About the Organisers
About IIT Roorkee
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee is among the foremost institutes of national importance in higher technological education and engineering, basic and applied research. It has its roots in the Roorkee College, set up in 1847 and renamed as the Thomason College of Civil Engineering in 1854. It got elevated as the first Technical University of the country in 1948 through the University of Roorkee Act, 1947. On September 21, 2001, the university was converted into an IIT by the Government of India. Since its establishment, the Institute has played a vital role in providing the technical manpower and know-how to the country and in pursuit of research. It ranks amongst the best technological institutions in the world and has contributed to all sectors of technological development.
About Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences in IIT Roorkee (erstwhile University of Roorkee) was established in 1966 with a vision to integrate human values and social concerns with technical education. Over the years, it has developed into a lively department, encompassing teaching and research programs in English, Economics, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, Fine Arts, and related inter & cross-disciplinary subjects. The Department runs a Two-Year MSc programme in economics. Starting 2021, the Department also offers a Five-Year BS-MS (Economics) programme. One of the notable achievements of the department in recent years has been the expansion in research activities and exchanges of ideas, facilitated by the constant surge of discussions, consultations, and publications in esteemed and high-impact journals. Besides, there has been a considerable progression of physical and academic infrastructure, which, in process, provides an impetus to its bright future.
About Roorkee
Roorkee is an old town in Northern India and highlights a rich history. Roorkee is located in the foothills of the Shivalik hills of the Himalayan region along the banks of the Ganges canal. Apart from being home to the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, the city acclaims as one of India's oldest military establishments and has been the headquarter of the Bengal Engineer Group since the year 1853. Roorkee holds the strategic importance of serving irrigation water facilities to approximately 5000 villages since April 8, 1854 through the canal built under the supervision of Col. P.T. Cautley, a British Officer. The canal is still considered a pioneering engine of agricultural growth in the plains of Uttar Pradesh.
How to reach Roorkee
Roorkee is well connected by train and road. From New Delhi, the capital city of India, Roorkee is situated at a distance of nearly 190 km.
By Air
The nearest airport to Roorkee is the Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, situated at a distance of about 70 Kms, i.e., an approximate drive of nearly 110 minutes (depending on the road traffic). The airport is well connected with direct flights to and from New Delhi and Mumbai. However, the airport serves limited and indirect to and from flights to a few other locations of the country also.
By Rail
The train is the best way to avoid road traffic and reach the destination of Roorkee. However, advance booking is highly recommended as the trains crossing Roorkee towards the north direction are destined to cater to popular destinations, i.e., Haridwar and Dehradun. The frequency of trains to Roorkee from New Delhi and vice-versa is daily. Under normal circumstances, the travel time from New Delhi to Roorkee by train is approximately 04 hours only.
By Road
Roads serve as the major source of traveling in the Northern part of India. By road, Roorkee is situated at a distance of about 190 kms from Delhi, i.e., a drive of approximately 04-05 hours (depending on road traffic). Even though bus facilities are readily available throughout the day and up to midnight from ISBT Kashmere Gate (Delhi), the direct buses destined for Roorkee are limited. However, one can quickly board the buses destined for Haridwar because they all pass by Roorkee. Another option is to board the busses destined to Dehradun; however, it is highly recommended to ask before boarding the bus whether the bus will enter the Roorkee bus depot. From the Roorkee bus depot, the main gate of IIT Roorkee is less than 300 metres.
Weather in Roorkee in April
April is in the spring in Roorkee and is typically the 6th warmest month of the year. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a warm 32-35°C (90-95°F), whilst at night 15-18°C (60-65°F) is normal.
Places of attraction near Roorkee
Roorkee is the gateway to Himalayas in Uttarakhand. From Roorkee, one can visit the nearby places like Haridwar (approx. 35 kms), Rishikesh (approx. 50 kms), Dehradun (approx. 70 kms) and Mussoorie (105 kms).