Call for
India Sustainable Growth Hub Grant
Call for Grant Applications -Bridging Narratives Grant Program
Application Deadline:
6 July 2025
About Organisation
The India Sustainable Growth Hub (ISGH) is a pioneering collaboration between the Centre for Research on the Economics of Climate, Food, Energy and Environment (CECFEE) at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Delhi and the International Growth Centre (IGC), headquartered at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). The ISGH aims to shape new economic thinking to support India’s transition to a low-carbon, high-growth economy. With India aspiring to become a developed nation by 2047, sustainable growth is a critical priority. While the country has achieved significant developmental milestones, environmental degradation remains a pressing concern. ISGH’s mission is to generate research that guides public policy toward inclusive and sustainable economic progress, addressing complex trade-offs between growth, climate resilience, energy use, urbanization, and equity. By bridging research and policymaking, ISGH works to support impactful initiatives that improve state effectiveness, firm productivity, and environmental outcomes, especially in the Indian context. The hub also encourages the development of policy-relevant data and methods to address systemic challenges and inform practical solutions. With an inclusive and multidisciplinary approach, ISGH fosters engagement between researchers, institutions, and policymakers to co-create actionable strategies for India’s sustainable and resilient future.
About the Grant
The India Sustainable Growth Hub Grant invites proposals that contribute to India’s journey toward a prosperous low-carbon economy. It supports empirical research focusing on the economics of climate change, sustainability, and inclusive growth. The grant offers two types of funding: Full Research Grants for well-developed projects with defined research questions, methodology, and potential policy partners; and Small Research Grants for pilot studies, exploratory projects, or administrative data analysis.
Key thematic areas include firms, trade, and productivity; state effectiveness in managing environmental externalities; urban development and climate resilience; energy transitions; macroeconomic implications of climate change; and innovative data and research methods. Grants are awarded to projects that are empirically rigorous, grounded in economic research, and have strong policy relevance in the Indian context.
The ISGH values research that integrates engagement with Indian institutions, fosters collaboration with policymakers, and has a high likelihood of real-world impact. Proposals must be aligned with ISGH’s research priorities and demonstrate strong academic design and value for money. Research outcomes should aim to advance both academic literature and practical solutions. ISGH is committed to supporting projects that meaningfully contribute to India’s sustainable growth strategy while producing high-quality, policy-relevant insights.
Who can Apply?
The India Sustainable Growth Hub Grant is open to researchers based in India, particularly encouraging applications from PhD students and early-career researchers. Proposals can be submitted by individuals or teams, provided they are led by a Principal Investigator (PI) who is based in India and affiliated with an Indian institution. The PI must hold or be pursuing a PhD in economics or a closely related social science field.
While Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs) may be located anywhere globally, they are generally expected to hold similar qualifications. In specific cases, Co-PIs with a master’s degree may also be considered. The host institution receiving the grant must be a registered Indian organization. ISGH encourages applications from a wide range of institutions including public and private universities, policy think tanks, NGOs, and government-affiliated research units.
Applicants may submit multiple proposals as long as they can demonstrate sufficient capacity to manage all proposed projects. However, each submission must be distinct and feasible within its own timeline. Proposals that are purely qualitative, lack empirical rigor, or do not align with India’s sustainable development challenges will not be considered. Emphasis is placed on research with policy relevance, methodological robustness, and effective stakeholder engagement.
How to Apply?
Applicants must prepare a detailed research proposal aligned with ISGH themes, including project design, budget, policy relevance, and institutional partnerships. The proposal should demonstrate methodological rigor, feasibility, and expected impact. All applications must be submitted by a lead PI affiliated with an Indian institution. Ensure that eligibility and proposal guidelines are thoroughly followed before submission. Applications undergo evaluation based on policy impact, design quality, and cost-effectiveness.
Application Deadline
The final deadline to submit proposals for the India Sustainable Growth Hub Grant is 6 July 2025. All applicants are advised to submit well in advance of the due date.
Last Date to Apply
6 July 2025 is the last date to apply for both full and small research grants under the India Sustainable Growth Hub Grant. Late applications will not be considered.
Grant Amount
Full Research Grants offer funding up to GBP 40,000, while Small Research Grants provide up to GBP 15,000, depending on the scope, design, and relevance of the proposed research project.
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
