ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship

The Fellowship is aimed at promoting original, socially relevant, and policy-focused research in the social sciences. The fellowship provides financial support through a monthly grant of ₹20,000 and an annual contingency grant of ₹20,000 for up to two years, with an initial award period of one year, which is renewed for the second year subject to fulfilment of requisite criteria. It also offers institutional and short-term fellowships including a six-month short term fellowship for scholars nearing Ph.D. submission (minimum three years of completed PhD research) and a standalone contingency grant of ₹62,500 for specific research needs. Applications are invited through ICSSR’s website and social media platforms. Fellows are expected to pursue full-time research, submit regular progress reports, and provide a final submission that includes published work, a book-length thesis, and audited financial records. Given India's social science ecosystem, it seeks to promote research excellence, evidence-based research, and scholarship that is also relevant to policymakers.