About the Centre

The Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta, was founded in February 1973. Financed primarily by matching grants from the ICSSR and the Government of West Bengal, the Centre has full academic autonomy, is designed to function democratically and is proud of its impeccable record of public accountability.

Academic and administrative matters at the Centre are under the control of a Board of Governors consisting of representatives of the Central and State governments, the ICSSR, the UGC, the universities of West Bengal and the Centre's faculty. A distinguished academic heads the Board as Chairman of the Centre.

A key administrative position is that of the Registrar who participates in the drawing up of all academic programmes and looks after all administrative matters in consultation with the Director.

The Centre's Professors and Fellows are academics of high merit from the fields of economics, history, political science, sociology, social anthropology, geography and cultural studies. Our unique interdisciplinary culture allows for collaboration between people from different fields for research that might not find support in traditional department-based institutions. We explore contemporary problems with a focus on eastern India.

In addition, the Centre:

1. Runs a M. Phil. in Social Sciences  &  Research Training Programme 2009-2010 for International students

2. Accepts doctoral students who are supervised by the Centre's faculty and are affiliated to a university.

3. Organises a variety of recurring and one-off academic events in the year, including seminars,