National Fellowships in Indian Social Sciences: Opportunities for Scholarly Advancement

National Fellowships in Indian Social Sciences are prestigious awards bestowed upon eminent Indian Social Scientists. These fellowships recognize their scholarly contributions and provide them with full-time research opportunities to advance knowledge in various domains of social sciences. In this article, iLovePhD will explore the different disciplines covered under these fellowships, the types of national fellowships available, eligibility criteria, the nomination procedure, and the value and duration of the fellowships.

Discover the prestigious National Fellowships in Indian Social Sciences that recognize eminent scholars and promote cutting-edge research in diverse disciplines. Explore the eligibility criteria, types of fellowships, application procedure, and the value they bring to advancing knowledge in social sciences. Unlock opportunities for esteemed researchers to make significant contributions and shape the future of their fields.

National Fellowships in Indian Social Sciences

Disciplines Covered:

The national fellowships cover a wide range of disciplines within the domain of social sciences. Some of the prominent disciplines include:

1. Economics
2. Management
3. Commerce
4. Sociology
5. Social Work
6. Social Anthropology
7. Cultural Studies
8. Socio-Sanskrit Studies
9. Socio-Philosophical Studies
10. Social Linguistics
11. Gender Studies
12. Health Studies
13. Political Science
14. International Studies
15. Public Administration
16. Diaspora Studies
17. National Security and Strategic Studies
18. Education
19. Social Psychology
20. Legal Studies
21. Social Geography
22. Environmental Studies
23. Modern Social History
24. Media Studies
25. Library Science

Types of National Fellowships:

National fellowships can be broadly classified into two categories: Specific and Non-Specific.

1. Specific Category: Under the specific category, theme-based fellowships are offered to scholars who have made outstanding contributions in specific areas. Some of the specific fellowships include:

• Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship for studies on Peace Building, Social Reforms, Empowerment, and Environment.
• Jawaharlal Nehru National Fellowship for studies on State, Democracy, Governance, Public Policy, Leadership, and Foreign Policy.
• B.R. Ambedkar National Fellowship for Studies on Constitutionalism and Social Justice.
• J.P. Naik National Fellowship for Education and Culture.
• Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Studies on Religion and Society.
• Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan National Fellowship for Studies on Education and Philosophy.
• APJ Abdul Kalam National Fellowship for Studies on Science and Public Policy.
• Sarojini Naidu National Fellowship for Women Studies.
• Swami Vivekananda National Fellowship on Nationalism, Society, and Religion.
• Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose National Fellowship in international relations and/or security studies.

2. Non-Specific Category: In the non-specific category, fellowships are open to all social science disciplines, including interdisciplinary studies.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for the national fellowships, individuals must fulfill the following criteria:

1. Renowned retired Indian social scientists who have not availed of ICSSR National Fellowship earlier.
2. Outstanding academic work and a significant number of high-quality research publications.
3. Senior Government and defense officers with a minimum of 25 years of regular service in any social science discipline and demonstrable research experience through publications.

Nomination Procedure:

Nominations for the national fellowships are invited by the ICSSR from various authorities, including Vice-Chancellors of publicly funded central and state universities, Directors of the ICSSR Research Institutes/Regional Centres, present and former Council Members, and National Fellows of the ICSSR. Nominations should be accompanied by the scholar’s curriculum vitae, abstracts of their best publications, and a 1000-word research proposal. Direct applications for the fellowships will not be considered.

Procedure for Award:

The nominations are scrutinized and shortlisted by the ICSSR with the help of an Expert Committee. Shortlisted scholars are then requested to submit a detailed proposal, which is considered by the Selection Committee. The Selection Committee reviews the proposals and makes recommendations for the fellowship awards. The Expert Committee reserves the right to convert a fellowship proposal into a project proposal if deemed appropriate.

Duration and Value:

The national fellowships are awarded for a period of two years, during which scholars engage in full-time research. The fellowships carry a monthly value of Rs.60, 000 p.m.(amount to be verified). In addition to the monthly value, scholars are entitled to other benefits such as contingency grants, travel grants, and research-related expenses as per ICSSR norms.

Conclusion:

National Fellowships in Indian Social Sciences provide eminent scholars with an opportunity to conduct full-time research and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their respective disciplines. These fellowships, both specific and non-specific, cover a wide range of social science domains and are awarded for a duration of two years. By recognizing and supporting the scholarly endeavors of distinguished social scientists, these fellowships contribute to the growth and development of the social sciences in India.