61st Position in the NIRF Ranking of Colleges for the year 2021 by the Ministry of Education, GOI
NAAC Re-Accredited "A" Grade (3rd Cycle) with CGPA 3.07 on the scale of 4 in 2019 & Awarded AUTONOMOUS Status by UGC in 2021
Botany department was established in 1929. Dr. R.L. Nirula and Prof. K.V. Varadpande were the first staff members, the former being the Head when the B.Sc. (Hons.) course were introduced in 1933. Due to reorganization of States, Dr. L.B. Kajale, Dr.S.A.Paradkar and Shri. A.T. Kapuskar joined the department. Dr. Kajale started research in embryology in the department and few students obtained their Ph.D. under his guidance. Later Prof. M.V. Mirashi established a school of Taxonomical and Anatomical studies and research in this department. He prepared a well-established Herbarium of Vidarbha region. This is an outstanding feature of this department and many persons visit the Herbarium for identification of their specimens. Prof. Mirashi was given the AState Award for the “Best University teacher” in 1979-80. In his memory the Herbarium was named as Prof. Mirashi Herbarium on his first death anniversary.
Dr.(Smt.)S.D.Chitaley, a scientist of international repute was Head of the Botany Department from 1967 to 1974. She was the pioneer in establishinh Paleobotany in 1967 and Palynology in 1969. Under her able guidance 12 students were awarded Ph.D. degree. She received prestigious Jared Potter Kirtland Award for her contributions in Paleobotany at USA.
Prof. Dr G. V. Patil joined this department in 1967. He worked as Head of the Department from 1982-1990. He also worked as In Charge Director, Institute of Science, Aurangabad (1990-1993). In 1993 he was selected by honourable Governor of Maharashtra as Vice Chancellor of Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University Amravati.
Prestigious late Prof. Birbal Savitri Sahni International Award for research in the field of Palynology and Palaeobotany was conferred to Prof. Dr G V Patil, Dr M T Sheikh, Dr A A Saoji and recently Dr S A Kalkar (2016) from this department.Dr V L Bakale and Dr A A Saoji also worked as Director, Institute of Science, Nagpur.
Eminent botanist like late Prof. Maheshwari, Prof. Mahabale, Prof. R. Mishra, Prof. K.C. Mehta, Dr K.R. Surange have visited the department. More than 150 students has been awareded Ph.D. degree from this department since 1962 to 2015.
Department has two combination for B.Sc with groups CBZ and CBEnv and three specialization for M.Sc in Palynology, Advanced Phycology & hydrobiology and Paleobotany.
In last 52 years large number of researchers worked in the various branches of botany like Cytomorphology, Plant pathology, Aerobiology, Palnology, Phytochemistry, Phytodiversity, Plant Biotechnology, Paleobotany, Ecology, Melissopalynology. All basic facilities’ available for research Laboratory. Laboratory are recognized with RTMN Nagpur University, Nagpur.
Department has started Certificate course in Plant Biotechnology with the financial assistance of UGC in XIth plan. About 30 students benefitted from this course. Till date, the department has received many sponsored research projects from various national agencies.
The major funding agencies are (Dept. of Science & Technology DST, India, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research CSIR, India, Indian Council for Agricultural Research ICAR & Department of Biotechnology, India).
In department 10 teaching (1 professors, 3 Associate professors and 6 Assistant Professors) and 5 nonteaching staff are available.
Many students of department has qualified NET / SET/GATE examinations. And also lots of Students achieved merit position in RTM Nagpur university examinations.