The Microbiology Department was started in 1964, and since 1985-86, it also offers the M.Sc. Biotechnology Course in addition to the master's course in Microbiology. Biotechnology training programme was started with support from NBTB (DBT) and UGC and continues to be very popular, attracting programme among students from all over the country. The backbone of the department is the intellectual rigor provided by a dedicated faculty and students coming from all across the country. By the year 2003, the department had produced 90 Ph.Ds and a large number of research papers are regularly published in journals of international repute. The alumni of the department now occupy positions of great responsibility in different institutions in India and abroad.

The department was funded under DST-FIST-I program under which new equipments have been purchased and other infrastructure facilities are being strengthened. In the past department received support from UGC-DRS, UGC-DSA and COSIST programs.

The Department has a strong base in Microbial technology and the main focus of the program is on Genetics, Molecular Biology, Industrial Microbiology, Immunology and other contemporary areas allied to Microbiology and Biotechnology.  Basic training is given in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Developmental Biology, Genetic Engineering, Biochemical Engineering and some aspects of Biophysics, Biostatistics, Environmental Biology.