Ramakrishna Mission Residential College (Autonomous), Narendrapur, will start BCom in accountancy honours from the 2025-26 academic year.

The academic council of the college approved the decision to offer BCom on Friday.

It will be the first among RKM colleges to offer commerce as a stream. The college now runs only BSc and BA programmes.

Principal Swami Ekachittananda told Metro: “Many of our wellwishers, monks and former students, said commerce as a stream could ensure better employability of students. They also said there was a dearth of commerce colleges offering quality education. Based on their suggestions and, after careful analysis, we have decided to start a commerce section.”

The accountancy course is starting with 30 seats. The college will hold an entrance test to screen students, as it does for its BSc and BA programmes.

Principal Swami Ekachittananda said their BCom course curriculum will focus on providing internships and hands-on training.

Many bright students pursue commerce now instead of the more conventional professional courses or pure science.

Schools affiliated with the Delhi boards — CISCE and CBSE — have long identified the shift. The RKM decision suggests the trend is more widespread now.

Amitava Roy, the dean of commerce at St Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, told this newspaper: “If you see the recent admission patterns of the IIMs, they are looking for diversity in their classes and a lot of students from BCom and economics are getting admission in the top B schools.”

“In Calcutta, students from business families prefer BCom as it helps in their family business and allows them to work and study at the same time. BCom is such a course that it helps students if they work while studying. So, job prospects increase manifold by the time a student graduates.”

Bright students in government-aided schools are increasingly opting for commerce at the plus-II level.

“Many are not that keen to opt for science. I believe the scope of employability is one of the reasons driving students to opt for commerce.... I sincerely hope the syllabus committees will engage representatives of industry bodies to draw a more contemporary syllabus,” said Tapan Maity, the teacher-in-charge of Hare School.

Aditya Patra, a teacher of commerce at Hindu School, said: “This year, 72 students are studying in our school. Many students develop an inclination to study company secretaryship or CA. Although students from a science background can also opt for these programmes, those with a commerce background from schools hold an edge.”

Malayendu Saha, former dean of commerce at Calcutta University, said: “There is a need for more colleges to offer commerce as a stream.”

Life science

RKM Narendrapur will also introduce a BSc programme in life science from the next academic session. The number of seats on offer has not yet been decided.