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Centre for the Study of Developing Societies

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Centre for the Study of Developing Societies
Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), Delhi
AbbreviationCSDS
Formation1963
FounderRajni Kothari
TypeAutonomous government research institute
Purposesocial sciences and humanities research
Headquarters29 Rajpur Road, Civil Lines, Delhi - 110054
Director
Awadhendra Sharan
Main organ
Board of Governors
Websitewww.csds.in

The Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) is a social sciences and humanities research centre in New Delhi, India.

History

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The Centre for the Study of Developing Societies was established by Rajni Kothari in 1963.[1] It is financed primarily by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).[2] In order to start the CSDS, Kothari quit his job as assistant director of the National Institute of Community Development in 1963. It was once located in a structure in Delhi's Indraprastha Estate that belonged to the Indian Adult Education Association.[3] CSDS relocated to its current site in 1966–1967.

Mahmood Mamdani, a political scientist and anthropologist, father of Zohran Mamdani was the Rajni Kothari Chair Professor at the CSDS from December 2017 to March 2018. He gave the yearly Rajni Kothari Chair lecture on "Thinking of Justice through Africa's Experience in the 20th Century" on April 4, 2018, following the conclusion of his term.[4]

The CSDS received a show-cause notice from the ICSSR in August 2025, citing several administrative and financial irregularities as well as grant-in-aid regulation violations.[5] The notice claimed that in an attempt to "malign the reputation and image" of the Election Commission of India (ECI), CSDS had disseminated false election data regarding the 2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election and provided a biassed interpretation of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar.[5] Later media reports state that the ICSSR and other examining agencies identified a number of significant issues with the institute's operation, such as financing lapses, data tampering, and a lack of auditing.[6][7][8]

Programmes

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Some of the center's programs are:[9]

References

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  1. ↑ "Personally speaking: Rajni Kothari". India-seminar.com. 30 March 2009. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
  2. ↑ About CSDS, CSDS website, 30 March 2009.
  3. ↑ "Interview Rajni Kothari, The Centre and Indian reality". Seminar. 2012. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  4. ↑ "Mahmood Mamdani". CSDS. 4 April 2018. Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  5. 1 2 "ICSSR issues show-cause to CSDS over past irregularities". Hindustan Times. 21 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  6. ↑ "ICSSR pulls up CSDS for data manipulation, seeks funding details; Nagpur, Nashik police cases add heat". The Times of India. 21 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "ICSSR seeks clarification from CSDS over alleged data manipulation and funding lapses". The Indian Express. 21 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.[permanent dead link]
  8. ↑ "ICSSR cites funding lapses and audit gaps at CSDS". The Economic Times. 21 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.[permanent dead link]
  9. ↑ "CSDS". Csds.in. Archived from the original on 2012-04-22. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  10. ↑ "Lokniti". Lokniti. 2011-07-30. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  11. ↑ "Welcome to Sarai". Sarai.net. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  12. ↑ "CSDS". Csds.in. Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
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