The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) is accepting applications for its 2026-27 Postdoctoral Fellowship. The fellowship aims to support talented Indian researchers who have completed their Ph.D. and wish to pursue high-quality research in the social sciences.
Interested candidates can submit their applications online through the ICSSR portal by 21 July 2026.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Fellowship | ICSSR Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026-27 |
| Organization | Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Start Date | 22 June 2026 |
| Last Date | 21 July 2026 |
| Fellowship Amount | ₹31,000/month |
| Contingency Grant | ₹25,000/year |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Eligibility | Indian Ph.D. holders |
| Research Areas | 32 Social Science Domains |
Eligibility Criteria
- The researcher should be an Indian citizen and should not be more than 45 years of age as on the last date of application. Age relaxation of 5 years is provided to SC/ST/Persons with Benchmark Disability candidates.
- The applicant must hold a Ph.D. and have a strong research publication record.
- He/She must be affiliated with an eligible Indian university, college, research institute, or institution approved under the ICSSR guidelines.
- Research must be conducted under the supervision of an eligible senior faculty member.
Research Areas
ICSSR has identified 32 broad research domains, including:
- Economics and Public Finance
- Rural Studies
- Political Science
- Public Policy
- Governance and Public Administration
- Sociology and Social Work
- Gender Studies
- Public Health
- Education and Skilling
- Environmental Studies
- Media and Communication
- Library and Information Science
- Artificial Intelligence in Education
- AI in Public Health
- Indian Knowledge Systems
- Legal Studies
- International Relations
- National Security
- Cultural Studies
- Social Inclusion
- Decolonization Studies
Interdisciplinary research proposals are also encouraged.
Fellowship Benefits
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Monthly Fellowship | ₹31,000 per month |
| Contingency Grant | ₹25,000 per year |
| Fellowship Duration | 2 Years |
| Research Type | Full-time Postdoctoral Research |
How to Apply?
The candidates shall submit an online application. The research proposal must be prepared only in the prescribed format. No separate research proposal or copies of research papers are to be attached.
The Research Proposal should be in Hindi or English.
One applicant can submit only one application under the Post-Doctoral Fellowship scheme.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Starts | 22 June 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 21 July 2026 |
Download Official Notification: https://icssr.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/PDF-Guidelines-2026-27_1.pdf