The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) has announced the 2nd Call for Applications for the ICSSR Senior Fellowship for the Financial Year 2026-2027.
The fellowship is for experienced Indian researchers who have made significant contributions to the social sciences through research projects, books, and publications.
Eligible scholars can submit their applications online by 20 November 2026.
Through this fellowship, the ICSSR provides financial support for full-time research over two years.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Fellowship Scheme | ICSSR Senior Fellowship |
| Academic/Financial Year | 2026-2027 |
| Call | 2nd Call for Applications |
| Annual contingency grant | ₹40,000 |
| Monthly fellowship | ₹45,000 |
| Application Start Date | 21 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 20 November 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Fellowship Duration | 2 years |
Eligibility Criteria for ICSSR Senior Fellowship 2026-27
Applicants must satisfy the following eligibility requirements:
- The applicant must be an Indian citizen and must hold a PhD degree.
- The applicant must be at least 45 years old and not more than 70 years old as of the last date of application.
- The applicant must be affiliated with an eligible institution.
Research Areas Covered Under the Fellowship
The ICSSR Senior Fellowship 2026-27 covers a wide range of social science and allied research areas. The guidelines identify 32 broad domains and their associated priority areas.
Some of the major research domains include:
- Economic Development and Public Finance
- Finance, Accounting and Commerce
- Management and Organisational Studies
- Rural Studies
- Political Science
- Governance and Public Administration
- Public Policy and Programme Evaluation
- International Relations and Geopolitics
- National Security and Strategic Studies
- Legal Studies
- Sociology, Social Work and Community Practice
- Social Anthropology
- Gender Studies
- Divyangjan Studies
- Janjatiya Studies
- Diaspora Studies
- Social Psychology
- Public Health and Health Systems
- Education and Skilling
- Human Geography and Spatial Planning
- Environmental Studies
- Modern Social History
- Cultural Studies
- Indian Languages, Linguistics and Translation Studies
- Sociolinguistics and Multilingualism
- Sanskrit Studies
- Indian Knowledge Systems
- Socio-Philosophical Studies
- Media and Communication Studies
- Library and Information Science
- Social Inclusion Studies
- Decolonisation
Important Links
- Official ICSSR website: https://icssr.org/
- Apply Online: https://app.icssr.org/