ICSSR invites applications from Indian scholars under its Senior Fellowship Scheme for the Financial Year 2026-2027, The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) has opened online applications for the Senior Fellowship Scheme 2026-27, offering experienced Indian scholars an opportunity to undertake advanced research in the field of social sciences. The fellowship aims to support high-quality research projects that contribute to academic knowledge and public policy.
The online application process begins on 22 June 2026, and interested candidates must complete and submit their applications by 21 July 2026 through the official ICSSR portal.
Before applying, candidates should carefully review the official fellowship guidelines to ensure they meet all eligibility requirements. The research proposal must be prepared strictly in the prescribed format available within the online application form. Separate research proposal documents will not be accepted.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications well before the closing date to avoid technical issues or heavy website traffic during the final days. The application form can be completed in either English or Hindi. Candidates choosing Hindi should use Arial/Mangal Unicode font for Devanagari text.
The affiliated institution is responsible for forwarding only those applications that satisfy the eligibility conditions specified in the official ICSSR Senior Fellowship guidelines. Applications will be accepted only through the online mode, and there is no requirement to send a printed or hard copy of the application.
This fellowship provides an excellent opportunity for senior researchers to pursue impactful social science research with institutional support during the 2026-27 financial year.
If you’re interested in this prestigious fellowship program, we encourage you to read the article carefully and follow the application guidelines closely. Make sure to review all eligibility criteria and submit your application within the specified timeline.
Last Date of Application: 21st July 2026
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ICSSR invites applications from Indian scholars under its Senior Fellowship Scheme for the Financial Year 2026-2027 Eligibility Criteria
Applicants interested in the ICSSR Senior Fellowship Scheme 2026-27 must satisfy the following eligibility requirements before submitting their application:
- The applicant must be an Indian citizen and should be at least 45 years old but not more than 70 years of age as of the last date for submitting the application.
- Candidates must possess a Ph.D. degree and demonstrate the academic competence required to undertake advanced research in social sciences or allied disciplines.
- Applicants should have an excellent research record, including books published by reputed publishers and/or research papers published in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals. The quality and significance of these publications will be considered during the evaluation process.
- Selected fellows must be affiliated with a UGC-recognized University, Deemed-to-be University, Institute of National Importance (as recognized by the Ministry of Education/UGC), or an ICSSR Research Institute. The fellowship funds will be released through the respective affiliating or administering institution.
- Faculty members holding regular positions in publicly funded universities, colleges, or research institutes and receiving UGC pay scales may be considered for salary protection in exceptional cases of academic merit. The decision will be made by the ICSSR Expert Committee.
- The ICSSR Expert Committee also reserves the authority to recommend that a fellowship proposal be treated as a research project proposal, if deemed appropriate during the evaluation process.
ICSSR invites applications from Indian scholars under its Senior Fellowship Scheme for the Financial Year 2026-2027 Selection Process
The selection process for the ICSSR Senior Fellowship Scheme 2026-27 involves multiple stages to ensure a fair and merit-based evaluation of research proposals.
In the first stage, applications are assessed by a panel of subject experts. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to participate in an interaction or presentation, where they will discuss their proposed research work before the expert panel. The evaluation is conducted in multiple phases based on the quality, relevance, and academic merit of the proposal.
After the expert assessment is completed, the recommendations of the Expert Committee(s) are forwarded to the appropriate ICSSR committees for final review, consent, and approval.
Once the selection process is finalized, the list of successful candidates will be published on the official ICSSR website. In addition, only the selected applicants and their affiliated institutions or universities will receive a provisional award letter. The letter will include details of the fellowship award along with the formalities and documents required to complete the joining process.
ICSSR invites applications from Indian scholars under its Senior Fellowship Scheme for the Financial Year 2026-2027 Fellowship Duration and Benefits
The ICSSR Senior Fellowship 2026-27 is a full-time research fellowship designed to support scholars undertaking advanced social science research. Selected fellows are expected to devote themselves entirely to their approved research project during the fellowship period.
The fellowship is awarded for a fixed duration of two years, and no extension will be granted beyond the approved tenure.
Under the scheme, fellows will receive a monthly fellowship of ₹45,000, along with a contingency grant of ₹40,000 per year to meet research-related expenses. The fellowship amount and financial assistance are subject to the guidelines and directives issued by the Ministry of Education from time to time.
Candidates opting for the salary protection provision will continue to receive the salary and allowances admissible under the rules of their parent institution, along with the contingency grant. However, the ICSSR does not cover special benefits such as Children’s Education Allowance, Medical Reimbursement, Leave Travel Concession (LTC), or similar allowances. These may be provided separately by the parent institution in accordance with its own regulations.
In addition, ICSSR will bear the leave salary, pension contribution, or contributions towards the Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) and gratuity for the fellowship period, as applicable under the service rules of the fellow’s parent institution.
How to apply?
Applications for the ICSSR Senior Fellowship Scheme 2026-27 will be accepted through an open call published on the official ICSSR website and its social media platforms. Eligible scholars must complete and submit their applications exclusively through the online application portal.
Applicants are required to prepare their research proposal only in the format provided within the online application form. Separate research proposals, research papers, publications, or supporting documents outside the prescribed format will not be considered.
The research proposal may be written in either English or Hindi. Candidates submitting the proposal in Hindi should use Unicode 8 (UTF-8) compatible fonts while filling out the online form.
Each applicant is permitted to submit only one application under the ICSSR Senior Fellowship Scheme. However, candidates may apply separately for any other ICSSR fellowship or funding scheme, provided they satisfy the eligibility criteria for those programmes.
Learn more about the Fellowship Program
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