The Ministry of Education founded the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) in the year 1964 under the Registration of Societies Act of 1860. It is a research institute which is located in Shimla. IIAS is a result of the common vision shared by then President S.Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru with the prime objective of providing a suitable environment for academic research in humanities, social and the natural sciences. The institute is administered by the Governing Body and the Society together. It is headed by a director who is assisted by Secretary in financial, academic and administrative matters.
Academic activities of IIAS include research done by fellows during their fellowships. IIAS offers three types of fellowships, such as Tagore Fellowships, National Fellowships, and Regular Fellowships. The term of these fellowships ranges anywhere between 6 months to 2 years. Fellows are required to submit their research upon completion of the term in the form of a monograph. Sometimes, inter-disciplinary projects are also conducted where scholars from various disciplines work together in a team. Additionally, summer and winter schools are held on the themes with broader scope and significance. IIAS has one of the finest and well-maintained libraries in the country with over 1,50,000 books along with 320 subscribed journals, microfilms and other such documents.
So many books, so little time. - Frank Zappa