Apply Now for Funds for Youth 2026 under ICSSR Yuva Shodh Pratibha Scheme Youth and Decolonisation, On the occasion of its 58th Foundation Day celebrated on 12 May 2026, the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) introduced the Yuva Shodh Pratibha Scheme (YSPS). The initiative was formally launched by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Union Minister for Education, to encourage research among undergraduate students in accordance with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. As part of the Panch Pran (Five Resolves), the scheme offers fourth-year undergraduate students valuable opportunities to undertake research. For the 2026–27 academic session, the central theme of the research proposal call is “Youth and Decolonisation.”
The ICSSR Yuva Shodh Pratibha Scheme (YSPS) is specially designed for students enrolled in Four-Year Undergraduate Programmes (FYUP) under NEP 2020. Through this programme, participants are invited to submit research proposals based on the themes and sub-themes prescribed by ICSSR. The scheme seeks to promote original thinking, strengthen interdisciplinary research, encourage critical and theoretical inquiry, and contribute to the decolonisation of knowledge by moving beyond traditional Eurocentric approaches to research and academic scholarship.
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the full details and submit their applications before the specified deadline to seize this grant opportunity.
Last Date of Submission: 31st July 2026
Apply Now for Funds for Youth 2026 under ICSSR Yuva Shodh Pratibha Scheme Youth and Decolonisation Overview
The ICSSR Yuva Shodh Pratibha Scheme (YSPS) has been introduced to nurture a new generation of undergraduate researchers capable of examining and reinterpreting colonial knowledge systems through Bharatiya perspectives. The programme encourages students to build strong analytical and research skills while exploring Indian intellectual traditions, local contexts, indigenous experiences, and culturally rooted approaches. By promoting original, context-driven scholarship, the scheme seeks to strengthen knowledge creation that reflects India’s social and civilizational realities.
Through this initiative, students are encouraged to integrate real-world social experiences, folk wisdom, and socio-cultural traditions into their research. This approach aims to foster inclusive, evidence-based, and locally relevant knowledge while enhancing students’ ability to address contemporary social issues through interdisciplinary inquiry.
A key objective of the scheme is to cultivate young scholars in the fields of social sciences and humanities who can produce innovative ideas rooted in India’s intellectual heritage. By encouraging independent thinking and socially relevant research, the programme supports the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047 while helping transform India’s academic landscape beyond the legacy of colonial thought.
Collaboration is a central feature of the ICSSR-YSPS. The scheme recognizes that meaningful research is strengthened through teamwork and the exchange of diverse ideas. Students are therefore encouraged to work in groups of two or three members from the same institution. Each research team will have one Lead Researcher, while the remaining members will serve as Researcher-1 and, where applicable, Researcher-2. This collaborative model enables students to jointly develop research questions, design methodologies, and work towards practical solutions for societal challenges.
Every research project must be carried out under the supervision and mentorship of a regular faculty member from the student’s institution. The faculty mentor will guide the research process, while the institution will oversee the proper utilization of project funds in accordance with ICSSR guidelines. The submitted proposal should present a well-structured, analytical, and comprehensive study of the selected theme and sub-theme.
Each selected project will have a duration of eight months and may receive financial assistance of up to ₹3 lakh. Students currently studying in the sixth or seventh semester of a Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) under NEP 2020 are eligible to apply, provided they can furnish valid proof of enrollment in the programme.
Apply Now for Funds for Youth 2026 under ICSSR Yuva Shodh Pratibha Scheme Youth and Decolonisation Research Themes
The ICSSR Yuva Shodh Pratibha Scheme (YSPS) 2026–27 invites undergraduate students to submit research proposals across eight broad thematic areas. Applicants can choose any one of these themes and prepare a detailed research proposal that aligns with the objectives of the scheme.
The approved research themes are:
- Decolonising Narratives: Re-examining the Indo-Aryan Theory and related historical perspectives.
- Decolonising Education and Research Methodology: Exploring alternatives to colonial educational frameworks and moving beyond the Macaulay system.
- History, Culture, and Language: Research focusing on India’s historical heritage, cultural traditions, and linguistic diversity.
- Health, Mind, and Well-being: Studies related to holistic health, mental wellness, and indigenous approaches to well-being.
- Economic and Financial Sovereignty: Research on strengthening India’s self-reliance in economic and financial systems.
- Decolonising Finance, Trade, and Commerce: Examining Indian perspectives on trade, business practices, and economic institutions.
- Decolonising Governance, Law, and Political Thought: Investigating governance models, legal traditions, and political philosophies rooted in Indian knowledge systems.
- Rural Development, Environment, and Knowledge Systems: Research addressing sustainable rural development, environmental conservation, and indigenous knowledge traditions.
Applicants should prepare their research proposals within one of these themes while ensuring that the study contributes original, context-based insights consistent with the objectives of the ICSSR-YSPS.
Apply Now for Funds for Youth 2026 under ICSSR Yuva Shodh Pratibha Scheme Youth and Decolonisation Funding Support
Under the ICSSR Yuva Shodh Pratibha Scheme (YSPS) 2026–27, every shortlisted research project is eligible for financial assistance of up to ₹3 lakh. The grant is intended to support the successful execution of approved undergraduate research projects.
Project Duration
Each selected project must be completed within a period of eight months, as prescribed under the scheme guidelines.
Number of Research Projects
For the 2026–27 cycle, ICSSR plans to provide funding for 600 undergraduate research projects across the country.
Total Budget Allocation
The scheme has been allocated a total budget of ₹18 crore to support selected research proposals under various thematic areas.
Apply Now for Funds for Youth 2026 under ICSSR Yuva Shodh Pratibha Scheme Youth and Decolonisation Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the ICSSR YSPS 2026–27, applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
- Be enrolled in the sixth or seventh semester of a Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP) under NEP 2020.
- Submit the proposal as a team of two or three students from the same institution.
- Fulfil the minimum attendance requirements prescribed by their institution.
- Provide all required academic records and supporting documents during the application process.
Lead Researcher Eligibility
The student applying as the Lead Researcher must be pursuing studies in the Social Sciences or Humanities discipline and will be responsible for leading the research project and coordinating with the mentor.
Co-Researcher Eligibility
The remaining team members, designated as Co-Researchers, may belong to any academic discipline, allowing for interdisciplinary collaboration and diverse research perspectives.
How to apply?
Register below to apply
Note: For more comprehensive details click the link below
Get full access to the grant information, visit the Official Website Link
FAQs – ICSSR Yuva Shodh Pratibha Scheme (YSPS) 2026–27
Q1. Who is eligible to apply for the ICSSR Yuva Shodh Pratibha Scheme (YSPS) 2026–27?
Ans. Students enrolled in the sixth or seventh semester of a Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP) under NEP 2020 are eligible to apply, provided they meet all other conditions specified in the official guidelines.
Q2. How much financial assistance is available under the ICSSR YSPS?
Ans. Each selected research project can receive financial support of up to ₹3 lakh for a project duration of eight months.
Q3. Can students apply individually for the ICSSR YSPS?
Ans. No. Applications must be submitted by a team of two or three students from the same institution. One student will serve as the Lead Researcher, while the others will participate as Co-Researchers.
Q4. What are the research themes under the ICSSR YSPS 2026–27?
Ans. The scheme covers eight broad themes, including Youth and Decolonisation, education and research methodology, history and culture, health and well-being, governance, finance, economic sovereignty, and rural development with indigenous knowledge systems.
Q5. How many research projects will be funded under the ICSSR YSPS 2026–27?
Ans. ICSSR plans to support 600 undergraduate research projects under the scheme, with a total budget allocation of ₹18 crore.
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