The department of Geophysics was started by the then Vice-chancellor, Pt. Govind Malviya with only one staff member, Prof. Jagdeo Singh, who subsequently got his Ph. D. degree and training from Imperial College, London. It functioned then with cooperation from the Department of Geology, Physics, Mathematics and College of Engineering & Mining (now well renowned as IT BHU).
The Department of Geophysics, established in 1949, is one of the oldest pioneer centers of Geophysical Education in the country. Prof. Rajnath was its first Head of the Department. When the department of Geophysics got an independent space at its present location in 1964, Prof. H. S. Rathore became the Head of the Department. Initially, two year M. Sc. degree course in Geophysics was started. But when UGC made the countrywide amendment of the Master Degree course of Geophysics to be of three year course, the Department of Geophysics, BHU adopted the same degree course, since 1976, leading to M. Sc. (Tech.) Geophysics with specialization in Exploration Geophysics and Meteorology.
