Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)

Review the progress of social science research and give advice to its users;

Sponsor social science research programmes and projects and administer grants to institutions and individuals for research in social sciences;

Institute and administer scholarships and fellowships for research in social sciences;

Indicate areas in which social science research is to be promoted and adopt special measures for development of research in neglected or new areas;

Give financial support to institutions, associations, and journals engaged in social science research;

Arrange for technical training in research methodology and to provide guidance for research;

Co-ordinate research activities and encourage progrmmes for interdisciplinary research;

Develop and support centers for documentation services and supply of data;

Organize, sponsor, and finance seminars, workshops and study groups;

Undertake publication and assist publication of journals and books in social sciences;

Advise the Government of India on all matters pertaining to social science research as may be referred to it from time to time; and take such measures generally as may be necessary from time to time to promote social science research and its utilization.

Research Institutes and Regional Centres Division (RI&RC) provides maintenance and development grants to Research Institutes and maintains Regional Centres in different regions of the country. The Research Institutes are of all India character- outside the scope of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The main objectives are :

Dispersal of talent from more developed to less developed regions, especially, to areas where social science research are under developed; and

Development of quality of research and interdisciplinary research in social sciences in order to improve the social science inputs into development. The Council is at present assisting 27 Research Institutes and 6 Regional Centres in different regions in India.