ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship

Description
The Fellowship is aimed at promoting original, socially relevant, and policy-focused research in the social sciences. The fellowship provides financial support through a monthly grant of ₹20,000 and an annual contingency grant of ₹20,000 for up to two years, with an initial award period of one year, which is renewed for the second year subject to fulfilment of requisite criteria. It also offers institutional and short-term fellowships including a six-month short term fellowship for scholars nearing Ph.D. submission minimum three years of completed PhD research and a standalone contingency grant of ₹62,500 for specific research needs. Applications are invited through ICSSR’s website and social media platforms. Fellows are expected to pursue full-time research, submit regular progress reports, and provide a final submission that includes published work, a book-length thesis, and audited financial records. Given India's social science ecosystem, it seeks to promote research excellence, evidence-based research, and scholarship that is also relevant to policymakers.

Exclusions
• 1) Those who are not fulfilling the eligibility criteria.

Definitions
Definition 1
(provide meanings of the lesser-known terminologies mentioned in the guidelines)

Benefits
• 1) Monthly Fellowship amount @ Rs.20,000 per month
• 2) Contingency Grant @ Rs.20,000 per annum

Eligibility Criteria
1. 1) Applicant must be an Indian citizen.
2. 2) Must be a full-time bonafide Ph.D. scholar in a social science discipline in a UGC-recognized university, deemed-to-be university, institute of national importance, ICSSR Research Institute, or college with approved Ph.D. programme.
3. 3) The Ph.D. topic must have been confirmed by the DRC/authorised statutory body of the institution on or before the last date of call for applications.
4. 4) Age must be below 40 years as on the last date of application.
5. 5) Age relaxation of 5 years allowed for SC/ST/OBC-(NCL) candidates and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD).
6. 6) Must have secured a minimum of 55% marks in post-graduation, with 5% relaxation for reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC-(NCL)/PwD).

Application Process
Step 1: Step 01: Visit ICSSR website - www.icssr.org - and navigate to Fellowships section.
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Step 01: Visit ICSSR website - www.icssr.org - and navigate to Fellowships section.

Step 2: Step 02: Click on Doctoral Fellowship Scheme.
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Step 02: Click on Doctoral Fellowship Scheme.

Step 3: Step 03: Register/Login to the ICSSR portal.
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Step 03: Register/Login to the ICSSR portal.

Step 4: Step 04: Fill the online application form.
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Step 04: Fill the online application form.

Step 5: Step 05: Upload documents and submit.
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Step 05: Upload documents and submit.

Required Documents
• The list of documents required will be given in the Application Form when the Call is announced.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the monthly fellowship amount?
A: ₹ 20,000 per month.

Q: What is the annual contingency amount
A: ₹ 20,000 per annum.

Q: What is the contingency grant used for?
A: Research-related expenses like books, fieldwork, computer consumables, and stationery.

Q: Do I need to have publications?
A: Yes, fellows are expected to publish at least two papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Q: How is the fellowship amount disbursed?
A: The amount is disbursed in instalments through the affiliating institution upon submission of the required reports and statement of accounts.

Q: Can I apply if I am over 40?
A: Only if you qualify for SC/ST/OBC (NCL)/PwD categories - age relaxation (up to 5 years).

Q: Is it mandatory to have PhD topic confirmed by DRC before applying?
A: Yes.

Q: What are the minimum passing marks in Post-Graduation?
A: The candidate must have secured a minimum of 55% marks in Post-Graduation (5 % grace for candidates from SC/ST/OBC (NCL)/PwD categories).

Q: Can I have any other job or project during the fellowship?
A: No, full-time research is mandatory.

Q: Are candidates doing research in ICSSR identified priority areas given preference?
A: Yes.

Q: Where can I apply for the fellowship?
A: Through the ICSSR website after the call is announced.

Q: What language can I use for the proposal?
A: English or Hindi (Unicode).

Q: Can I submit multiple applications under this scheme?
A: No, only one application is allowed per call.

Q: What documents are required after selection?
A: All the documents mentioned in the call or as communicated via phone or email.

Q: Can I submit documents issued after last date of applications?
A: No