Ph.D. Entrance Examination (Economics) 2015 Department of Economics Calcutta University

Ph.D. Entrance Examination (Economics) 2015
Department of Economics
Calcutta University

Eligibility :

• The candidate has to have either NET / SET / M.Phil. (from any recognized university with 2-semester / 1-year course work) or has to qualify in the research entrance test (RET) conducted by the department.
• Those who are expected to obtain M.Phil. in Economics (or related discipline like Development Studies, Foreign Policy Management, etc. with Masters degree in Economics) from any UGC recognized university by July 31, 2015 would also be exempted from RET and be eligible to appear directly in the interview.

Procedure :

• The Ph.D. entrance test of 100 marks for the suitable candidates* will be held once in a year and the qualifying marks will be fixed at 50%;
• At the most 20 candidates [with full concurrence with the reservation policy] will be enrolled this year (2015);

Structure of the Examination :

• There will be 50 multiple choice questions (MCQ), each of 2 marks;
• Questions will be on Economics Theory, Quantitative Economics and Contemporary Global and Indian Economic Problems;
• MCQs will be on Microeconomic Theory (8), Macroeconomic Theory (8), Statistics, Econometrics (10) and Mathematical Economics (4) and there will be 10 MCQ on each one of the two passages meant for the test of comprehension;
• The selected passages for the test of comprehension would be on Contemporary Global and Indian Economic Problems;
• The eligible candidates identified through RET / NET / SET / M.Phil. have to submit statement of purpose (SoP) indicating the area of research interest (not exceeding 1000 words) on which a final interview will be conducted.
• The SoP has to be submitted at the time of application itself.
• Those who are expected to obtain M.A. / M.Sc. in Economics from any UGC recognized university by July 31, 2015 would also be eligible to apply for RET. However, the final selection of these candidates would be contingent on their obtaining at least 55% of marks in aggregate in their M.A. / M.Sc. examination from the University of Calcutta / 60% of marks from any other UGC recognized university.
• The list of finally selected candidates would be posted in the Departmental Notice Board and in the University website;

*Candidates with at least 55% marks in Economics at the M.Sc. level from the University of Calcutta or at least 60% of marks in aggregate from any other UGC recognized university are eligible to take the examination.
Those who have qualified in NET/SET or already obtained M.Phil. degree would be exempted from the examination. They may directly submit a statement of purpose indicating the area of research interest (not exceeding 1000 words) and appear in the interview;

Syllabus :

• Microeconomic Theory : Consumer Behaviour, Theory of Firm, Analysis of Market Structure, Theory of Distribution, General Equilibrium, Welfare Economics, Asymmetric Information, Public Goods & Externalities;
• Macroeconomic Theory : National Income Accounting, Aggregate Demand-Simple Keynesian Model, IS-LM Model, Interaction Between Aggregate Demand & Aggregate Supply- Short-run & Long-run Equilibrium, Classical Full Employment Model- Determination of Real Wage, Interest Rate & Price Level, Demand for Money, Supply of Money, Consumption Function, Investment Function, Inflation, Trade-cycle & Growth, Open-economy Macroeconomics;
• Statistics & Econometrics : Measures of Central Tendency, Dispersion, Higher Order Moments, Correlation, Theory of Probability, Theory of Statistical Inference, Classical Linear Regression Model (both 2-variable & k-variable cases)- Estimation, Hypothesis Testing & Prediction, Heteroscadasticity, Autocorrelation & Multicollinearity, Simultaneous Equation System & the Problem of Identification;
• Mathematical Economics : Optimization in Economics (Static & Dynamic), System of Simultaneous Equations and Cramer’s Rule, Input-Output Analysis, Linear Programming, Elements of Game Theory;

Important Dates :

• Forms can be downloaded from the university website from : June 1, 2015 (Monday);
• Application for PhD program including that for the Research Entrance Test (RET) with SoP to be submitted by : July 6, 2015 (Monday);

Date of RET Examination :
July 17, 2015 (Friday) 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. in the Department of Economics, CU;

Date of Publication of RET Result :
July 24, 2015 (Friday);

Date of Interview :
August 6 & 7, 2015 (Thursday & Friday) from 11:00 A.M. in the Department of Economics, CU;

Course Work :
One Semester Course-work of 16 credits;

• Research Methodology (including computer applications) : 25 hours (4 credit)
• Foundation of Economics : 25 hours (4 credit)
• Issues in Economic Development with Special Focus on India : 25 hours (4 credit)
• Advanced Readings : 25 hours (4 credits);

Source : caluniv.ac.in