Institute of Home Economics, Delhi

The Institute of Home Economics is a premier college of the University of Delhi. Located in the heart of South Delhi, the institute offers both under-graduate and post-graduate programmes. The college has state-of-the-art infrastructure, computerized library services, fully automated and integrated academic and administrative operations, intranet and Internet facilities available to the students. The combined excellence of educational curriculum, commitment of the highly qualified and experienced faculty have helped establish the institute as a leading center for women's education.

The Institute of Home Economics started in the year 1961 by a Registered Co-operative Society conducting a two-year Diploma course in Home Science. DLF provided the society with a property in South Extension on a 99 year lease. The Diploma course was later followed by a one year course in Teacher Training in Home Science. As the college started growing, the Co-operative Society was taken over by a Trust, ‘Home Economics Education Society’ with Mrs. Rameshwari Nehru as the President and many other renowned educationists, as its members. Dr (Mrs) S. Malhan was the founder Director of the college. Her dynamism and keen involvement in the college affairs led to the recognition conferred by the University of Delhi and in 1969, Institute of Home Economics became a constituent college of University of Delhi.

The college continued to expand under the energetic leadership of Mrs Malhan. In the year 1972, a one year Post-Graduate Diploma in Dietetics and Public Health and Nutrition was started. This was followed by a three year B.Sc. Home Science (Hons) programme in 1973. The year 1987 saw another landmark in the history of the college. The foundation stone for the new college building at Hauz Khas was laid by Late Honorable Shri Giani Zail Singh, the then President of India. The year also marked the introduction of a two year M.Sc. (Home Science) in Textiles and Clothing at the Institute. Dr Kumud Khanna was appointed Director of the Institute of Home Economics in 1992. Under her guidance, the Institute of Home Economics has seen exponential growth. A three-year degree course in B.Sc. (Hons) Microbiology was started in 1992. The entire infrastructure required to successfully transact the Master’s programme was created by the college. Keeping in view the growing demand for higher education in the field of Food and Nutrition, a two-year M.Sc. (Home Science) programme in Food and Nutrition was started in 1993.

Institute of Home Economics group is mindful of the key role an educational institution plays in the development of productive citizens and future professionals, and of the impact they can create on multiple levels of the society.

The Institute lays great emphasis on physical fitness of the students and organizes a weekly physical education class for students of all courses. The range of sporting activities includes volleyball; throw ball, kho-kho, athletics, table tennis, yoga, aerobics and badminton. In order to promote a healthy lifestyle the college has set up an air-conditioned gymnasium fully equipped with latest equipment for use by the students and faculty. The students can access this gymnasium in their free time or in the physical education classes under the supervision of the physical educationist. Interested students also receive training in self-defense by trainers from Delhi Police. The Institute has on its rolls a qualified physical educationist who takes care of sports and allied activities. The Annual Sports Day is an exciting event that is organized each year.

Iridescence, the Arts Society of our college, endeavors to pull off something unique, creative and out of the box each time. The society plans to motivate people through art, make them realize the serenity that art instills in them. The society welcomes twenty-five members each year with great joy and positivity. They practice different art forms like poster making, rangoli making, face painting, shoe painting, sketching/painting, calligraphy, photography and many more. From the beautification of the college during all the programmes in the college to organising numerous competitions during the college's annual cultural fest- FERIA, the society provides a platform to all the members to showcase their skills.Despite being a very new society (formed in 2015), Iridescence members have participated in numerous competitions till date at the cultural fests of DCAC (DU), Hindu College, Hansraj College and many more colleges. Recently, the new members of the society participated in the Art Fiesta organised by Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies (IP University). Garima Gujral of B.Sc. Home Science (Hons) 1st year bagged the second position in pottery making.