Research and Development is an important dimension of a University's academic pursuits. An academic organization remains incomplete in the absence of proper research activities. Keeping this in mind, all the research activities are brought under the purview of the Institute of Research which has been named after a great researcher of the region, Dr.Banikanta Kakati.

Banikanta Kakati Research Institute (BKRI) was established in the year 2016 with an objective to promote research on Area Studies covering India’s North East and its neighbouring regions in a wider perspective. The aim of this Institute is to undertake independent research on problems and processes of social transformation and economic and human development in the region, and contribute to the formulation of strategic programmes for integrated regional development. Since its inception, the Institute has conducted various programmes like organising public lecture, round table discussion, outreach programme and so on. Professor Abu Nasar Saied Ahmed was the Honorary Director of BKRI. The major highlights of the Institute are:

1. Banikanta Kakati Memorial Lecture The first ‘Banikanta Kakati Memorial Lecture’ was organised on November 15, 2017. The Lecture entitled "Paradigm shift in Intellectual History and Banikanta Kakati", was delivered by Professor Ranjit Kumar Dev Goswami, Head of Srimanta Sankardeva Chair, Tezpur University. The Second ‘Banikanta Kakati Memorial Lecture’ was delivered by Dr Jaimini Bhagwati, Former Indian High Commissioner to United Kingdom, and Currently Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Chair Professor at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), on the theme “Stresses in India’s Financial Sector and on The Trade Front held on November 15, 2018. The Third ‘Banikanta Kakati Memorial Lecture’ was delivered by Dr Karabi Deka Hazarika, Professor, Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva Vishwavidyalaya, and Former Lakshminath Bezbaruah Chair Professor, Dibrugarh University on the theme “Banikanta Kakatir Rosonar Nandonik Xoundorjyo: Eti Somu Bislexon” on November 15, 2019.
2. Public Lecture A Public Lecture on “Kenneth Joseph Arrow” was organised on May 9, 2017. Dr. Gautam Mazumdar, Associate Professor of Economics, Cotton College delivered the Lecture.
3. Round Table Discussion A one-day Round Table Discussion titled, “The Alternative Paradigm of Living with Flood and Soil Erosion”, was held on March 4, 2018 in the premises of Indian Institute of Bank Management (IIBM), Khanapara, Guwahati. The three eminent speakers- Professor Abani Kumar Bhagabati, Professor Arup Kumar Sarma and Professor Jogendra Nath Sarma presented their research papers on the issue and shared their views. The three members of Asam Sahitya Sabha – Chandan Sarmah, Pradip Pujary and Bipul Deuri also took part in this discussion.
4. Area Studies programme The Area Studies programme was initiated with the first visit to Bhutan (in the year 2018), under the ongoing Minor Research Project on Bhutan titled, “Bhutan in Transition: A Decade of Experiments with Democracy”. The objective was to present an analysis of the changes that the land-locked country has undergone over the years in terms of society, economy and polity. A book titled, Bhutan in Transition: A Decade with Experiments of Democracy was released on January 1, 2020, thus, marking the completion of the entire process.
5. 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi BKRI in collaboration with Khadi & Village Industries Commission, Guwahati, and National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, North Eastern Regional Centre organised a one-day Seminar on the theme, “The State of Affairs of Khadi Udyog in Assam” to celebrate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. An essay competition based on the same theme, i.e., “The State of Affairs of Khadi Udyog in Assam”, was organized amongst college students. Under the People’s Education Programme, a debate competition was also organised on January 9, 2019 on the topic “Gandhi’s Death is more relevant than Gandhi alive”.
6. Research Methodology Course in Social Sciences An ICSSR (Indian Council of Social Science Research) sponsored Ten Day Research Methodology Course in Social Sciences was organised by BKRI from October 3-October 12, 2018.
7. Talk on “Gandhism in International Perspective” Professor Sudarshan Iyengar, Former Vice Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith, delivered a talk on “Gandhism in International Perspective” on October 5, 2018. Tushar Gandhi (writer and filmmaker), the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi was also present on the occasion, and delivered a lecture.
8. Education and Outreach Programme An Education and Outreach Programme in collaboration with Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS), which is an Autonomous Body under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Kolkata, was organised on August 9, 2019 at Dispur Government Higher Secondary School. Five academicians from MAKAIAS, Kolkata, came to deliver lectures on the following topics:
   1. 75th Anniversary of Indian National Army (INA) & the Establishment of Provisional Government of Free India
   2. 100 Years of Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy
   3. 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
9. Legal Awareness Programme A one-day Legal Awareness Programme on Procedural Guidelines and Cyber Law, sponsored by National Commission for Women (NCW), New Delhi, was organized on February 7, 2020 in the premises of Dimoria College, Khetri, Assam.
10. National Seminar A Two-day National Seminar titled “Gender Sensitisation in India’s North East: Issues and Challenges” sponsored by the National Commission for Women, New Delhi, was organized on March 5-6, 2020, at Nedfi Convention Centre, Guwahati. The eminent guests were Professor Shiela Bora, former Professor of History, Dibrugarh University, Professor Alpana Borgohain, Gauhati University, Professor Jayanta Krishna Sarmah, Department of Political Science, Gauhati University, etc. among others. A total of 120 papers were presented in the seminar.