ICSSR Post-Doctoral Fellowship
The ICSSR Post-Doctoral Fellowship supports Indian researchers who have recently completed a PhD in social sciences and want to continue advanced research at a public-funded institution, supervised by a senior faculty member. Fellows receive ₹31,000/month plus annual contingency and institutional overhead for 2 years. Apply via the ICSSR portal (icssr.org) during open application rounds.
About This Scheme
The ICSSR Post-Doctoral Fellowship supports Indian researchers who have recently completed a PhD in social sciences and want to continue advanced research at a public-funded institution, supervised by a senior faculty member. Fellows receive ₹31,000/month plus annual contingency and institutional overhead for 2 years. Apply via the ICSSR portal (icssr.org) during open application rounds.
Full official 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.
Benefits
- ₹31,000/month fellowship
- ₹20,000/year contingency grant
- 7.5% institutional overhead paid to the hosting institution on your behalf
- API points as per UGC Guidelines
- Duration: 2 years
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
- Indian citizen, under 45 years of age (5-year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD)
- Must hold a PhD in a social science discipline
- Must have demonstrable research competence through publications
- Must be affiliated with a public-funded Indian university, deemed university, or institute of national importance with an approved PhD programme
- Must have a supervisor who is a serving Associate Professor or above at the same institution
- Must not be a defaulter on any previous ICSSR grant, project, or fellowship
Exclusions
- Those who are not fulfilling the edibility criteria.
How to Apply
Step 01: Visit ICSSR website - www.icssr.org - and navigate to Fellowships section.
Step 02: Click on Post-Doctoral Fellowship Scheme.
Step 03: Register/Login to the ICSSR portal.
Step 04: Fill the online application form.
Step 05: Upload documents and submit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the monthly fellowship amount?
₹31,000 per month.
What is the contingency grant used for?
Research-related expenses like books, fieldwork, and stationery.
Do I need to have publications?
Yes, fellows are expected to publish at least two peer-reviewed papers.
How is the fellowship amount disbursed?
The amount is disbursed in instalments through the affiliating institution upon submission of the required reports and bills.
Can I apply if I am over 45?
Only if you qualify for SC/ST/PwD categories - age relaxation (up to 5 years).
Is it mandatory to have a Ph.D. before applying?
Yes, Ph.D. is required at the time of application.
Can the research topic be the same as my Ph.D. thesis?
No, it must be an original and distinct study.
Can I apply if I am affiliated with a private university?
No, only public-funded institutions are eligible.
Can I have any other job or project during the fellowship?
No, full-time research is mandatory.
Where can I apply for the fellowship?
Through the ICSSR website during the open call.
What language can I use for the proposal?
English or Hindi (Unicode 8/UTF-8).
Can I submit multiple applications under this scheme?
No, only one application is allowed per call.
What documents are required after selection?
All the documents mentioned in the call or as communicated via phone or email.
Ready to apply?
Visit the official government portal to apply for this scheme.
Apply on myScheme.gov.inDocuments Required
- The list of documents required will be given in the Application Form when the Call is announced.