1. AGORA – Student Body Association
AGORA, the Student Body Association of the Department of International Studies, Political Science and History, provides a vibrant platform for academic dialogue, experiential learning, research, leadership and creative expression. Through its thematic clubs and student-led initiatives, AGORA extends classroom learning into discussions, simulations, workshops and community engagement. It seeks to cultivate critical thinking, responsible citizenship and an appreciation of diverse perspectives, in keeping with the Department’s emphasis on intellectual freedom and interdisciplinary inquiry. The flagship event organized is the Mock Parliamentary Election.
a) International Relations Club
The International Relations Club engages students with contemporary global affairs, diplomacy, conflict, migration, humanitarian concerns, global governance and sustainability. Through discussions, film screenings, workshops and collaborative programmes, the Club encourages students to connect theoretical perspectives in International Relations with contemporary global realities. Engagements on issues such as forced migration, conflict and sustainable tourism enable students to examine global issues through political, social, cultural and humanitarian perspectives.
The Club develops global awareness, intercultural sensitivity, analytical skills and cosmopolitan competencies, encouraging students to understand international issues beyond conventional disciplinary boundaries.
Alignment: PO1, PO3, PO5, PO6, PO7, PO8.
b) Public Policy Club
The Public Policy Club bridges academic theory with the practical processes of policy-making and governance. Through policy design workshops, simulations and policy hackathons, students engage with evidence-based policymaking, stakeholder perspectives, negotiation and problem-solving. These activities expose students to the complexities of identifying public problems, evaluating alternatives and developing feasible policy responses.
By engaging with practitioners, researchers and real-world policy questions, the Club strengthens research skills, analytical reasoning, decision-making and applied understanding of political institutions and governance.
Alignment: PO1, PO2, PO3, PO5, PO8.
c) Electoral Literacy Club
The Electoral Literacy Club promotes informed and responsible democratic participation by familiarising students with electoral institutions, citizenship and democratic processes. Its initiatives include voter-awareness activities and electoral engagement programmes, alongside the Mock Parliamentary Election which is one of the Department’s flagship events, which provide students with experiential exposure to campaigning, representation, parliamentary procedures, political communication and democratic decision-making.
The Club enables students to understand democracy not merely as a theoretical concept but as a participatory process, thereby contributing to the Department’s objective of developing responsible, accountable and active citizens.
Alignment: PO2, PO3, PO5, PO6, PO8.
d) Gender Sensitization Club
The Gender Sensitization Club provides a space for students to critically examine gender, identity, power, inequality, representation and inclusion. Through sensitization programmes, discussions and interactive activities, the Club encourages students to question stereotypes and understand the structural dimensions of gender and social inequality.
The Club strengthens social awareness, empathy and sensitivity towards socio-political diversity, while supporting the Department’s commitment to social justice, tolerance and the acceptance of multiple perspectives.
Alignment: PO1, PO3, PO6, PO7.
2. The SDG Cell
The SDG Cell translates the Sustainable Development Goals into student-centred academic, awareness and community-oriented initiatives. Its focus on SDGs 4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16 reflects the Department’s understanding that questions of education, inequality, governance, sustainability and ecology are deeply interconnected.
SDG 3 – Good Health and Hygiene
SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: promotes awareness of sustainable consumption, resource use and individual responsibility.
SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: connects the SDGs with democracy, justice, citizenship, governance and accountable institutions.
The SDG Cell provides students with opportunities to move from awareness to engagement and action, reinforcing the Department’s commitment to social justice, ecological sustainability and responsible citizenship. It also encourages students to recognise sustainability as a multidimensional challenge requiring interdisciplinary research and collaborative solutions.
Alignment: PO1, PO2, PO3, PO5, PO6, PO7, PO8.
