Application Deadline:
31 October 2025
About Organisation
The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), established in 1969 under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, is the country’s premier institution for promoting and supporting research in social sciences and humanities. As the apex body, ICSSR funds and facilitates a wide range of research activities including doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships, senior fellowships, research projects, training programs, and international collaborations. Its initiatives aim to deepen understanding of social, cultural, economic, and political issues impacting India’s development. ICSSR also runs the National Social Science Documentation Centre (NASSDOC), offering library and information services to social science researchers nationwide. Through these programs, ICSSR seeks to build research capacity, promote interdisciplinary studies, and provide knowledge-based inputs for evidence-informed policymaking. It also supports academic institutions and recognized research centers across India, encouraging innovative and socially relevant inquiry that contributes to both national development and the global discourse on social science research.
About the Grant
The ICSSR Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025–26 aims to nurture young and mid-career researchers in social sciences who have completed their Ph.D. and are committed to advancing innovative and policy-relevant research. This prestigious fellowship encourages high-quality, globally competitive studies that address contemporary social, economic, and cultural challenges. Fellows are expected to explore themes within ICSSR’s priority areas such as sociology, economics, gender studies, political science, health, environmental studies, education, diaspora studies, and more. Interdisciplinary research that integrates multiple social science perspectives is also encouraged. The fellowship is a two-year, full-time engagement during which selected scholars will work under the mentorship of a senior social scientist from their affiliating institution. ICSSR funds the fellowship through recognized universities, research institutes, and colleges across India. By supporting such postdoctoral work, ICSSR aims to strengthen research excellence, encourage collaboration, and generate actionable insights for India’s social and developmental policy framework.
Who can Apply?
Applicants must be Indian citizens and not older than 45 years as of the last date of application (relaxable by 5 years for SC/ST and Persons with Benchmark Disability). Candidates must hold a Ph.D. in a social science discipline at the time of application and demonstrate research competence through quality publications. The applicant must be affiliated with a publicly funded Indian university, deemed-to-be university, or ICSSR-recognized research institute that offers an approved Ph.D. program. The fellowship requires full-time research work under the supervision of a senior social scientist (at least an Associate Professor) with proven research and publication credentials, who is a serving faculty member at the affiliating institution. The supervisor’s appointment is subject to ICSSR’s approval. Each fellow will receive funding through their affiliating institution, and the fellowship cannot be extended beyond the two-year period. Only one application per candidate is permitted under the Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme, though candidates may apply separately for other ICSSR programs.
How to Apply?
Eligible candidates must apply online through the ICSSR application portal. The research proposal should be submitted strictly in the prescribed format, in either Hindi or English (Unicode UTF-8). Applicants should not attach separate research papers or proposals. Each candidate may apply only once under this scheme, though they may apply separately for other ICSSR programs.
Application Deadline
Applications must be submitted online by October 31, 2025. Proposals received after this date or incomplete submissions will not be considered under the ICSSR Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme.
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
