The Department of Economics and Sociology was established in 1962. In the field of Economics, the department has developed three key areas of research and teaching at both graduate and postgraduate levels: Farm Management and Production Economics, Agricultural Marketing and Price Policy, and Agricultural Finance and Cooperation. These specializations reflect the department’s commitment to addressing critical issues in agricultural development through rigorous academic inquiry and practical applications. Complementing its economics programs, the department offers specializations in Sociology, particularly in rural sociology and social change. These areas of study examine the complex social dynamics within agricultural communities and the broader societal transformations affecting rural populations. At the postgraduate level, the department provides comprehensive M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs in Agricultural Economics, allowing students to specialize in farm management, agricultural marketing, or agricultural finance. Parallel programs in Sociology are also available, offering advanced training in social research methods and theoretical frameworks.  

The department takes pride in its distinguished faculty members who have achieved national and international recognition for their contributions to the field. Notable scholars such as Dr. A.S. Kahlon, Dr. S.S. Johl, Dr. D.S. Sidhu, Dr. Ramesh Chand, and Dr. Sukhpal Singh have held prominent positions at various levels, reflecting the department’s academic excellence and influence on policy-making.  Furthering its commitment to agricultural research and policy development, the department founded the Indian Society for Agricultural Development and Policy (ISADP) in 1990. The society publishes the biannual Journal of Agricultural Development and Policy (JADP), serving as an important platform for scholarly discourse. The leadership of ISADP has included some of the most respected figures in agricultural economics, including Dr. S.S. Grewal, Dr. Karam Singh, Dr. Joginder Singh, Dr. A.S. Joshi, Dr. R.S. Sidhu, Dr. M.S. Sidhu, Dr. Sukhpal Singh, and Dr. Kamal Vatta, all of whom have served as ex officio presidents of the society. This legacy underscores the department’s enduring impact on agricultural policy and development studies in India.