ICSSR Post-Doctoral Fellowship

Description
This scheme is open to Indian citizens under the age of 45 who hold a Ph.D. and have demonstrated research ability through earlier publications. All candidates must be affiliated with a Ministry of Education or UGC-recognized public-funded Indian university, and a senior faculty member not less than an Associate Professor from the same institution must supervise their study. The fellowship offers a ₹31,000 monthly grant and ₹20,000 annual contingency grant for a period of two years. The applications for the fellowship are invited through advertising on the ICSSR website and social media platforms. The scheme covers a wide range of disciplines under the discipline of social sciences, with 26 major areas including priority research topics. In addition to conducting full-time research, fellows are expected to provide progress updates on a regular basis and publish at least two research publications in reputable journals. The final submission includes published articles, audited financial data, summaries, and a book-length report. 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 edibility criteria.

Benefits
• 1) Monthly Fellowship amount @ Rs.31,000 per month
• 2) Contingency Grant @ Rs.20,000 per annum
• 3) API points as per the UGC Guidelines in force at the point of time
• 4) Institutional overhead (7.5%) – supports the hosting institution.

Eligibility Criteria
1. 1) The applicant must be an Indian citizen.
2. 2) Must be under 45 years of age (5-year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD).
3. 3) Must possess a Ph.D. in a social science discipline.
4. 4) Must have demonstrable research competence via publications.
5. 5) Must affiliate with a public-funded Indian institution approved for Ph.D.
6. 6) Must have a supervisor who is a serving faculty (Associate Professor or above).
7. 7) Applicant must not be a defaulter of any ICSSR grant/project/fellowship.

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 Post-Doctoral Fellowship Scheme.
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Step 02: Click on Post-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: ₹31,000 per month.

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

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

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 bills.

Q: Can I apply if I am over 45?
A: Only if you qualify for SC/ST/PwD categories - age relaxation (up to 5 years).

Q: Is it mandatory to have a Ph.D. before applying?
A: Yes, Ph.D. is required at the time of application.

Q: Can the research topic be the same as my Ph.D. thesis?
A: No, it must be an original and distinct study.

Q: Can I apply if I am affiliated with a private university?
A: No, only public-funded institutions are eligible.

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

Q: Where can I apply for the fellowship?
A: Through the ICSSR website during the open call.

Q: What language can I use for the proposal?
A: English or Hindi (Unicode 8/UTF-8).

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.