Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) invites applications for Short-term Empirical Research Projects 2023-24. The last date to apply for this programme is July 11, 2023.

About ICSSR

The advancement of social science research stands as a paramount objective of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR). To fulfil this objective, the Council extends research grants to Indian scholars for the pursuit of research in social sciences. These grants are designed to enable social scientists to engage in pioneering research endeavours across a wide spectrum of social science disciplines, encompassing thematic areas with profound theoretical, conceptual, methodological, and policy implications. The ICSSR supports research projects which are innovative, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary in nature.

Short-term Empirical Research Projects Details

ICSSR is inviting proposals from Indian scholars/researchers/academicians for short-term projects of 6 months duration on selected schemes and policy initiatives of the government. A rigorous assessment of the reach and socio-economic impact of the specific scheme/policy initiative is expected to be carried out. These studies will be based on fieldwork focused on a specific geographical region, which may be an urban, semi-urban or rural area. The selected schemes/policy initiatives for empirical research are as follows:

  • PM Ujjwala Yojana
  • PM Awas Yojana
  • Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana
  • PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana
  • PM Fasal Bima Yojana
  • PM Kisan Samman Nidhi
  • Year of Millets 2023
  • Ayushman Bharat
  • Jan Aushadhi Yojana
  • Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
  • Make in India
  • PM Gati Shakti
  • Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
  • Atal Pension Yojana
  • Jan Dhan Yojana
  • Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
  • Stand-Up India
  • Startup India
  • Digital India
  • Atal Innovation Mission
  • Skill India Mission (PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana)
  • Data Protection and Localization
  • Sukanya Samridhi Yojana
  • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
  • New Education Policy 2020
  • Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act 2015
  • Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act 2016
  • Income Tax Declaration Scheme 2016
  • Taxation Relaxation and Amendment Act 2020
  • PM Development Initiative for North East (PM-DevINE)
  • Special Industry Initiative (SII) for J&K- UDAAN

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Proposals to study any of the schemes/policy initiatives listed above in a specified area may be sent individually by a researcher or collectively by a group/team of researchers.
  • The proposal must be based on meticulously evolved hypotheses, comprehensive and clear questionnaire and rigorous methodology.
  • Though individual researchers may also apply, preference will be given to collaborative proposals from groups/teams of 4-6 each, who may be from a single institution or more than one institution.
  • The aim of encouraging such collaborative research is to ensure that a large area with a significant sample size gets covered while assessing a particular scheme or initiative.
  • The indicative sample size for each individual study would be 400 to 500 and 2,000 to 3,000 for collaborative research studies.
  • The researchers are encouraged to undertake quantitative as well as qualitative research of a scheme in the selected geographical region.
  • ICSSR encourages several institutions in a region to come together and propose a collaborative study that offers a comprehensive assessment of a particular scheme/initiative over the whole region.

Project Award

  • The award amount for individual projects is up to INR 6.00 lakhs and up to INR 30.00 lakhs for collaborative projects.
  • The sanctioned amount would be disbursed in two instalments; 75% at the time of award of the project and the remaining 25% after the completion of the project.

The Project Directors are required to organize a workshop before the submission of the final report to deliberate on the compilation, organization, analyses of data and constructive suggestions proposed on the respective scheme/policy initiative.

Types of Study

Individual Study: Individual Project Director may choose any one of the above-given themes for the research. These research projects will be for a short duration of six months. The indicative sample size for each individual study would be 400 to 500. The Project Directors will be given an amount of up to INR 6 lakhs as a research grant to carry out the research.

Collaborative Study: Researchers may form a team of 4-6 researchers to conduct collaborative research who may be from a single institution or more than one institution. The objective of encouraging such collaborative research is to ensure that a large area with a significant sample size gets covered while assessing a particular scheme or initiative.

  • The team of researchers including the Project Coordinator would be termed as Project Director.
  • One of the Project Directors (PD), would act as Project Coordinator of the collaborative study.
  • The Project Coordinator will be responsible for the successful completion of the study.
  • The research grant will be transferred to the PFMS account of the affiliating institution of the Project Coordinator.
  • The indicative sample size for a collaborative study is 2,000 to 3,000 and the award amount is up to INR 30 lakhs.
  • The Project Director will identify a larger geographical area aiming at a sample size of 2000 to 3000.
  • Each Project Director would select a specific area within this large area and collect the primary data.
  • The extent of the area would be determined by the density of the population.
  • The research group/team will undertake the study to collect/collate data as a whole and analyze the data quantitatively and qualitatively.
  • The team of researchers in collaborative studies shall prepare a common standard questionnaire for the collection of data.

Eligibility

The research scholars affiliated with ICSSR Research Institutes/institutes of national importance, as defined by the Ministry of Education/UGC-recognized Indian universities / deemed universities under 12 B, are eligible to apply. However, scholars from other registered organizations with established research and academic standing may collaborate with any of the abovementioned institutions to implement the study.

Project Directors should be regular faculty and must possess a PhD degree with a proven track record of high-quality research and publications.

Civil servants, officers from Defence services and other professionals with social science perspective having not less than 20 years of regular service and demonstrable research experience through publications of books/research papers/reports/ policy documents etc. may also apply, preferably in collaboration with a faculty in a social science discipline from institutions given in.

How to Apply?

  • The proposal can be submitted online through the ICSSR website for individual as well as collaborative study.
  • The applicants shall submit an online application which includes the research proposal in the given prescribed format.
  • They are also required to submit the hard copies of their application and annexures, duly forwarded by the competent authorities of the affiliating university/college/institute, within 10 days of the last date of online submission.

Applications will be accepted only in online mode through the ICSSR website. ICSSR will enable the online application form on the date given in the advertisement, however, a sample form is provided for the preparation of the proposal.

  • In case, the hard copy of the application is not received, the candidature of applicants shall be treated as withdrawn/cancelled.
  • Research proposals should either be in English or Hindi (use Unicode to fill application forms in Hindi).
  • One applicant can submit only one research proposal and he/she shall not be part of any other team of collaborative study.
  • The collaborative research proposal is to be submitted by the Project Coordinator
  • Interested candidates can apply through this link.

Remuneration and Emoluments of Project Staff

Project staff could be engaged by the Project Director on a full/ Part-time basis during the research work and the duration/consolidated monthly emoluments of their employment may be decided by the Project Director within the limits of the sanctioned financial allocation and as per the ICSSR rules.

  • Research Associate: Rs.40,000/- p.m.
    • Qualification – Postgraduate in a social science discipline (55% minimum) with NET /M.Phil/PhD)
  • Research Assistant: Rs.32,000/- p.m.
    • Qualification-Ph.D./M.Phil./Postgraduate in a social science discipline with a minimum of 55%
  • Field Investigator: Rs.30,000/-p.m. (not exceeding 3 months)
    • Qualification- Postgraduate in a social science discipline with a minimum of 55%.

Other Details

  • The Institution may re-appropriate expenditure from one head to another up to 10% of the sanctioned budget with the prior approval of the ICSSR.
  • The selection of Research Staff should be done in a competitive mode.
  • For all field work-related expenses of the Project Director and project staff, rules of affiliating institutes/universities shall be followed.
  • All equipment and books purchased out of the project fund shall be the property of the affiliating institution. However, ICSSR may ask for books or/and equipment, if, it so requires.
  • No publication/presentation in any form related to the awarded research shall be made by the researcher or any member of the research team without prior approval of the ICSSR.

Format and Templates

Important Dates

  • Application Start Date: June 26, 2023
  • Application End Date: July 11, 2023

Click here to view the official notification of Short-term Empirical Research Projects 2023-2024

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