Educational: Economics very often forms a part of the
curriculum in many Indian schools right from class IX itself. However,
Minimum requirement to start a career as Economists is graduation. After
graduation you can go for Post graduation. Further you can do M. Phil/Ph.
D in Development studies with major emphasis on Economics. Alternately,
you can specialize in a branch like Business or Agricultural Economics,
Financial Economics, Labour Economics, Industrial Economics, Banking Economics,
International Economics etc. which are offered only a few universities.
Besides departments of economics of some universities have also introduced
courses in International Business and Financial Control and Analysis.
Another option is to do Master of Business Economics (MBE). Delhi University
is the most reputed one in this subject. Business economics deals with
the analysis of the behaviour of firms in markets and industries, and
with determination of costs and prices. Courses are at present offered
by about 13 universities in India leading to Master of Business Economics
or MA in Business Economics.
If you are interested you can go for Econometrics which is another specialisation
in this field. Econometrics combines economic theory expressed in mathematical
form with statistical methods. At present the subject is available only
in University of Madras; Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur; Sri
Venkateshwara University, Tirupati and the Indian Statistical Institutes.
Most of the colleges and Universities in India offer Bachelor
and Master's degree course in Economics. Universities offer honours courses
leading to the award of B.A (Hons) or B.Sc (Hons). It is only in three
Universities, viz., Anna University, Birla Institute of Technology and
Science and Chhatrapati Sahu Ji Maharaj University that the nomenclature
of the award is M.Sc (Economics). Doctoral courses like M.Phil and Ph.D.
courses are also offered by many Universities and specific Economics school
within the country. Prominent among them are Delhi School of Economics,
Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banaras Hindu University etc. There are two
deemed Universities in Economics, viz., Gokhale Institute of Politics
and Economics, Pune. It offers only M.A and Ph.D courses and Indira Gandhi
Institute of Development Research, Mumbai (IGIDR offers M.Phil (2 Years)
and Ph.D (4 Years) Programs in Development Studies. Postgraduate diploma
courses are available in Annamalai University; Gujarat University, Ahmedabad,
Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.
Personal attributes:
Economists must have
A logical and analytical bent of mind
Numerical ability
An interest in current social and political activities
Sincerity, commitment and devotion
An interest in problem solving
A high level of patience, with a positive and optimistic attitude
