ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship 2026-27

Indian Council of Social Science Research has opened applications for ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship 2026-27 to support full-time PhD scholars in social and human sciences. The fellowship provides monthly financial aid of ₹20,000 along with an annual contingency grant of ₹20,000 for up to two years.

Applications for the financial year 2026-27 started on 15 June 2026 and the last date has been extended to 4 August 2026. The scheme covers three categories: Full-Term Doctoral Fellowship, Short-Term Doctoral Fellowship, and Contingency Grant. Eligible scholars can apply online through the official portal at app.icssr.org.

ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship 2026-27

The ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship helps research scholars pursue doctoral studies in social sciences without financial stress. The council invites applications every year for fellowships awarded across 32 broad domains including economics, political science, sociology, management, rural studies, public administration, and many more. Priority is given to research topics aligned with ICSSR priority areas, though outstanding proposals in other areas are also considered.

For the 2026-27 cycle, the fellowship is offered in three forms. The Full-Term Doctoral Fellowship runs for two years with monthly stipend and annual contingency. The Short-Term Fellowship supports scholars who have completed at least three years of research work. The Contingency Grant is a one-time grant for scholars at an advanced stage needing funds for fieldwork, stationery, or computer consumables.

Benefits

The fellowship provides the following financial support to help scholars focus on their research work:

The Full-Term fellowship is awarded initially for one year and extended to the second year based on performance review. The Short-Term fellowship follows the same benefit structure but for a shorter duration. The Contingency Grant is a one-time payment of ₹62,500 for specific research expenses.

Eligibility

To apply for this fellowship, candidates need to meet the following criteria:

• Must be an Indian citizen and a full-time bonafide PhD scholar in a social science discipline at a UGC-recognized university, deemed-to-be university, institute of national importance, ICSSR Research Institute, or approved college.
• PhD topic must be confirmed by the DRC or authorised statutory body of the institution on or before the last date of application.
• Age must not exceed 40 years on the last date of application, with 5 years relaxation for SC, ST, OBC (NCL), and PwD categories.
• Minimum 55% marks in post-graduation (5% relaxation for SC, ST, OBC (NCL), and PwD candidates). Scanned copy of mark sheet with CGPA to percentage conversion formula certified by the university is mandatory.
• UGC NET qualification is mandatory. However, up to 10% of fellowships may go to candidates without NET if their proposals are found outstanding by the expert panel.
• Candidates who have already availed UGC JRF, RGNF, MANF, ICSSR, ICAR, CSIR, ICPR, ICMR, ICHR, JNMF or similar major doctoral fellowships are not eligible. Those drawing UGC Non-NET fellowship can apply.

For the Short-Term Fellowship, all above conditions apply plus the candidate must have completed at least three years of research work. For the Contingency Grant, candidates at an advanced stage of research meeting all Full-Term eligibility conditions can apply.

Application Process

STEP 1 - Go to the official application portal at https://app.icssr.org/ and register or log in using your credentials.

STEP 2 - Select the fellowship scheme you want to apply for: Full-Term, Short-Term, or Contingency Grant. Remember, you can apply for only one scheme in a financial year.

STEP 3 - Fill out the online application form accurately with personal details, academic qualifications, and research proposal information.

STEP 4 - Upload all required documents including self-attested copies of educational qualifications, UGC NET certificate, proof of date of birth, PhD topic confirmation certificate from DRC, forwarding letters from supervisor and affiliating institution, institution's 2(f)/12(b) certificate, and caste/disability certificate if applicable.

STEP 5 - Submit the application before the deadline of 4 August 2026. Applications without forwarding letter from the affiliating institution will be rejected.

Documents Required

You need to prepare the following documents before starting the application:

• Post-graduation mark sheet with CGPA to percentage conversion formula certified by the university
• UGC NET certificate (if applicable)
• Proof of date of birth (birth certificate, secondary or higher secondary school certificate)
• PhD topic confirmation certificate from DRC or authorised statutory body
• Forwarding letter from supervisor (Annexure A)
• Forwarding letter from affiliating institution (Annexure B)
• Institution's 2(f)/12(b) certificate
• Valid caste certificate for OBC (NCL) and EWS categories for FY 2026-27
• Disability certificate for PwD category candidates
• Research proposal in English or Hindi (Arial/Mangal Unicode for Hindi)

References

ICSSR Call for Applications 2026-27

ICSSR Deadline Extension Notice

ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship Guidelines 2026-27 (PDF)

FAQ's

What is the monthly fellowship amount for ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship 2026-27?

The monthly fellowship amount is ₹20,000 for the Full-Term Doctoral Fellowship.

What is the last date to apply for ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship 2026-27?

The last date for online application submission has been extended to 4 August 2026.

Is UGC NET mandatory for ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship?

Yes, UGC NET is mandatory. However, up to 10% of fellowships may be awarded to candidates without NET if their proposals are found outstanding by the expert panel.

Can I apply if I am over 40 years of age?

Age relaxation of 5 years is available for SC, ST, OBC (NCL), and PwD candidates, making the upper age limit 45 years for these categories.

What are the minimum marks required in post-graduation?

Minimum 55% marks in post-graduation, with 5% relaxation for SC, ST, OBC (NCL), and PwD candidates.

Can I apply for more than one fellowship scheme in the same year?

No, a scholar can apply for only one of the fellowship schemes in a financial year.

What happens if my application does not have a forwarding letter from the institution?

Applications without forwarding letter from the affiliating institution will be summarily rejected.

Can candidates with UGC Non-NET fellowship apply?

Yes, candidates drawing UGC Non-NET fellowship are eligible to apply.

Where can I find the application formats and annexures?

All formats including forwarding letters, title confirmation, and proposal format are available on the ICSSR announcements page for 2026-27.

How is the fellowship amount disbursed?

The amount is disbursed in installments through the affiliating institution after submission of required progress reports and statements of accounts.

Can I submit my research proposal in Hindi?

Yes, the research proposal can be submitted in either English or Hindi using Arial/Mangal Unicode font for Devanagari script.

What is the duration of the Full-Term Doctoral Fellowship?

The total duration is two years. The first award is for one year, extendable to the second year based on performance review.

Are there any priority research areas for 2026-27?

Yes, ICSSR has listed 32 broad domains with specific priority areas. Preference is given to proposals aligned with these areas, but outstanding proposals in other areas are also considered.

What is the Contingency Grant used for?

The Contingency Grant of ₹62,500 is for field trips, stationery, and computer consumable related expenses for scholars at an advanced stage of research.