Government Degree College, Chamba
Geographically, Chamba is bounded on north-West by Jammu and Kashmir, on the North-East and East by Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir State and Lahaul and Bara-Bhangal area of Himachal Pradesh, on the south-east and south by the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh and Gurdaspur district of Punjab. In circa 500 AD, a legendary hero called Maru, migrated to north-west from Kalpagram (a mythical place from where majority of the Rajput dynasties claim their descent) and founded Brahampura (Bharmour) in the valley of the Budhal River, seventy five kilometer to the east of present Chamba town. His successors continued to rule over the country from that capital city for over three hundred years until Sahil Verman shifted his capital from Brahampura to the more centrally located plateau in the lower Ravi Valley. He named the town after his beloved daughter Champa. His Rani voluntarily offered herself a sacrifice to bring water for the town’s people through a running channel originating from a place called Maloona. The layout of Chamba seems to be in conformity with the ancient texts. From this period onward, the Rajas of Chamba continued to rule in an uninterrupted and direct line of descent.
The Chamba town is situated at a distance of about 28 Kms, 54 Kms and 120 Kms respectively from Khajjiar the 'Mini Switzerland' of India, Dalhousie a world-famous tourist place and Pathankot (the nearest railway station). The nearest airport is Kangra airport located at Gaggal which is 116 kms from Chamba.
In the field or education, the mile stone was achieved when the college was established by the Government of Himachal Pradesh on 15th May, 1958 as a co-educational institution in the historical Akhand Chandi Palace of Chamba (hereinafter first campus). The college is perched near the foot of gentle slopping valley overlooking Chowgan a big rectangular ground and the hub of various activities. It holds a majestic picturesque view in the densely populated Chamba town.
The Govt. Degree College Chamba was accredited with Grade “B+” by NAAC in September, 2016. The college has been continuously paving ahead under the patronage of the Government of Himachal Pradesh with creative team of 67 faculty members and 4052 students enrolled in undergraduate and post-graduation programs in the session 2020-21. The college is fully financed by the Government of Himachal Pradesh and is recognized by University Grants Commission (hereinafter UGC), New Delhi under section 2(f) and 12B of UGC act 1956. The college is affiliated to Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla and has switched to Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) for Under Graduate classes from academic session 2013-14 under the guidelines of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).
The college is recognized as District Green Champion in Chamba District by the Mahatma Gandhi National Council of Rural Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India for the academic year 2020-21 and also a participating institute in Unnat Bharat Abhiyan 2.0 of Ministry of education. In recognition of its services, the college is included in the Mahavidyalaya Utkrisht Scheme of the Himachal Pradesh government for the year 2021 to modernize the college.
The first campus of the college is situated in historical Chamba town, which is on the right bank of rippling ancient Iravati river (presently Ravi). In the year 2015, after 57 glorious years of service to the society from the first campus, the second campus of the college was established at Sultanpur which is about four (4) kms from the first campus. At present, the second campus is functioning as main administrative unit and it is the campus for regular graduation programs.
The college has two (2) ST hostels for boys and one SC hostel for boys at Mohalla Jansali, near government ITI Chamba and situated at distance of 500 meters from the first campus. The first ST hostel has well-furnished 08 rooms with capacity of 24 residents, one common room, one mess, washrooms and hostel-warden accommodation. The second ST hostel was established in the year July 2009 having well-furnished 22 rooms with capacity of 60 residents, one guest room, one common room, one office, one mess, washrooms and hostel-warden accommodation whereas the second ST hostel is having capacity of 83 residents.
Govt. Degree College Chamba offers B.A., B.Sc., and B.Com. as undergraduate degree. The college has twenty-five (25) programs i.e., B.Sc. in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Geology, Zoology, Botany, B.Sc. Physical Science with computers, B.A. in English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Mathematics, Economics, History, Political Science, Public Administration, Geography, Sociology, Education, Journalism & Mass Communication, Music (Vocal), Music (Instrumental), Physical Education and B.Com.. Recently education has been included as teaching program in humanities. Apart from B.A., B.Sc., B.Com., B.Voc., has been introduced in Retail Management and Hospitality & Tourism with 45 seats in each, to provide access to vocational education and employability to the students. About 3000 students are enrolled in these undergraduate courses. Most of the students are from rural and tribal areas and more than 60% are girls. Govt. Degree College Chamba offers 20 seats each in post-graduation program in five (5) major subjects of the humanities i.e., English, Hindi, Economics, History and Political Science. Admission in these courses is made on the bases of merit of entrance test conducted by the affiliating Himachal Pradesh University Shimla. Government Degree College Chamba offers 40 seats each in BCA and BBA and 30 seats in PGDCA under self-finance programs.
The college has functional IGNOU study centre (1106) since 1991-92. It imparts education in various programs of arts, science, commerce and IT and also in professional courses through open and distant learning mode to hundreds of learners of the district as well as across the district.
The college has well established semi-automated libraries in both the campuses having more than 25000 books, equipped with Software for University Library (SOUL) software, e- journals, N-list subscription and adequate reading space.
All the laboratories in both of the campuses are equipped with latest equipment and required gadgets for the students as well as for the faculties. The college has separate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laboratory in computer science department with 50 latest computers connected with the optical fibre internet of speed ranging from 10-30 Mbps. Each department of the college is connected with broadband internet with internet-booster to enhance the speed of download.
Besides this, a separate computer laboratory for BBA, BCA and PGDCA has been established with 40 computers along with broadband facility in the first campus of the college. A language lab has been established in the computer science department of the college. For effective teaching, smart class rooms have been established in each department. Besides this, whole college campus is under 24x7 surveillance of 64 channel CCTV cameras and protected with fire extinguishers as per requirement. The college has the latest equipment like photo copier machine, fax, scanner, digital camera, podium, smart white boards, visualizers and printer for the benefit of students. The biometric attendance system is in place to mark the attendance of teaching as well as non-teaching staff of the college which is time being suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The college has a career guidance and counselling cell that provides updated information to the students about various opportunities open to them in the competitive world. This cell is providing platform to learn how to prepare for the competitive examinations to all the students. All teachers are organising different on-line as well as off-line programs to their students and also organising career counselling lectures and preparing them for the modern competitive world. The online coaching for competitive exams in collaboration with district administration and Vision IAS academy, New Delhi has become an important feature of the college academics. 80 students are admitted in these coaching classes both in Hindi and English medium.
The college has two units of National Service Scheme (NSS) with 100 volunteers in each unit. Based on the motto of “Not me but to You”, NSS is striving for the inculcation of social and moral values, leadership quality, sense of responsibility and dignity of labour among the volunteers. The college also has one active NCC units of 59 boys’ cadets and 33 girls’ cadets of 9 HP Battalion NCC Dalhousie cantonment having headquarter in Shimla, which inculcates social and moral values, leadership quality and paves the way for career in defence forces for army aspirant cadets of the college.
In order to spread AIDS awareness among youth and society, the college is running Red Ribbon Club. The college also has a unit of Rover and Ranger which is doing a commendable job in generating a sense of service above self. The college also provides opportunities to students to excel in games, sports and cultural activities. Nine Covid-19 vaccination camps were conducted in the college by NSS unit in collaboration with health department. 40 students of college taught in slum area of Chamba during covid period in 2019-2020. Two covid-19 testing camps were arranged. Free Health camp was arranged on 11.12.2021.
The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Govt. College Chamba Alumni Association (GCCAA) and College Students Central Association (CSCA) are integral part of this institution which acts like a bridge between college administration, students and society for the overall development of the institution. The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of the college is making sincere efforts to enhance the quality of education and infrastructure as per the guidelines of UGC and NAAC.
