2nd Call for Applications for ICSSR Senior Fellowship for FY 2026 2027, The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), an organisation established by the Government of India in 1969, works to strengthen social science research and expand its contribution to knowledge and policymaking across the country. It supports researchers through a range of initiatives, including research grants, fellowships, collaborative programmes, capacity-building activities, surveys and academic publications.
ICSSR also supports research infrastructure and information access through the National Social Science Documentation Centre (NASSDOC), which provides library and documentation services to social science researchers. In addition, its ICSSR Data Service promotes data sharing and reuse, helping build a stronger research ecosystem in India.
For the 2026–27 academic cycle, ICSSR has invited applications from eligible Indian scholars for its Senior Fellowship Scheme. Interested candidates can submit their applications online through the official ICSSR website between 21 October 2026 and 20 November 2026.
Applicants should review the detailed fellowship guidelines carefully before completing the application. The research proposal must be prepared using the prescribed format provided with the application form; a separate proposal document should not be attached.
Applications may be completed in either English or Hindi. Candidates choosing Hindi must use the Arial or Mangal Unicode font for Devanagari text. Applicants are encouraged to submit their forms well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical difficulties.
The affiliating institution is responsible for forwarding applications only from candidates who satisfy the minimum eligibility requirements specified in the official ICSSR fellowship guidelines. Applicants should therefore confirm their eligibility and ensure that all required information is provided before submitting their forms.
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: 20th November 2026
For detailed guidelines go here
Eligibility Criteria for 2nd Call for Applications for ICSSR Senior Fellowship for FY 2026 2027
Applicants interested in the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) Senior Fellowship must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Nationality and Age: Applicants must be Indian citizens aged between 45 and 70 years as of the final application date.
- Educational Qualification and Research Experience: Candidates must hold a Ph.D. and demonstrate strong research capabilities in social sciences or related disciplines. Their academic profile should include an outstanding record of research publications, such as books published by reputed publishers and research papers in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals.
- Institutional Affiliation: Selected fellows must be affiliated with a UGC-recognised university or deemed university, an Institute of National Importance recognised by the Ministry of Education or UGC, or an ICSSR research institute. Fellowship funds will be released through the affiliated or administering institution.
- Salary Protection for Eligible Faculty: Faculty members employed in regular positions at publicly funded universities, colleges, or research institutes receiving UGC pay scales may be considered for salary protection in exceptionally meritorious cases. The ICSSR Expert Committees will decide whether this provision applies.
- Proposal Review and Reclassification: The ICSSR Expert Committees reserve the right to recommend that a fellowship application be considered instead as a research project proposal.
Research Areas and Suggested Themes for 2nd Call for Applications for ICSSR Senior Fellowship for FY 2026 2027
Applicants may consider research topics across relevant social science and humanities disciplines. The themes provided in the guidelines include the following areas:
Knowledge, Data and Research Practices
- Knowledge curation and digital preservation.
- Open access, open data, and open science.
- One Nation, One Subscription (ONOS): National Knowledge Access and Research Equity Initiative.
- Research designs and methods in the social sciences and humanities.
- Data quality, linkages, and disclosure.
- Research ethics, informed consent, and data governance.
- Reproducibility and replication.
- Methods, interoperability, and safeguards for India’s Digital Public Infrastructure.
Social Inclusion Studies
- Social justice and intersectional perspectives.
- Constitutional provisions, legislation, and laws related to social inclusion.
- Inclusion in education, employment, and digital spaces.
- Political representation and participation.
- Affirmative action and the outcomes of social policies.
- Technology-enabled inclusion and digital citizenship.
- Comparative research on inclusion and empowerment.
- Government schemes and policies designed to uplift marginalised communities.
Decolonisation
Research may examine decolonisation in relation to:
- Theories and conceptual frameworks.
- Academic disciplines, including economics, sociology, political science, psychology, history, anthropology, and cultural studies.
- Fields of study.
- Research methodologies.
- Epistemologies and knowledge systems.
How to Apply for 2nd Call for Applications for ICSSR Senior Fellowship for FY 2026 2027
- Online Application: Applications are invited through announcements published on the official ICSSR website and its social media channels.
- Prescribed Proposal Format: Candidates must submit their applications online and prepare the research proposal using the format provided with the application form. Separate research proposals and copies of research papers should not be attached.
- Language Requirements: The application and research proposal may be completed in either Hindi or English. Applicants writing in Hindi must use Unicode 8 (UTF-8).
- One Application per Scheme: Each candidate may submit only one application under the Senior Fellowship Scheme. However, they may apply separately under another ICSSR scheme.
Selection Procedure for 2nd Call for Applications for ICSSR Senior Fellowship for FY 2026 2027
The fellowship selection process involves several stages of assessment. Applications are evaluated by subject experts, and candidates may be required to participate in interactions or presentations as part of the review process.
Recommendations made by the Expert Committees are subsequently submitted to the relevant ICSSR committees for approval. The final list of selected candidates is published on the official ICSSR website.
Selected candidates and their affiliated institutions are also notified individually through a provisional award letter. This letter outlines the formalities and documentation required before the fellowship can begin.
Duration and Financial Benefits
The ICSSR Senior Fellowship is a full-time research engagement intended to support scholars in undertaking advanced research.
| Fellowship component | Details |
| Duration | Two years |
| Extension | Not permitted |
| Monthly fellowship | ₹45,000 |
| Annual contingency grant | ₹40,000 |
| Salary protection | May be considered for exceptionally meritorious eligible faculty |
| Fund disbursement | Through the affiliating or administering institution |
Salary Protection and Other Benefits
Fellows approved for salary protection will receive the salary and allowances admissible under the applicable rules, along with the contingency grant. However, certain additional benefits, such as children’s education allowance, medical reimbursement, and leave travel concession (LTC), are not payable by ICSSR. The parent institution may provide these benefits in accordance with its own rules.
ICSSR will also contribute towards leave salary and pension, or the applicable contribution to the Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) and gratuity, for the period of the fellowship, subject to the rules of the fellow’s parent institution.
Important: Applicants should read the latest official ICSSR Senior Fellowship guidelines carefully to confirm the eligibility conditions, application requirements, and applicable financial provisions before submitting their applications.
Learn more about the Fellowship Program
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is eligible to apply for the ICSSR Senior Fellowship 2026–27?
Indian citizens aged between 45 and 70 years on the last date of application can apply. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. and demonstrate strong research competence and an outstanding publication record in social sciences or allied disciplines.
2. What is the duration of the ICSSR Senior Fellowship?
The fellowship is awarded for two years as a full-time research engagement. The guidelines state that no extension will be granted beyond this period.
3. How much financial assistance is provided under the ICSSR Senior Fellowship?
Selected fellows receive a monthly fellowship of ₹45,000 along with an annual contingency grant of ₹40,000, subject to applicable ICSSR and Ministry of Education rules.
4. How can candidates apply for the ICSSR Senior Fellowship?
Candidates must submit an online application through the official ICSSR website during the application period. The research proposal must follow the prescribed format provided with the application form. Applicants may complete the proposal in English or Hindi, using Unicode 8 (UTF-8) for Hindi submissions.
5. How are candidates selected for the ICSSR Senior Fellowship?
Applications undergo evaluation by subject experts and may involve multiple rounds of interaction or research presentations. The Expert Committees’ recommendations are submitted to the relevant ICSSR committees for approval. The final selection list is published on the official ICSSR website, and selected candidates receive a provisional award letter with further instructions.
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