India’s Panchayati Raj system comprising over 2.55 lakh Gram Panchayats (village-level elected councils) serving nearly 65 per cent of the population stands at the threshold of a technological transformation driven by artificial intelligence (AI). This report examines the wide-ranging relationship between AI and decentralised local governance in India. It traces how AI tools are being…
The Power of the Local: Why Panchayats are the Missing Link in India’s FPO Success Story India’s agricultural landscape is powered by its smallholder farmers, who make up nearly 86% of the country’s farming households. While Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have emerged as a highly successful model for driving economic growth, boosting bargaining power, and…
ISS prepared an exploratory research report on Risks, Vulnerabilities and Aspirations of Seasonal Migrant labourers. (Updated December 2025.) Access the Report here
Policy Brief and Report on our recent study on the Role of Panchayats in Climate Resilience in North-eastern India (August 2025) POLICY BRIEF Beyond Blueprints: Strengthening Gram Panchayats for Localised Climate Adaptation in Northeast India Report: Role of Panchayats in Climate Resilience in Northeast India, by Sana Khan
Women workers continue to bear the lion’s share of domestic and care responsibilities, and to the extent that this work is shared, it is often shared not with spouses but with girl children. A report by Shankar Gopalakrishnan (Project Director, Institute of Social Sciences) and Smita Gupta Lead Researchers: MS Selvaraj (Tamil Nadu), Vinod Badoni,…
Legal Lab of Governance at the ISS has started conducting online/offline discussion platforms on laws, governance and administrative institutions. One best QUERY from a participant to ‘Discussion Group’ to a Module would be given a detailed response on a blog. Since, knowledge disseminated through this question would serve many legal minds, a Special Recognition would…
Women Workers Unpaid Even in Paid Contracts. महिला मज़दूर अनुबंध के होते हुए भी अवैतनिक काम करने पर मजबूर – तीन राज्यों में किए गए अध्ययन से सामने आए परेशान कर देने वाले स्वरूप Shankar Gopalakrishnan, Project Director, at Institute of Social Sciences with MS Selvaraj (Tamil Nadu) Vinod Badoni (Uttarakhand) Anita Juneja, Ramendra Kumar…
Women Workers Unpaid Even in Paid Contracts. Women Workers Are Compelled to Do Unpaid Work Even in Paid Contracts. A Study Across Three States Shows Disturbing Patterns. A report by Shankar Gopalakrishnan, Project Director, at Institute of Social Sciences with MS Selvaraj (Tamil Nadu) Vinod Badoni (Uttarakhand) Anita Juneja, Ramendra Kumar (Delhi)1 In a study across…
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…
Media and Access to Information Among Working Class Families in Uttarakhand, Delhi and Tamil Nadu – A Three State Survey by Shankar Gopalakrishnan (Project Director, Institute of Social Sciences) Lead Researchers: MS Selvaraj (Tamil Nadu) Vinod Badoni (Uttarakhand) Ramendra Kumar, Anita Juneja (Delhi) Download English मीडिया और जानकारी तक पहुंच देहरादून, दिदल्ली और तदिमलना के…
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.
