ICCSR or Indian Council of Social Science Research started functioning in the year 1969, by the Government of India. It was setup to promote extensive research in the field of social sciences in the country. In order to support the aim of promoting social science research, it provides grants, fellowships, international collaborations, surveys, publications etc.
National Social Science Documentation Centre or NASSDOC is the documentation centre of ICCSR, which provides library and information support services to people who are engaged with research in social science. ICCSR has also developed ICCSR Data Service which serves as the national data service for promoting the perfect research ambience through sharing and reusing data among the Indian social science community.
The body is responsible for promoting, sponsoring and undertaking science research, bibliographic work and documentation in English and Punjabi. It is also responsible for developing library resources for the social scientists and subscribing to the social science journals from not only India but also abroad. It also organizes seminars, conferences and workshops and helps the college and the university departments in doing the same.
The body also grants to scholars who pursue Ph.D in the related fields, other than arranging training programmes in social sciences.