Photo: Hansmuller, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
If you are a senior researcher in social sciences, the ICSSR Senior Fellowship is for you. It is a scheme of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR). A selected researcher gets ₹45,000 a month as fellowship. The fellowship is for 2 years. It is for researchers who have made a big contribution to social sciences through books and research papers. The ICSSR was established in 1969 and is India’s premier body for social science research. The fellowship supports research in economics, sociology, political science, history, education, management and other social science disciplines. The good news is that the second call for 2026-27 is still open — applications can be made till 20 November 2026.
How much money is given
The ICSSR Senior Fellowship pays as follows.
- Fellowship: ₹45,000 a month — for the entire period.
- Contingency: ₹40,000 a year — for research expenses.
- Duration: 2 years — it cannot be extended.
- Salary protection — salary protection may be considered for exceptionally meritorious faculty.
This fellowship is given for full-time research. The fellowship is paid directly into the researcher’s bank account every month. The fellowship amount can be revised from time to time as per the directives of the Ministry of Education.
Who can apply
This fellowship is for senior social science researchers.
- The applicant must hold a PhD degree.
- The applicant must have outstanding publications in social sciences — books from reputed publishers or research papers in high-impact journals.
- Age between 45 and 70 years.
- A minimum gap of 2 years is required from the submission of the final report of a previous ICSSR Post-Doctoral Fellowship or project before applying.
- The applicant must have the competence to do research in social sciences or allied disciplines.
- The applicant’s research should have made a visible impact on the field of social sciences in India.
How to apply
Applications are made online on the icssr.org portal. First check the new notice on the portal, then fill the application and upload the PhD certificate, list of publications, research proposal and the report of any previous ICSSR project (if applicable). The application must include the research proposal, a list of publications and details of earlier projects. For 2026-27, the first call was in June-July 2026. The second call is open from 21 October to 20 November 2026 — this is the latest information at the time of writing. Never pay anyone for applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How much money is given under the ICSSR Senior Fellowship? A: ₹45,000 a month and a ₹40,000 yearly contingency. Q2: For how many years is the fellowship given? A: For 2 years; it cannot be extended. Q3: Who can apply? A: Senior researchers with a PhD and outstanding publications; age between 45 and 70 years. Q4: What is the last date to apply? A: Applications for the second call of 2026-27 are open till 20 November 2026.
Useful links
- ICSSR official website: https://icssr.org/
- ICSSR Senior Fellowship page: https://icssr.org/senior-fellowship
- ICSSR Senior Fellowship on MyScheme: https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/senior-fellowship
- Also see the ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship: https://www.viksitharyana.com/english/central-government-icssr-doctoral-fellowship-haryana/
- Next Action: see all 726 Central Government schemes — https://www.viksitharyana.com/english/kendra-sarkar-ki-yojnayen-2/
