Deadline: 15-Nov-2025
The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) invites research project proposals under the theme “Multi-Disciplinary Studies on Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of India” with a goal to generate actionable insights that support evidence-based policymaking for sustainable development.
The initiative strongly encourages ethnographic fieldwork, insightful data collection, and culturally grounded interpretations to advance research and understanding of PVTGs across India.
The 2025–26 Multi-Disciplinary Studies on Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of India invite research across diverse themes such as decolonising approaches to PVTG studies, government policies and nomenclature, linguistic and cultural practices, and the place of PVTGs within Bharat’s civilisational context.
The themes also encompass the effects of modernisation, demographic shifts, and religious conversion, alongside explorations of art, heritage, education, and traditional knowledge systems.
Additional focus areas include indigenous medicine and healing, disaster resilience, environmental and livelihood dynamics, health and nutrition (especially among children), financial inclusion through banking and microcredit, and evolving livelihood patterns reflecting both stagnation and progress among PVTG communities.
The research projects will fall under the “Major Project” category, with a duration of 24 months and a budget of up to ₹30 lakh. The funds will be released in instalments depending on the study’s phases and progress.
The budget must allocate proportionately for fieldwork, logistics, equipment, study materials, workshops, and contingencies, with institutional overhead charges capped at 10% of the total grant, subject to a maximum of ₹2 lakh.
Project staff may include a Research Associate, Research Assistant, and Field Investigator, whose selection must follow institutional norms through an approved selection committee.
Eligible applicants include researchers permanently employed or retired as faculty from UGC-recognised Indian universities, deemed universities, affiliated colleges, ICSSR research institutes, and institutes of national importance as defined by the Ministry of Education. These applicants must hold a Ph.D. degree in the social and human sciences and possess demonstrable research experience through publications.
Independent researchers, contractual faculty, and retired government or defence officers meeting specific academic and publication criteria may also apply as Co-Project Directors in collaboration with eligible institutions. The scheme encourages participation of local community members as key informants to ensure inclusivity and grounded perspectives.
Applications must be submitted online in the prescribed format, either in English or Hindi, and must include the research proposal, institutional endorsements, and all required documents.
Strict adherence to ethical standards is mandatory, with all proposals subject to plagiarism and AI-content detection. The affiliating institution’s Ethical Committee or Internal Quality Assurance Cell must issue a signed plagiarism and AI detection report confirming the originality of the proposal.
All equipment and books procured under the project will remain the property of the affiliating institution, and a stock report must be submitted upon completion. The ICSSR reserves the right to request any such materials if required.
The deadline for applications is 15 November 2025.
For more information, visit ICSSR.
