Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) has invited online applications for its Senior Fellowship scheme for the financial year 2026-27. This scheme helps established Indian social science researchers carry out advanced research on national development topics with full-time financial support.
Online applications opened on 22 June 2026 on the official ICSSR website. The last date to apply was originally 21 July 2026, but the ICSSR has now extended it to 07 August 2026. So there is still time for eligible senior scholars to submit their application before the new deadline.
ICSSR Senior Fellowship 2026: Key Information
The Senior Fellowship is a full-time research engagement that runs for two years. During this period, a selected fellow gets a monthly stipend and an annual contingency grant to cover research-related costs. The scheme is open to senior researchers with a strong record of publications, including books and research papers in reputed peer-reviewed journals.
Applicants need to meet the age, qualification and affiliation conditions set by the ICSSR, and the application has to be forwarded by the affiliating institution. Since the last date has now been extended to 07 August 2026, eligible scholars still have a chance to apply for this round. The full eligibility and benefit details are given below.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | ICSSR Senior Fellowship 2026-27 |
| Level | Central |
| Scheme For | Individual |
| Beneficiary States | All |
| Category | Education & Learning |
| Target Beneficiaries | Individual |
| Beneficiary Type | Researchers |
| Benefit Type | Cash |
| DBT Scheme | No |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Education |
| Nodal Department | Department of Higher Education |
| Implementing Agency | Indian Council of Social Science Research |
Benefits
This scheme provides the following financial support so that a fellow can focus fully on the research work:
| Benefit Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly Stipend | ₹45,000 |
| Annual Contingency Grant | ₹40,000 |
Apart from the stipend and contingency grant, a fellow may also earn API points as per the UGC guidelines that apply at the time of the research. In very good cases, faculties with regular service in public funded universities and research institutes getting UGC pay scales may be considered for salary protection. The ICSSR also pays the leave salary and pension contribution, or the CPF and gratuity contribution, for the fellowship period as per the rules of the parent institution.
Eligibility
You can apply for the Senior Fellowship only if you meet the following conditions:
- You should be an Indian citizen.
- You must hold a Ph.D. in any social science or allied discipline.
- You should be between 45 and 70 years of age on the last date of application.
- You must have a strong record of publications, such as books from reputed publishers or research papers in peer-reviewed journals with high impact factor.
- You need to be affiliated to a UGC-recognized university, a deemed university, an institute of national importance as defined by the Ministry of Education or UGC, or an ICSSR research institute.
- There must be a gap of at least 2 years from the submission of the final report of any earlier ICSSR Post-Doctoral Fellowship, research project or programme before you apply for the Senior Fellowship.
- You should not be a defaulter of any previous fellowship, project or grant of the ICSSR.
- A scholar who has already held this same fellowship cannot apply for it again.
Who Cannot Apply
If you fail to meet the eligibility conditions mentioned above, or if you cannot give proof of a secure institutional affiliation, you will not be able to take part in this scheme. The ICSSR expert committees also reserve the right to convert a fellowship proposal into a project proposal.
Application Process
Applications are accepted only through the online mode and no hard copy has to be sent. Follow these steps to apply for the ICSSR Senior Fellowship 2026-27:
STEP 1 - Go to the official ICSSR website and open the Fellowships section. Then select the Senior Fellowship link for the financial year 2026-27.
STEP 2 - Register or log in to your account on the online application dashboard at app.icssr.org.
STEP 3 - Fill the application form with your correct personal and research details. Remember that the research proposal should be submitted only in the format attached with the application form, and no separate research proposal is to be attached.
STEP 4 - Fill the form either in English or in Hindi. If you are filling in Hindi, use the Arial or Mangal Unicode font in the Devanagari script.
STEP 5 - Upload all required documents and submit the form before the last date of 07 August 2026. Your affiliating institution has to forward the application, so apply well before the deadline to avoid a last moment rush.
Documents
While the exact list of required documents is given in the official call, you should generally keep the following things ready:
- Ph.D. degree certificate.
- Proof of date of birth.
- List of publications.
- Research proposal in the format attached with the application form.
- Institutional affiliation letter from the UGC-recognized or ICSSR-recognized institution.
- Plagiarism report for the proposed work.
References
ICSSR Senior Fellowship 2026-27 Call for Applications
ICSSR Extension of Last Date to 07 August 2026
ICSSR Senior Fellowship Official Portal
FAQ's
What is the cash benefit of the Senior Fellowship?
You will receive a monthly stipend of ₹45,000 and an annual contingency grant of ₹40,000 for the full two year period of the fellowship.
What is the last date to apply for the 2026-27 Senior Fellowship?
The last date was originally 21 July 2026, but it has been extended to 07 August 2026. Online applications are open from 22 June 2026 onwards.
How is the fellowship amount paid?
The council pays the amount in instalments through your affiliating institution once you submit the mandatory progress reports and bills. The first year is released in two equal instalments and the second year in three instalments.
What is the contingency grant meant for?
You can use this grant for expenses like research support, buying books and stationery, conducting fieldwork, and computer-related needs.
Who can apply for the Senior Fellowship?
Any Indian citizen between 45 and 70 years of age, who holds a Ph.D., has a strong publication record, and meets the 2 year gap rule from an earlier ICSSR final report, can apply.
Can a candidate currently holding another fellowship apply?
No. While accepting this fellowship, you cannot accept any other fellowship, research project or regular assignment from another institution.
Is institutional affiliation mandatory?
Yes. You must be affiliated to a UGC-recognized or ICSSR-recognized institution, because the funds are paid through the affiliating institution.
Can I submit a hard copy of the application?
No. Applications are accepted only through the online mode and no hard copy is to be sent.
In what language can I submit the research proposal?
You can submit it either in English or in Hindi. For Hindi, use the Arial or Mangal Unicode font in the Devanagari script.