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Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) Doctoral Fellowships 2025-26

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Eligibility

Indian scholars registered for Ph.D.degree

Region

India

Award

A monthly fellowship of ₹20,000 and an annual contingency grant of ₹20,000

Deadline

Closed

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About The Program

Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) Doctoral Fellowships 2025-26 is an opportunity offered by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) to Indian scholars who are registered for a Ph.D. degree in the specified institutions. Selected candidates will receive up to ₹20,000 and an annual contingency grant of ₹20,000.

Source: icssr.org

EligibilityDeadline Date: Closed

To be eligible, an applicant must:-

  • not be more than 40 years of age at the time of application
  • have a confirmed Ph.D. registration in UGC-recognised institutes of national importance, universities/deemed universities, ICSSR research institutes, and colleges having approved Ph.D. programs
  • have obtained a minimum of 45% marks in Graduation and 55% in Postgraduation or equivalent grades in any social science disciplines

 

Note:-

  • Age relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST/Persons with Benchmark Disability will be given.
  • NET/SLET and M. Phil from a recognised university will carry weightage in the assessment of the research proposal. NET/SLET qualifications are not mandatory for eligibility purposes; however, the submission of the NET / SLET Certificate is mandatory to secure weightage in the assessment.
Benefits

The selected candidates will receive the fellowship in the following way:-

  • Full-time Doctoral Fellowship -  ₹20,000 per month, and the contingency grant is ₹20,000 per annum (for 2 years).
  • Institutional Full-time Doctoral Fellowship - ₹20,000 per month, and the contingency grant is ₹20,000 per annum (for 2 years).
  • Short-term Doctoral Fellowship: ₹20,000 per month and a contingency grant of ₹20,000 for the duration of the fellowship (for 6 months or till the date of Ph.D. submission, whichever is earlier).
  • Contingency Grant: A one-time grant not exceeding ₹62,500 incurred during the period of joining the fellowship and the date of submission of the thesis at the university.
Documents
  • Applicant's photograph
  • Abstract of the research proposal in about 500 words
  • Summary of the thesis (in 3,000 to 4,000 words) and the research papers published
How can you apply?

Eligible candidates can apply by following these steps:-
Step 1: Click on the 'Apply Now' button below.
Step 2: Click on the 'Register' button and fill in the required registration details (Note:- If already registered, log in using Gmail/Mobile number/Email ID).
Step 3: Click on 'Apply for Grants', then click 'Click here for Register'.
Step 4: Fill in the required details and click 'Submit'.
Step 5: Login with valid credentials and select the respective option.
Step 6: Fill in the required information, upload the necessary documents, and submit the application.

More Details
Important Dates

Application Deadline: 21 October 2025

Selection Criteria

The candidates will be selected through the following procedure:-

  • Applications are scrutinised, and initial screening is done for eligibility and other conditions of the fellowship. Subject Group(s)/Expert Committee(s) shortlist the eligible proposals for the next stage of interaction/presentation.
  • The shortlisted applicants are then invited for an interaction/presentation (in person or through technology) before an Expert Committee.
  • After the interaction, the Expert Committee/s makes the recommendation for the award by the ICSSR.
Important documents
Guidelines
Terms and Conditions
  • The fellows have to stay and work full-time at the affiliating University/Institute. However, they have to go for fieldwork sometimes.
  • The fellowship is only for two years and can be extended under some exceptional circumstances.
  • The contingency grant can be utilised for books, stationery, computer-related costs, and fieldwork expenses.
  • The ICSSR has the right to publish the Ph.D. thesis.
  • The fellow must not receive the fellowship from any other source.
  • Privilege will be given to the less represented sections, such as women and persons belonging to Educationally Backward Areas/Districts, minority communities, etc.
  • The ICSSR reserves the right to cancel any application without prior notice.
Contact Details

Indian Council Of Social Science Research (ICSSR)
JNU Institutional Area, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg,
New Delhi - 110067 (INDIA)
Phone Number - (+91)-11-26741849/50/51

Important Links
FAQ's

Question: Who is offering this opportunity?
Answer: The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) is offering the fellowship.

Question: Are travel expenses provided?
Answer: No, travel expenses are not provided.

Question: Are there extra benefits for special categories?
Answer: A relaxation of age and 5% in marks is provided to SC/ST/Persons with Benchmark Disability.

Question: What is the mode of application?
Answer: The application is online through the official university website.

Disclaimer

  • Source of Information: Buddy4Study app compiles details on scholarships/fellowships from government websites and private scholarship sources. Links to the official sources accompany each listing detail pages.
  • Non-affiliation: The Buddy4Study app is not associated with any government entity in India or elsewhere. When featuring government scholarships, we rely on publicly accessible information from central and state government websites in India.
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