Rajiv Gandhi Govt. Degree College, Kotshera was established in the year 1984 with a Humanities wing. Since then it has grown in leaps and bounds and currently, it has an enrollment of 3452 students pursuing B.Sc. B.Com besides Humanities The Department of Zoology of RGGDC, Chaura Maidan came into existence in the year 1994 . Since then, it has taken giant strides and has served as a vital department for undergraduate studies in the field of Animal Sciences. The department has an accomplished faculty with specialisation in diverse disciplines. The faculty and lab staff provide the students with a conducive atmosphere for learning and personality development. The curriculum studies are supplemented with hands-on experience in practical classes, symposia, seminars, and lectures. The students are taken on excursions and field trips for practical learning outside the four walls of the classroom. The department has a well-equipped laboratory cum museum for carrying out experiments as per the curriculum. The department has a lecture theatre furnished with ICT amenities and an internet facility (Department Tour). Students also use the BCA laboratory for simulation/virtual labs if the facility is not available for performing real-time experiments in the lab. A book bank also has been established in the department since 2016 having more than two hundred donated books initially. The account of the same has been properly maintained in a separate register. The students are free to borrow and study these books for a long duration during the academic session.
The department gives insight into the animal world through teaching Invertebrate Zoology, Vertebrate Zoology, Genetics, Animal Physiology, Evolutionary Biology, Developmental Biology, and Reproductive Biology. Students are also taught skill enhancement courses like Apiculture, Sericulture, and Aquarium Fish Keeping which gives the student an insight into career options when they pass out. Besides classroom learning, students are sensitised about the biodiversity in and around the campus by taking them on short nature walks so that they value the rich biodiversity and also respond to the global challenges caused due to anthropogenic activities. Further, the holistic development of students is ensured by engaging them in various curricular and extra-curricular activities planned and conducted throughout the year by ‘The Zoological Society’.The department has also launched its annual e-newsletter ‘SYNAPSE’ which highlights the activities of our students during the year (SYNAPSE)

This program is one of the most fundamental units of basic sciences studied at the undergraduate level. After completing and graduating with a degree in Zoology, the students have a wide scope in different fields. Apart from pursuing higher studies (master's in the subject with specialisation in different branches of Zoology), the students can also opt for a variety of related branches of science. Students gain knowledge and skill in the fundamentals of animal sciences, understand the complex interactions among various living organisms, complex interactions among the various animals of different phyla, their distribution, and their relationship with the environment.At the end of graduation, they are likely to possess expertise which will provide them competitive advantage in pursuing higher studies from India or abroad; and seek jobs in academia, research or industries. They are able to correctly use biological instrumentation and proper laboratory techniques. Students will be able to communicate biological knowledge in oral and written form. Students will be able to identify the relationship or synchronisation between structure and function at all levels: molecular, cellular, and organismal. Students should be able to identify, classify and differentiate diverse invertebrates and vertebrates based on their morphological, anatomical and systemic organisation. Students will be able to describe medicinal,.economical and ecological importance of various animals in human life. Further, a vast knowledge about animal life and their diversity would create inquisitiveness in the students which would further open up new horizons for their future in wildlife photography or wildlife exploration. Furthermore, the procedural knowledge about identifying and classifying animals will provide students professional advantages in teaching, research and taxonomist jobs in various government organisations; including Zoological Survey of India and National Parks/Sanctuaries.The students will be acquiring basic experimental skills in various techniques in the fields of genetics; molecular biology; biotechnology; microscopy; biochemistry etc. These methodologies will provide an extra edge to our students, who wish to undertake higher studies. Students will be able to use the evidence of comparative zoology to explain how the theory of evolution offers the only scientific explanation for the unity and diversity of life on earth. Acquired skills in diagnostic testing, haematology, histopathology, staining procedures etc. used in clinical and research laboratories will provide them opportunity to work in diagnostic or research laboratories.Candidates find opportunities in government departments, environmental agencies,universities,colleges, biotechnological, pharmaceutical, environmental/ecological fields. Candidates may find jobs as Animal Behaviourist, Conservationist, Wildlife Biologist, Zoo Curator, Wildlife Educator, Zoology faculty, Forensic experts, Lab technicians, Veterinarians etc.

• Highly qualified faculty
• Internet facility and smart classroom for delivering lectures
• Regular class tests, seminars, group discussions amongst the students are held as a part of quality teaching
• Remedial classes and re-tests are taken to improve and help weaker students
• Well equipped laboratory
• Students are enrolled in different courses at swayam portal
• Students are given exposure of scientific method and scientific writing by assigning them small projects based on secondary data
• Students are taken on educational visits
• Department has started e-news letter “Synapse” in session 2023-24 with the collective efforts of faculty and the student members of Zoological Society Of the college.
• Faculty is involved in research work, publications, presentations in National/ International/Local seminars.

• Research activity can not be carried out in the department due to lack of funding
• Students come from vernacular background hence more effort needs to be done to pull them along
• Irregularity in the classes
• Infrastructure needs to be improved
• Training/orientation required for lab staff
• Museum is required

• Students having done BSc with Zoology have opportunity of Lecturership in Schools/Colleges after doing M.Sc (Zoology) and NET/SET
• Can join different Govt departments like forest, can become animal behaviorist, wildlife biologist, Zoo curator, forensic experts, veterinarian, lab technicians etc.
• Can start small scale business in beekeeping, ornamental fisheries, silk culture, Poultry farming, vermicomposting. Challenges
• To motivate students to be regular in classes.
• To motivate good students for research work.
• To guide and motivate weaker students to perform best in academics and pursue higher education.

• To collaborate with other institutes for giving our students an opportunity and exposure of seminars/workshops.
• To collaborate with the Department of Horticulture and Fisheries for giving the students hands-on experience/training for different techniques of Apiculture and Pisciculture.
• To set up a research lab.
• To organize seminars/conferences.

Important Links related to departmental activities:

• Department Tour.
• Syllabus Zoology Annual System
• Lesson Plan Zoology 2021-22
• Lesson Plan Zoology 2022-23
• List of Books of Zoology Book Bank
• e-resources Deptt of Zoology
• Previous Years 'Question Papers
• ( SYNAPSE )
• Synapse Volume 2