2nd Call for Research Project Proposal for Multi-Disciplinary Studies on the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of India (2025-26) by ICSSR. Last Date to Apply: 15th Nov 2025.

2nd Call for Research Project Proposal for Multi-Disciplinary Studies on the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of India (2025-26) by ICSSR. Last Date to Apply: 15th Nov 2025.

About ICSSR:

The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), established in 1969, promotes and funds social science research across India. It supports scholars through grants, training, and research projects aimed at policy development and societal impact. ICSSR plays a key role in decolonizing knowledge and fostering inclusive, indigenous research traditions. Aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, it strives to make research equitable, affordable, and globally competitive. An autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, it oversees 47 affiliated research institutes and six regional centres nationwide.

Call for Multi-Disciplinary Studies:

In alignment with, India’s commitment to inclusive development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 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. This call particularly encourages extensive fieldwork-based ethnographic and insightful data collection and interpretations on PVTGs.

Themes of the Study:

• Decolonising the Framework for Studying PVTGs in India
• PVTGs and the Question of Nomenclature
• PVTGs in Bharat’s Civilisational Traditions and Context
• Demographic Dynamics of PVTGs
• Cultural Heritage, Art, and Oral/Folk Traditions of PVTGs
• Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Traditional Medicine, and Healing Practices
• Indigenous Disaster Resilience and Weather Knowledge among PVTGs
• Environmental, Forest, and Livelihood Dynamics of PVTGs
• PVTGs and Government Policies and Programmes
• Language as Social Practice among PVTGs
• Impact of Modernisation on PVTGs
• Religious Conversion and PVTGs
• Education and PVTGs: Institutions and Policy Impact
• Health and PVTGs: Immunization, Insurance, and Nutrition (with focus on children)
• Financial Inclusion of PVTGs: Banking Access and Microcredit
• Livelihood Patterns of PVTGs: Stagnation, Advancement, and Diversification (especially among larger populations)

Eligibility:

• 1. Researchers who are permanently employed or retired as faculty from UGC Recognized Indian Universities/Deemed to be Universities/ Affiliated Colleges/Institutions under (2) F or 12(B), ICSSR Research Institutes, ICSSR Recognised Institutes and Institutes of National Importance as defined by the Ministry of Education (MoE) are eligible to apply. Applicants from these institutions should have substantial research experience demonstrable through publications of books / research papers / reports. The Project Director and Co-Project Directors must also hold a Ph.D. Degree and belong to the field of Social and Human Sciences.
• 2. In exceptional cases, independent researchers with PhD degrees in Social and Human Sciences, who are not affiliated permanently with any institution mentioned in Clause but have produced at least two sole-author books published by reputed publishers and/or 05 articles in peer-reviewed journals can also be considered as Co-Project Directors. Such scholars will be required to collaborate with a faculty from institutions given in 1st point above.
• 3. Further, those researchers with PhD degrees who are in contractual appointment in academic/research institutions mentioned in Clause 2.1 and have produced at least two sole-author books published by reputed publishers and/or 05 articles in peer-reviewed journals may also apply as Co-Project Directors. In the event of their contract expiry, they may continue as Co-Project Directors until the completion of the project.
• 4. Senior and retired government and defence officers (having not less than 05 years of regular service) possessing a Ph. D. degree in any social science discipline and having produced at least two sole-author books published by reputed publishers and/or 05 articles in peer-reviewed journals can also apply as Co-Project Directors, in collaboration with a faculty from institutions given in 1st point above.
• 5. Non-academic participants/stakeholders/local community may also be part of the research team in the capacity of Key Informant.

HOW TO APPLY?

• Applicants must submit an online application, including the research proposal, annexures, and other required documents, in the prescribed format. Any deviations from the application format will result in rejection. The application must be duly forwarded by the competent authorities of the affiliating institution.
• Research proposals should either be in English or Hindi. Arial/ Mangal Unicode (Devanagari) font should be used to fill Application form in Hindi.
• Researchers may apply for only one project at a time. Multiple applications by the same applicant, including those submitted under modified names or with different titles, will result in rejection. For any ongoing or completed project with the ICSSR, the cooling-off period for applying to another project will be one year for the Project Director. The date of cooling period will be calculated from the date of submission of the final report. However, this will not be applicable for minor projects/short-term empirical research projects of duration equal to or less than 12 months. For ICSSR Research Institutes, the cooling period will not be applicable.
• Applicants must ensure the highest standards of research integrity. All proposals will be subject to plagiarism and AI-content checks, and any plagiarised or unacknowledged AI-generated content will lead to rejection. The Project Director must submit an Undertaking on Research Integrity confirming the originality of the proposal and adherence to ethical research practices. In addition, the Ethical Committee/Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC)/Research Development Committee of the affiliating institution must certify the same by issuing a duly signed Plagiarism and AI Detection Report, which should be attached at the time of submission.
• Mandatory Documents to be Attached:

1. Research Proposal (in prescribed format)
2. Forwarding Letter of the Affiliating Institution
3. UGC Certificate of Recognition under 2(f) / 12(B) (for University/College/Institute)
4. Employment Certificate of the Project Director (PD)
5. Ph.D. Certificates of the PD
6. Ph.D. Certificates of the Co-PD (if applicable)
7. Comprehensive CV of the Project Director (PD)
8. Bio-data of Co-PD (if applicable)
9. SC/ST/PwD Certificate (if applicable)
10. Plagiarism & AI Detection Report (issued and signed by Ethical Committee/IQAC/Research Development Committee, with software-generated report attached)

DURATION AND BUDGET:

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Kindly refer the guidelines before applying for the same.

To view and download the format for Undertaking Submission:

To view and download the format for Bio-Data:

To view and download the format for Research Proposal:

For More Information and Updates kindly:

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