chand took special initiative to spread higher education in the vicinity of Burdwan. He was a pioneer in social and educational uplift in this region and his Anglo Vernacular School ultimately metamorphosed into the Burdwan Raj College. The College continued to enjoy royal patronage from the court of next Maharajas like Mahatab Chand, Aftab Chand, Bijoy Chand among others from that dynasty. In 1956, the College came under the sponsoring scheme of West Bengal and in 1960 its affiliation was shifted from The University of Calcutta to the newly established University of Burdwan. The pretty long journey of the College, spanning nearly a century and half, is marked by multiple events of great significance to the society at large and the growth and development of higher education in the country in particular. It shaped millions of minds in diverse fields of human activities. Here are some notable milestones forming the glorious timeline of the College:

Milestones of the College

• In 1881, Burdwan Raj College was established introducing Liberal Student Courses in accordance with the permission of University of Calcutta.
• In 1922, Honours course in Bengali was introduced.
• In 1927, Honours in English was introduced. In that year, Honours in Mathematics was also introduced in B.A. Course of study which was withdrawn in 1935 and reintroduced in 1954.
• In 1936, ISc course of study was introduced.
• In 1941, the College was shifted from Raj Collegiate School Building to its present majestic Aftab House, standing in the North-West corner of the picturesque Shyamsayar.
• In 1946, B.Sc. in Physical Science (General) was introduced.
• In 1956, the College came under the sponsoring scheme of the Government of West Bengal.
• Honours courses in Physics, Zoology and History were introduced in 1958.
• In 1959, Honours course in Chemistry was introduced.
• In 1960, the College was affiliated to The University of Burdwan. In the same year Honours courses in Commerce, Philosophy and Botany were introduced.
• Honours course in Sanskrit was introduced in 1962 and Economics (Honours) was separated from Political Science as a different subject.
• Honours course in Political Science was introduced in 1963.
• In 1981, the College celebrated its centenary bringing a galaxy of luminaries among its alumni.
• In 1984, Electronics was introduced as a combination subject.
• Honours course in Sociology was introduced in 1995.
• In 1998, UG & PG courses (in distance mode) were introduced by N.S.O.U in our College.
• First self-financing Honours course in BBA was introduced in 2001.
• Post Graduate Course in Bengali and Honours course in Geography were introduced in 2005.
• In 2006, the College completed its glorious 125 years and that auspicious occasion was also celebrated in a befitting manner.
• In the year 2008, Honours in BCA was introduced as a self-financing course.
• In 2013, Honours course in Electronics was introduced.
• Establishment of IQAC in 2013.
• In 2015, Honours course in Hindi was introduced.
• In 2018, Honours Courses were introduced in Music, Education and Computer Science.
• Honours Course in Anthropology was introduced in 2019.

Curricular Aspects

• At present College runs 23 UG (Hons) Programmes in Humanities, Science and Commerce streams. It runs a PG programme in Bengali.
• The College also runs 2 Professional Courses in the Undergraduate level, viz. BBA(Hons) and BCA(Hons).
• Many of our faculty members are part of the Board of Studies (UG and PG) and syllabus committee of the parent University as well as institutes elsewhere.

Teaching, Learning and Evaluation

• Burdwan Raj College runs in three shifts – Morning, Day and Evening catering to more than 6000 students besides those in the Professional Stream (BBA & BCA) and NSOU Study Centre.
• The College attaches utmost preference to Teaching-Learning.
• The admission process is transparent and carried out through an automated online process of counselling. Admission is done strictly on the basis of merit and by strictly following reservation policies of the state and central governments.
• The teachers use modern teaching-aids like e-resources, smart class rooms and IT enabled teaching.
• Even during the recent pandemic as a result of which the College remained closed for nearly two academic sessions, our faculty adopted various innovative measures to continue with teaching, learning and evaluation mainly through different online platforms.
• In addition to normal classes, remedial coaching classes are taken by the teachers for academically backward students.
• The College library has more than 13754 titles of books, 6 journals and 103000 e-resources (through INFLIBNET) along with a rich collection of rare and old books.
• High-speed Internet connection is provided in the Library, Academic Departments and the Office of the College.

Research, Consultancy and Extension

• Many members of our faculty are actively engaged in research in spite of various resource constraints. Their research papers are regularly published in National and International journals of repute.
• Some of them are at present supervising works of research scholars.
• We have three active units of NSS, two for Boys and one for Girls, to undertake extension services including adopting villages, holding adult and continuing education programmes, spreading social consciousness on different issues, organising regular blood donation camps on and off the campus etc.
• The College also has a NCC unit exclusively for Girls.
• The College brings out an annual magazine named Samhati which chronicles campus life besides providing an avenue to express creative and critical faculties of teaching and non-teaching members of the staff as well as a cross section of learners.
• Departments regularly bring out wall magazines on issues pertaining to their learning.
• The Annual Social of the College is an occasion for both cultural exchange and academic excellence for the learners. Departments set up tableaux showcasing diverse academic themes presenting them in the most innovative way. The occasion also serves as a social outreach for the College integrating the campus life to the larger social one.
• Besides organising of a host of cultural functions showcasing their cocurricular consciousness on the occasions such as the Foundation Day and Independence Day, students also organise inter-department quiz, debate, elocution, etc.

Infrastructure and Learning Resources

• The College boasts of a considerably well-equipped campus spread across 17 Acres of land accommodating eight large academic, administrative and library buildings, three hostel buildings (2 for Boys and 1 for Girls) and yet leaving a large open space.
• The College, which runs in three different shifts – viz. Morning, Day and Evening -- has 44 common class rooms, 9 laboratories, 4 seminar halls, and one smart class room.
• The College has a well-furnished central Teachers’ Waiting Hall besides having departmental staffrooms.
• Continuous power supply to the College has been ensured by installing a 100 KVA eco-friendly generator set. Besides, there has been a thrust on providing solar powered street lighting on the internal roads of the College.
• Sufficient arrangement for purified drinking water has been made at vantage points within the campus.
• The College has introduced security and surveillance of the campus by employing ex-service people from Zila Sainik Board. Surveillance has been augmented by putting up CCTV cameras at strategic locations.
• There are separate common rooms for Boys and Girls.
• The College has a two storied canteen for both students and the staff.
• In the College there is a large playground where football, cricket and athletic events are regularly conducted. Besides, adequate arrangement for indoor games such as badminton, table tennis, carrom etc. is provided in both Boys’ and Girls’ Common Rooms.
• A multi-gym having 25 stations has been installed for students and the staff. A meditation centre is attached with the multi-gym.

Student Support and Progression

• Various scholarships and financial assistance sponsored by different agencies are offered to the students through active cooperation and counselling. Some of the scholarships enjoyed by our students include Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan from Central Government, Merit-cum-Means scholarship from State Government, scholarship from Sitaram Jindal Foundation, scholarship from Indian Council for Cultural Relation, Post Matric Scholarship (Minority), Ministry of Labour Welfare Scholarship, Scholarship from District Mass Education, Talent Support Scholarship, DST-sponsored Inspire Scholarship, Kanyashree Scholarship, Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship and Scholarship for Minorities funded by the State Government.
• Besides these, SC and ST students enjoy financial support from the State Government.
• ST students residing in the College hostels get additional scholarship for their maintenance.
• Overseas students receive stipends from the Central Government.
• Need based skill development programmes (spoken English, Computer literacy etc.) are provided to the students from time to time.
• For academically backward students, UGC-funded remedial coaching classes are periodically arranged.
• Student-Guardian-Teacher meets are regularly undertaken in an effort to generate adequate feedback from different stakeholders.
• The College has active Career Counselling and Placement Cells which regularly organise various programmes on different career opportunities in collaboration with diverse institutions/organisations. In Campus interviews are held from time to time providing job opportunities to a considerable number of our students in both private and public sector undertakings.
• Internal Complaints Committee, Anti-Ragging Cell and Grievance Redressal Forum of the College monitors the smooth functioning of the College.