Applications Invited for ICSSR’s Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025

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About the Organization

The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) is the apex body of the Government of India for research in the social and human sciences. Founded in 1969, ICSSR operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. ICSSR plays a pivotal role in advancing knowledge and understanding of various social issues and challenges, and providing research-based solutions to policymakers and stakeholders in the development of the nation through initiatives and schemes such as research projects; doctoral, postdoctoral, senior fellowships, and national fellowships; research internships; training and capacity building of early career researchers; publication grants; national and international seminars, conferences and workshops; publication of cutting-edge research; national and international collaboration; promotion of social science and humanities research through research institutes, recognised institutes and regional centres. Documentation centre of ICSSR - National Social Science Documentation Centre (NASSDOC) - provides library and information support services to researchers in social sciences.

ICSSR's mission is to shape the agenda of social science research across the nation and contribute to informed policymaking and societal development by promoting research excellence.

About the Fellowship

ICSSR invites applications from Indian scholars under its Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme for the Financial Year 2025-2026.

Post-Doctoral Fellowships are awarded to young and mid-career Indian social science researchers who have completed their Ph.D. and have acumen for conducting globally competitive quality research. The ICSSR promotes and supports evidence-based cutting-edge research having potential to provide solutions to the challenges to development by exploring the themes and subthemes identified by ICSSR.

The Post-Doctoral Fellowships for the Financial Year 2025-26 shall be awarded in the following areas of Social Sciences: Economics / Development Studies, Management, Commerce, Sociology/ Social Work, Social Anthropology, Culture Studies, Sanskrit Studies, SocioPhilosophical Studies, Sociolinguistics, Gender Studies, Health Studies/ Public Health, Political Science, International Relations/ Geopolitics, Public Administration, Diaspora Studies, Diaspora Studies, Education and Skilling, Social Psychology, Legal Studies, Social and Human Geography, Environmental Studies, Modern Social History, Media Studies, Library Science, Library Science, Indian Knowledge Systems, Rural Studies, Divyangjan Studies and Janjatiya Studies.

Research Proposals that span across disciplinary boundaries also fall within the areas of the Council’s interest. The research proposals which may not be reflected in the priority areas shall also be considered if, in the opinion of the Experts Committee, its focus is on an important issue covered under social sciences and adjudged as outstanding, and recommended by the Committee for award.

Duration and Value: Post-Doctoral Fellowship is a full-time research engagement. The duration of fellowship shall be for two years and no extension will be considered.

Eligibility

• The researcher should be an Indian citizen and should not be more than 45 years of age as on the last date of application. There shall be an age relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST/Persons with Benchmark Disability candidates.
• The scholar must possess a Ph.D. Degree at the time of application and his/her competence to conduct research must be reflected in his/her publications.
• The researcher must affiliate himself/herself to a public funded Indian university/ deemed-to-beuniversity/college having approved Ph.D. programme, an ICSSR Research Institute/Institutes of national importance approved by MoE/government research institutes. Funds shall be disbursed to the selected fellows through the affiliating institution.
• The selected fellow has to work under the guidance of a senior social scientist (not below the level of an Associate Professor with proven research supervision experience and publications). The supervisor should be a serving faculty in the affiliating institution. The selection of the supervisor is subject to the approval of the ICSSR.

How to Apply

The candidates shall submit online application. The research proposal should be submitted only in the format attached with the application form. No separate research proposal or copies of research papers are to be attached.

The Research Proposal should either be in Hindi or English (Use Unicode 8 (UTF-8) to fill the form in Hindi)

One applicant can submit only one application under Post-Doctoral Fellowship scheme. However, he/she can apply separately for another scheme.

The last date for online submission of application is 31.10.2025.

For more information please check the Link

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Tags Research Post Doctorate / PhD Others