Doctoral Programme 2025-26

1. About ISEC:

The Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), a premier all-India autonomous interdisciplinary research and training Institute in the field of Social Sciences in India, was established by Dr. V.K.R.V. Rao in 1972. The institute has completed 52 glorious years and celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 2022. Over the years, ISEC has carved a place of pride in the Social Science Research map of India through the research contributions of the distinguished faculty and with the guidance of eminent members of the Board of Governors. Today, ISEC is one of the largest social science research institutes functioning with the funding support of Department of Higher Education, Government of Karnataka, Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), and Government of India. The main objective of Ph.D. programme is to provide high-quality academic training to Ph.D. Scholars to prepare them as independent researchers and teachers in the field of social sciences. The hallmark of our Ph.D. Programme is its Bi-annual Seminars and Doctoral Committees comprising of experts in the respective domain of students’ research. Doctoral Committee (DC) meets periodically and provides inputs to the Ph.D. Scholars towards improvement of Ph.D. dissertation besides monitoring the progress of their thesis work. After obtaining the inputs from DC members, every Ph.D. Scholar is mandated to make presentation in the Bi-annual Seminars of the Institute in the months of June and December. Further two panel experts provide inputs on handouts and presentation of the students in the Biannual Seminar. ISEC has trained about 287 scholars for Ph.D., most of whom are placed in highly reputed Institutes / Universities / Government and International Organisations. Currently 90 students are pursuing Ph.D. in different centres. ISEC is presently affiliated with the Universities of Mysore and Bangalore for the award of Ph.D. degree.

2. Location:

ISEC is located amidst a lush green landscape of 16 hectares at Nagarabhavi, Bengaluru, adjoining the campuses of Bangalore University and National Law School of India University. The Institute’s campus preserves a rich variety of flora and fauna. ISEC campus is situated 12 kms away from Central Railway and Central Bus stations and 42 kms away from Kempegowda International Airport with a very good network of buses.

3. Organisation:

The Institute is organized into nine academic research centres which are inter-disciplinary in nature viz., : (i) Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation Centre (ADRTC), (ii) Centre for Decentralization and Development (CDD), (iii) Centre for Ecological Economics and Natural Resources (CEENR), (iv) Centre for Economic Studies and Policy (CESP), (v) Centre for Human Resource Development (CHRD), (vi) Centre for Political Institutions, Governance and Development (CPIGD), (vii) Centre for Research in Urban Affairs (CRUA), (viii) Centre for Study of Social Change and Development (CSSCD) and (ix) Population Research Centre (PRC). The faculty members of these centre supervise the Ph.D. Scholars pursuing research in individual disciplines.

4 (a) Hostels :

The Institute has well-equipped Student hostels, separate for boys and girls. Full-time Ph.D. Scholars are provided hostel accommodation at a reasonable rate.

4 (b) Library :

Dr. V.K.R.V. Rao Library is one of India’s leading research libraries in the Social Sciences and has about 1.5lakh collections. The library subscribes to about 200 academic international and national journals, out of which 50 journals are accessible online. Library also subscribes to online databases viz., EconLit full text, JSTOR, CMIE-Prowess, Indiastat.com, EPWRFITS, etc. Integrated library management software LIBSYS is used for housekeeping operations and OPAC. Organizations such as UNDP, World Bank, UN and several other international organizations have recognized it as a Depository Library. Dr. V.K.R.V. Rao Social Science Digital library provides access to more than 12000 rare documents to the social science research community.

4 (c) Computer Lab:

The Institute has a computer laboratory with high speed internet and Wi-Fi connectivity for the benefit of Ph.D. Scholars. 4 (d) Study Room: A Study Room with a seating capacity for 35 scholars pursuing Ph.D. and post-doctoral work at ISEC is also provided with WiFi facilities.

5. PhD Programmes:

The Ph.D. Programme begins with coursework for 10 months. During the coursework period, the scholars are provided rigorous training in inter-disciplinary research in the Social Sciences. Scholars must pass the examination in the Ph.D. course work to continue in the Ph.D. Programme.

ISEC offers two categories of Ph.D. Programme – (a) Full Time and (b) Part Time

5 (a) Full Time

Full time scholars are regular students of the Institute and are required to be in the Institute. Attending the coursework is mandatory.

The candidate must not be more than 40 years of age on the last date of application. There shall be an age relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST candidates and persons with benchmark disability.

The candidate must have secured a minimum of 55% marks in Post Graduation or equivalent grades in the concerned discipline. Five per cent relaxation in marks will be made for SC/ST/ OBC – (NCL) (Central & Karnataka) candidates and Persons with benchmark Disability (PWD).

5 (b) Part Time

Part time scholars are those who are in service and pursuing Ph.D. on a part-time basis. There is no age restriction.

The candidate must have secured a minimum of 55% marks in Post Graduation or equivalent grades in the concerned discipline. Five per cent relaxation of marks will be made for SC/ST/ OBC – (NCL) (Central & Karnataka) candidates and Persons with benchmark Disability (PWD).

The Part time scholars can attend the classes even though attendance is not compulsory.

Eligibility requirements and selection criteria are similar both for full-time and part time Ph.D. scholars.

6. Subsistence Allowance And Fellowship:

(a) Subsistence Allowance:

For the selected full time non-JRF scholars the Institute will pay subsistence allowance @ Rs.10,000/- per month during the Ph.D. Foundation Course Work (10 Months).

(b) Fellowship:

• The ISEC Ph.D. Programme does not ensure fellowships.
• It is the responsibility of the scholars to get fellowship from UGC (JRF/SRF) or any other institutions, such as ICSSR.
• ISEC facilitates Ph.D. Scholars to submit the application to ICSSR for institutional fellowships.
• A limited number of fellowships are available on merit basis in the Institute for scholars who are not in receipt of any of the above fellowships.
• Five (5) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Fellowships for SC/ST scholars from Karnataka are provided by the Social Welfare Department, Government of Karnataka.
• In case full time scholars do not succeed in getting any of the fellowships they will have to continue in the Ph.D. Programme at their own expense.
• Part-time scholars will not receive any form of financial support from ISEC.

7. Enrollment/Registration:

After enrollment in the Ph.D. Programme, the Academic Section of the Institute will facilitate the scholars to obtain registration from one of the affiliated Universities. While provisional registration is done during the coursework period, final registration is done only on the successful completion of the coursework and review of the Research Proposal by the Doctoral Committee and the Board of Studies of the respective universities. Scholars are required to comply and meet all the requirements as per the Rules of the University with regard to enrollment/registration, submission of progress report, etc.

8. Fees:

The scholars are responsible for timely remittance of periodical fees such as tuition, service, processing, thesis submission, other fees (Non-Karnataka fee, SC/ST of other States) etc. as applicable in the respective Universities, as notified from time to time.

Full time scholars are required to contribute Rs.1,000/- annually till the submission of thesis towards the Scholars’ Welfare Fund which has been established for the benefit of needy scholars.

The Library Deposit is Rs.500/- for full time scholars (refundable – on production of Original Receipt).

Part time scholars are required to contribute Rs.3,000/- annually till the submission of thesis towards the Scholars’ Welfare Fund annually which is created for the benefit of needy scholars.

The Library Deposit is Rs.5,000/- for part time scholars (refundable – on production of Original Receipt).

9. Disciplines for Admission Test:

The entrance test for ISEC Ph.D. programme will be conducted in the different disciplines mentioned below. The details about the entrance exams will be hosted on the ISEC website at the time of announcing “List of Shortlisted Candidates for entrance exam”. The disciplines or subject specializations available for taking up entrance test for Ph.D. in the Institute are:

1. Economics: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Indian Economy, Public Economics, Monetary Economics, Public Finance, Basic Statistics, Basic Econometrics, International economics.

2. Population Studies: Population Processes, Gender and Health, population and environment, Formal demography, Health systems, Population geography, Public health.

3. Development Studies:

1. Agriculture and Rural Development: Rural development, agriculture economics, agri-business and marketing, agricultural statistics, agricultural extension, production economics, irrigation, agriculture reform and policy, rural transformation.

2. Environmental Economics: Ecological Economics, Ecology, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Economics.

3. Economics: Development economics, Indian economic history and thought, environmental studies, labour studies, monetary and fiscal policy.

4. Education: economics of education, economics of labour, economics of health, sociology of education, psychology of education.

5. Political Science: Indian Government and Politics, State Level Politics and Development, Political Economy of Development, Political & Social movements.

6. Urban Studies: Urban growth and environment, urban ecology, urban finance, urban governance, urban infrastructure, urban and regional economics and development, urban geography, gender and public spaces, informal sector and migration.

7. Social Development Studies: Marginality and development; law and society; risk studies; health and development; society, science and technology; rural-urban, industrial and post-industrial societies; mobility, livelihood and welfare; labour studies; and social policy.

10. Eligibility Requirements:

The aspirants for ISEC Ph.D. Programme must satisfy the following requirements:

11. Research Proposal:

The research proposal should be within 1,000 words typewritten (on A4 Size paper; Font: Times New Roman, Size-10, spacing 1.5). The proposal should be original and shall provide description of research work that the candidate intends to carry out and shall include the following: problem statement, major objectives and research methodology

 12. Motivation To Undertake Ph.D At ISEC:

The motivation to undertake Ph.D. and reasons for opting ISEC Ph.D. Programme, in about 300 words to be provided.

13. How to Apply:

• The application form is available on ISEC Website, www.isec.ac.in. The Applicant should submit the application online as well as in hard copy. The application should be downloaded on A4 size paper and the duly filled-in hard copy of the application form with all the relevant enclosures should be submitted along with the application fee of Rs.750/- for General Category (Rs.250/- in case of SC/STs) in the form of a Demand Draft drawn in favour of the Registrar, ISEC, Bengaluru, payable at State Bank of India, ISEC Branch, Bengaluru -72.

• Candidates are required to submit a research proposal on the topic of their interest in which they plan to pursue their Ph.D.

• Completed application with requisite enclosures should reach the following address on or before 7th June 2025.

The Registrar Institute for Social and Economic Change Dr. V K R V Rao Road, Nagarabhavi P.O. Bengaluru-560 072 (Karnataka)

14. Selection Procedure:

(a) Screening: Preliminary screening of applications is done based on the eligibility criteria of the educational qualification of Masters Degree. Selection: The candidates who qualify in the Written Test shall be eligible for Centre Level Interview followed by Institute Level Interview.

(b) The duly constituted Selection Committee shall do the final selection.

(c) Reservation Policy: All India reservation rules (15% for SC and 7.5% for ST category) are followed by ISEC for admission to the Ph.D. Programme.

14 (i) Travel Allowance: Those candidates who are called for written test/interview will be paid ‘to and fro’ sleeper class train fare through shortest route or bus fare by ordinary class as applicable. The candidates will have to make their own arrangements for boarding and lodging. 14 (ii) : Details of Written Test followed by Centre Level Interview and Institute Level Interview are given below:

*Note: Those who qualify in written test shall appear for interview.

15. Instructions for Filling The Application Form:

The candidates should clearly mention the preferred discipline (one of the specializations listed in para No.9 under sub-heading, 1to 3) in which they are interested to take up Entrance Test (written test) in the application form. For the discipline of Development Studies, the candidates will have the option to choose from Areas of specialisation as given in the last column of the table given in Para No.10 that needs to be mentioned in the Application Form.

1. The application form should be duly filled and signed. Incomplete applications are liable to be rejected.
2. Do not use dash (-) or dots (…). If any item in the application is not applicable, write as N.A.
3. Attach only self-attested photocopies of certificates and testimonials to the application.

16. List of Documents to be Submitted Along with the Application Form :

The candidate must submit self attested copies of the following documents along with the application form:

1. Matriculation Certificate (as a proof for date of birth).
2. Master’s Degree Certificate and Marks Card. [Provisional marks card obtained and signed by relevant authority of the University in case Second Year PG results are awaited.]
3. In case of conversion of CGPA and AGP – proof on the basis which conversion to percentage is done
4. Migration Certificate [Note: The Selected Candidates must be in a position to furnish the Migration Certificate (original) at the time of joining the Ph.D Programme from the previous University / Institution].
5. UGC-NET-JRF / KSET / GATE Certificate/letter (if applicable).
6. Research Proposal – Maximum of 1,000 words
7. Motivation to undertake Ph.D at ISEC– Maximum 300 words
8. Copies of academic publications (if any).
9. Testimonials of work experience (if any). (Compulsory for Part Time Scholars).
10. Caste Certificate (applicable to SC/ST/OBC applicants only).
11. In case of applicants having Post Graduate Diploma – Certificate from the University stating it is equivalent to Masters Degree
12. Applicants who are awaiting IV semester results should provide documentary proof of the subjects covered in IV semester

 Contact Details: For More Information, send e-mail to: aracad@isec.ac.in or contact over telephone (080) 23217013.

REGISTRAR

• Online Application

• Download Prescribed Application Form (.pdf)

• Download Information Brochure (.pdf)