About this education scheme
The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, provides Grants-in-Aid to professional associations, organisations of social scientists, universities, colleges, and research institutes
Journals supported under this scheme must be at least three years old with consistent publication records. The publisher may be a university, college, research institute, or professional association registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The organisation and the journal may be discipline-specific or interdisciplinary. The maximum annual grant is Rs. 5,00,000 for one journal and Rs. 8,00,000 for multiple journals. Where journals are published commercially, financial support is limited to editorial/processing costs (up to Rs. 1,00,000 per journal). Additional funding may be considered for special issues or back volumes. The final 10% of the grant is released after submission of the Audited Statement of Accounts and Utilization Certificate.
Benefits at a glance
| Scheme name | Scheme of Grant-in-Aid for Professional Associations/ Organisations of Social Scientists including Universities, Colleges and Research Institutes for Publication/ Running of their Research Journal(s) (RESEARCH JOURNAL GRANT) |
|---|---|
| Launched by | Ministry of Education |
| Department | Department Of Higher Education |
| Benefit type | Cash (money paid to your bank account) |
| Category | Education |
| Level / State | Central · All India |
| Official portal | icssr.org (see References at the end) |
Key facts
| Scheme type | Centrally Sponsored Scheme |
|---|---|
| Implementing agency | Indian Council Of Social Science Research |
| Scheme for | Individual |
| Application mode | Online |
| Last date | Not given in the official listing |
| DBT (direct bank transfer) | No |
Who can apply (quick check)
- 👤All genders
- 🎂Age 18 to 70 years
- 📝Online
Quick check from official data. Full conditions are in the Eligibility section.
What you receive
1) Grant up to Rs. 5,00,000 per annum per journal.
2) Up to Rs. 8,00,000 for multiple journals by a single organisation.
3) Rs. 1,00,000 support for journals with commercial publishers (editorial cost only)with a ceiling of Rs. 2,00,000 if the organisation publishes more than one journal.
4) Additional support for publishing back issues or special issues.
5) Amount is disbursed in two instalments, first installment is 90% and second will be 10%, which will be released after submitting Audited Statement of Accounts and Utilisation Certificate
Who qualifies
1. Must be a university, college, research institute, or registered association.
2. Journals must follow professional publishing standards (peer review, citations, etc.).
3. In case it's a privately funded institution or association of social scientists, it should be registered under Societies of Registration Act, 1860.
4. Must submit audited accounts and annual reports for the last three years.
5. SC/ST category journals must focus on SC/ST-related research themes.
6. Grant-in-Aid may be provided to journals being published in regional languages and translation thereof.
Who is not eligible
1. Journals without consistent periodicity.
Registration walkthrough
Online
| S. No | Step | Action | Documents Required |
| 1. | Advertisement & Receipt of Applications | PRS Division publishes advertisements or accepts applications throughout the year. | 1. Application Form, 2. Organisation Profile |
| 2. | Preliminary Scrutiny by PRS Division | Verification of eligibility and completeness. | 1. Three Years’ Audited Accounts & Annual Reports, 2. Proof of Journal Regularity, 3. (3+ years) Registration Certificate (if association), 4. Peer Review Statement |
| 3. | Proposal to Member Secretary | PRS Division seeks approval to hold an Expert Committee Meeting. | Summary of Eligible Applications |
| 4. | Expert Committee Meeting for Evaluation | Committee reviews and recommends applications. | All documents submitted with the application |
| 5. | Approval of Recommendations | Minutes approved by Member Secretary and ICSSR Council. | Minutes of Expert Committee Meeting |
| 6. | Communication to Applicants | Award letters issued to selected applicants. Request for GIB and PFMS details. | 1. Award Letter, 2. Grant-in-Aid Bill (GIB), 3. PFMS Details |
| 7. | Sanction Order – First Installment | PRS prepares sanctions; sends them to Audit and Finance for release. | 1. Sanction Order, 2. GIB, 3. Bank Details, 4. Approval Note |
| 8. | Submission of Utilisation Reports | Expenditure documents to be submitted for the 2nd installment. | 1. Updated GIB, 2. Audited Statement of Accounts, 3. Utilisation Certificate (UC) |
| 9. | Sanction Order – Second Installment | PRS processes the second installment; sends to Audit and Finance. | 1. Sanction Order, 2. Final UC & Audit Report |
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum annual grant per journal?
Rs. 5,00,000
Can organisations publishing more than one journal apply?
Yes, up to Rs. 8,00,000 may be sanctioned.
Are commercial publications eligible?
Yes, but only editorial costs (up to Rs. 1,00,000 per journal with a ceiling of Rs. 2,00,000 if the organisation publishes more than one journal).
Can special or back issues be funded?
Yes, separate grants may be considered.
Is funding available for regional language journals?
Yes, and translation support is also considered.
Who are the members of the expert committee?
The details and identities of members are kept confidential due to privacy concerns.
Can a newly established journal apply?
No, the journal must be at least 3 years old.
Can journals without peer review process apply?
No, peer review is mandatory.
Can an organisation not registered under the Companies Act, 1860 apply for the grant?
No.
Can journals of science or any other subject area apply for the grant?
The journals of inter-disciplinary nature may apply for the grant.
Is the application online?
both ways.
Where to send the application?
ICSSR, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi - 110067.
When is the last date to apply?
Applications are open throughout the year.
What if documents are incomplete?
Incomplete applications will be rejected.
Is it mandatory to have the Head of Institution’s signature?
Yes.
References and official sources
Apply only on the official portal. Nothing is applied for on this site, and applying is free.
grokipedia.org.in is not affiliated with any government department. Apply only on the official portal and never pay anyone for an application.
The details on this page are from the official listing and have not been rewritten or reviewed by our team yet. Confirm them on the official portal before applying.
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