Policy Brief and Report on our recent study on the Role of Panchayats in Climate Resilience in North-eastern India (August 2025)
Report: Role of Panchayats in Climate Resilience in Northeast India, by Sana Khan
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in India gained constitutional recognition with the enactment of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, which came into effect on June 1, 1993. This reform was the urban counterpart to the 73rd Amendment Act that institutionalized Panchayati Raj in rural India. While April 24 is nationally celebrated as Panchayati Raj Day, marking…
Survey Finds Many Working Class Families Not Being Reached By Welfare Schemes, Facing Significant Challenges In Accessing Entitlements In February and March 2023, a survey of 2,114 working class families across four regions – Dehradun and Tehri Garhwal, both in Uttarakhand; Delhi; and the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu – was carried out by the…
An inspiring narrative in India’s political discourse is the ascent of women leadership from panchayats – India’s foundational democratic institutions – into state legislatures and even the national parliament. Affirmative action through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act has opened a route for women leaders to rise up the political ladder from gram panchayats to higher…
Post-Lockdown Education of Children from Working Class Households– Survey Finds Serious Hurdles in Learning and Access in Delhi, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu
The Seventy Third Constitutional Amendment Act (73rd CAA) of 1992 paved the way for modern Panchayati Raj Institutions in India. According to constitutional directives, each state had to enact their Conformity State Panchayati Raj Act within a year of the 73rd CAA’s enactment. Consequently, by 1994, all states enacted their State Panchayati Raj Acts for…
ISS prepared an exploratory research report on Risks, Vulnerabilities and Aspirations of Seasonal Migrant labourers. (Updated December 2025.) Access the Report here
The Institute of Social Sciences (ISS) is expanding its pool of consultants for upcoming short-term and long-term assignments across India.
We invite applications from motivated junior and mid-level professionals who are passionate about development practice and public systems.
