Guidelines
Guidelines
INTRODUCTION
1.1. The ICSSR promotes, sponsors and coordinates research in the various domains of Social and
Human sciences to cultivate a dynamic ecosystem of advanced research in the country. In line with
this, Major & Minor Research Projects are awarded to Indian Social and Human Science researchers,
with the aim of contributing to national development by offering evidence-based solutions to present
and future challenges in diverse fields.
1.2. The Award of Major & Minor Research Projects for the Financial Year 2024-25 shall be awarded in
the following areas of Social and Human Sciences:
2 a. Financial Management
Management
b. Human Resource Management
c. Entrepreneurship Studies
d. Public sociology
e. Industrial sociology
d. Criminology
5 a. Linguistic Anthropology
Social Anthropology
b. Cultural Anthropology
c. Ethnographic Studies
d. Cyborg anthropology
7 a. Grammatical Tradition
Sanskrit Studies
b. Manuscript Studies
c. Poetics
d. Literary Traditions
e. Traditions of Medicines
10 a. Women-Led Development
Gender Studies
b. Gender and Society
12
Political Science a. E-Governance
h. Indigenous Polity
j. Indian Constitutionalism
13 a. Geopolitics
International Relations /
b. Indo-Pacific Strategic Relations
Geopolitics
c. India’s Cultural Diplomacy and Soft Power
14 a. Ethical Governance
Public Administration
b. Tribunals, Commissions and Bureaucratic System
c. Public Policy
16
National Security and a. Defence and National Security
Strategic Studies
b. Defence Manufacturing
c. Cyber Security
d. Military Conflict
e. Internal Security
17
Education a. Digital Learning Technology Integration
20 a. Demography
Social and Human
b. Migration
Geography
c. Human Resource and Holistic Growth
d. Regional Geography
e. Rural and Urban Landscape
21 a. Human-Environment Relationship
Environmental Studies
b. Climate Change
c. Sustainable Development Goals in Indian Context
d. Renewable Energy Resources
27
Rural Studies a. Rural Economy
b. Rural Society
c. Rural-Urban Migration
29 Janjatiya Studies
a. Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
Research Proposals that span across disciplinary boundaries also fall within the areas of the Council’s
interest.
2. ELIGIBILITY
2.1 Researchers who are permanently employed or retired as faculty from UGC Recognized Indian
Universities/Deemed to be Universities/ Affiliated Colleges/Institutions under (2) F or 12(B), ICSSR
Research Institutes, ICSSR Recognised Institutes and Institutes of National Importance as defined by
the Ministry of Education (MoE) are eligible to apply. The applicants having substantial research
experience demonstrable through publications of books / research papers / reports are eligible to
apply. The Project Director and Co-Project Director must also hold a Ph.D. Degree.
2.2 In exceptional cases, Independent researchers with PhD degrees who are not affiliated
permanently with any institution mentioned in Clause 2.1 but have produced at least two sole-author
books published by reputed publishers and/or 05 articles in peer-reviewed journals can also be
considered as Co-Project Directors. Such scholars will be required to collaborate with a faculty from
institutions given in 2.1 above.
2.3 Further, those researchers with PhD degrees who are in contractual appointment in
academic/research institutions mentioned in Clause 2.1 and have produced at least two sole-author
books published by reputed publishers and/or 05 articles in peer-reviewed journals may also apply as
Co-Project Directors. In the event of their contract expiry, they may continue as Co-Project Directors
until the completion of the project.
2.4 Senior and retired government and defence officers (having not less than 05 years of regular
service) possessing a Ph. D. degree in any social science discipline and having produced at least two
sole-author books published by reputed publishers and/or 05 articles in peer-reviewed journals can
also apply as Co-Project Directors, in collaboration with a faculty from institutions given in 2.1 above.
2.5 Non-academic participants/stakeholders/local community may also be part of the research team in
the capacity of Key Informant.
3. HOW TO APPLY
3.1 The applications shall be invited through an advertisement on ICSSR website and shall be
promoted through social media platforms of ICSSR.
3.2 The applicants are required to submit an online application along with the research proposal,
annexures, and other required documents in the prescribed format, duly forwarded by the competent
authorities of the affiliating institution. If desired by ICSSR, hard copies of the same must be submitted
within the prescribed date.
3.3 Research proposals and final reports should either be in English or Hindi. Arial/ Mangal Unicode
(Devanagari) font should be used to fill Application form in Hindi.
3.4 Researchers can apply for only one project at a time. For any ongoing or completed project with
the ICSSR, the cooling-off period for applying to another project will be one year for the Project
Director. The date of cooling period will be calculated from the date of submission of the final report.
However, this will not be applicable for minor projects/short-term empirical research projects of
duration equal to or less than 12 months. For ICSSR Research Institutes, the cooling period will not be
applicable.
1.
Research Staff: Full time/part time/ Hired services Not exceeding 45% of the
total budget
2.
Field work Not exceeding 35%
3.
Research Equipment and study material (Computer, Not exceeding 10%
Printer etc.)
4.
Contingency Not exceeding 5%
5.
Workshop/ Seminar/Publication Approx. 5%
Grand Total
100%
*The project investigator may with the permission of the institution re-appropriate expenditure from
one sub-head to another subject to a maximum of 10% of the particular budget heads. If the study
necessitates re-appropriation beyond 10% it may be done only after the approval of the ICSSR.
C. Affiliating Institutional Overhead Charges @ 10% over and above on the awarded grant of the
project, subject to a maximum limit of Rs.2, 00,000/- for Major and Minor Projects will be released
by the ICSSR after successful completion of the project.
6.4 Project Staff shall be engaged/appointed as per the rules by the affiliating institution of the Project
Director on a full/ part-time basis during the research work. The duration may be decided by the
project director. The consolidated monthly remuneration/emoluments of the project staff must be
according to the following guidelines:
6.5 Selection of Research Staff should be done through an advertisement published on respective
institute’s website and a selection committee, duly approved by the Competent Authority of the
institution, consisting of (1) Project Director; (2) One external subject Expert (from outside the institute
where the project is located); (3) Dean of the faculty in case of University /Principal in case of College
and (4) Head of the Department of the Project Director.
6.6 For all field work related expenses of Project Director, Co-Project Director(s) and project personnel,
rules of affiliating institutes/universities shall be applied.
6.7 All equipment and books purchased out of the project fund shall be the property of the affiliating
institution, and a detailed stock report duly signed by the Head of the Institute / Registrar / Principal
has to be submitted to the ICSSR. However, ICSSR may ask for books and/ or equipment if it so
requires.
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Call for project proposals under the scheme of Major & Minor Research Projects (2024-25)
ICSSR invites project proposals from Indian social scientists and academicians/ scholars/ researchers in
humanities under its scheme of Major & Minor Research Projects (2024-25).
The candidates shall submit an online application on the ICSSR website as per the following schedule:
IMPORTANT DATES
04-10-2024
Start of online submission of applications
24-10-2024
Close of online submission of applications
31-10-2024
Last date of receipt of hard copy of application form in
ICSSR
Link to apply: https://app.icssr.org
Applicants are required to read the guidelines carefully before submitting their online application
forms. Applicants are also advised to apply well before the last date in order to avoid last moment
rush. The links for detailed guidelines for applying along with requisite formats are provided on this
web page.
Applicants are requested to take a printout of the online application form and send it along with all the
annexures to:
______________________________________________________
Priority Areas
2(b). Department/School/Center
2(c). State
2(d). Pincode
2(e). E-mail ID
2(f). Mobile Number
Image Size should be less than 800KB and only png,jpg,jpeg format allowed
3. Permanent Address:
3(b). State
3(c). Pin
4. Date of Birth
Date of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY)
21/01/1973
5. Parents Information
Mother’s Name
Father’s Name
Gender
9. Whether received any assistance/project from any other institution e.g. UGC, ICAR, CSIR,
Year of Award
Master's
M Phil
Ph D.
Post-Doctoral
Salient features of your Ph.D. research work (Not more than 100 words):
Projects Completed
Fellowships
Ph.D Guidance
M.Phil Guidance
(c). Papers in Journals / Edited Books / Reports Published/Citations, etc. (Details of the best 5)
Attach hard copies (5 for Major and 3 for Minor project) while sending the hard copies of
application
S. No. Title of the publication Name of the Journal/Publisher Month, Year and Vol. Scop
1.
2.
S. No. Title of the publication Name of the Journal/Publisher Month, Year and Vol. Scop
3.
4.
5.