MA (Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi) & PhD (University of Birmingham, U.K.) Former Vice President South Asian University
Professor Panda received his early education (up to BA Honours: 1974 batch) at Ravenshaw College, Cuttack, Odisha. He went to complete an MA in Economics (1976) at the Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi and a PhD (1984) at University of Birmingham, U.K. as a Commonwealth Scholar. After completing his Masters, he started teaching in Ravenshaw College in 1976 and a year later, he moved to Utkal University. In 1981 he went to Birmingham University, UK for his Ph.D. by winning a commonwealth scholarship. On his return from U.K., he joined the Department of Economics, Delhi School of Economics as a Reader in 1985. He served there for 35 years till his retirement in 2020 January. Post retirement, he held a visiting professorship at IIT Delhi till October 2020.
During his stay at DSE, he has held visiting positions in various places such as University of California, Riverside, USA, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan and University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece. For five years, 2014-2019, he was on deputation to South Asian University (an international university established by SAARC nations and campus in New Delhi) as its Vice President. As its Vice President, he was instrumental in nourishing the Faculty of Economics and the University to bring some prominence and visibility.
His principal areas of expertise are Microeconomic Theory, Social Choice Theory, Welfare Economics and developmental issues relating to poverty and inequality. He has published his research in reputed international journals such as Journal of Economic Theory, Mathematical Social Sciences, Synthese, Social Choice and Welfare and Studies in Microeconomics. He has also jointly coedited a book on Economy of Odisha named “Economy of Odisha – a Profile” which has been published by Oxford University Press in 2016. He served as the President of Orissa Economic Association in 2014.
Professor Panda held various administrative positions during his long teaching career of 44 years. He was the Head of the Department of Economics at DSE (2005-8); Executive Director, Center for Development Economics, DSE (2009-11); Director, DSE (2011-14) and Vice President, South Asian University (2014-19). He was also an independent member of the Board of Directors of National Housing Bank from 2012 to 2016. He was honoured with Odisha Platinum Jubilee Award in 2012 for his contribution in the field of education.