News: The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) has sent a showcause notice to the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), asking it to explain why its grants-in-aid should not be withdrawn.
About Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)
- It is the national body established to encourage, promote and fund social science research in the country.
- Establishment: It was established in the year of 1969 by the Government of India on recommendations of the Professor V.K.R.V. Rao committee.
- Nodal Ministry: It operates under the Ministry of Education.
- Objectives and mandates:
- Review the progress of social science research and give advice to its users;
- Sponsor social science research programmes and projects
- Administer grants to institutions and individuals for research in social sciences
- Institute and administer scholarships and fellowships for research in social sciences
- Indicate areas in which social science research is to be promoted
- Give financial support to institutions, associations, and journals engaged in social science research
- Arrange for technical training in research methodology
- Provide guidance for research
- Co-ordinate research activities and encourage progrmmes for interdisciplinary research
- Develop and support centers for documentation services and supply of data;
- Organize, sponsor, and finance seminars, workshops and study groups
- Undertake publication and assist publication of journals and books in social sciences
- Advise the Government of India on all matters pertaining to social science research
- Organisational structure
- Council: The ICSSR’s highest decision-making body is known as the Council.
- It has 26 members, which includes the ICSSR Chairman and the Member-Secretary, 17 Social Scientists (Non-Ex-Officio members), one Co-opted member and six Ex-officio members representing the Government of India.
- The Member Secretary is the Chief Executive Officer and heads the ICSSR Secretariat.
- The ICSSR Secretariat consisting of Directors, Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors and other officials.
- The Council has three standing committees, namely the Research Committee (RC), Research Institutes Committee (RIC) and Planning and Administration Committee (PAC).
- Council: The ICSSR’s highest decision-making body is known as the Council.
- NASSDOC: Documentation center of ICSSR – National Social Science Documentation Centre (NASSDOC) – provides library and information support services to researchers in social sciences.
- ICSSR has developed ICSSR Data Service to serve as a national data service for promoting powerful research environment through sharing and reuse of data among social science community in India.
