The Department of Botany of this University came into existence with the establishment of the Faculty of Science in 1958. The founder member and the first Head of the Department, Dr. Rajendra Sahai has been a renowned ecologist. Later, the first Professor and Head of the Department Prof. K.S. Bhargava, was the first student of Prof. F.C. Bowden. He was an able administrator and meticulous performer. Under his able headship the course structure and syllabi were designed. Prof. Bhargav initiated research in Mycology and Plant Pathology in the Department which attracted the best talents and meritorious students to opt for M.Sc. Degree in Botany. He also inspired other teachers of his time to start research work in their respective fields. He was succeeded by an array of renowned professors as HOD; Prof S N Mathur (Plant Physiology); Prof. S.N. Dixit (Plant embryology, later switched on to taxonomy); Prof. P.C. Misra (Industrial Microbiology); Prof. Rajendra Singh (Virology); Prof. Kamal (Fungal Taxonomy); Prof. S. K. Singh (Taxonomy and Field Botany); Prof. Kalawati Shukla (Virology); Prof. S. C. Tripathi (Botanical Pesticides); Prof Nisha Misra (Mycology and Aerobiology; Prof. P. P. Upadhyay (Virology and Phytoplasma); Prof. R. P. Shukla (Forest Ecology); Prof. V. N. Pandey (Plant Resource Utilization and Nutraceuticals) and Prof. Pooja Singh (Post-harvest Management and Natural Pesticides).
Presently, the Department is making landmark progress under the Headship of Prof. Anil K Dwivedi, who is Ph.D. from BHU in the field of Environment and Health. Currently, Prof. Dwivedi is engaged in researches in the field of Arsenic toxicity in groundwater and its impact on human health.

The Department has a sanctioned strength of 19 teachers, currently 13 teachers are working. Main Area of Research: Environmental Pollution, Forest Ecology, molecular plant Taxonomy, Stress Physiology, Nutraceuticals, Phycology, Plant Virology, Herbal Pesticides, Plant Physiology, Phytoplasma. Many project sponsored by ICAR,CSIR, UGC, CST, DST, DBT, have been awarded to the department.

Infrastructure: The department comprises of two premises, Pant Block (First floor), which houses administrative block, offices UG/PG classrooms and practical labs, library , herbarium and research labs of few faculty members. there is a separate Botany Research building which houses chambers/ labs of faculty members and a seminar room.

Department has a big botanical garden, Spread in approximately 4hectare consisting several plant species, with rich bamboosetum, glass house, green house and a pond for aquatic plants, Nakshatra Vatika and Navgrah Vatika are the point of special attraction.

Currently department has procured Centre of Excellence Scheme (Govt of UP), 2020