View source for Centre for the Study of Developing Societies

{{Short description|Delhi-based Indian research institute}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox organization
| image = Centre for the Study of Developing Societies logo.png
| caption = Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), Delhi
| formation = 1963
| type = Autonomous government research institute 
| status = 
| purpose = [[social sciences]] and [[humanities]] research
| headquarters = 29 Rajpur Road, [[Civil Lines, Delhi|Civil Lines]], Delhi - 110054
| leader_title = Director
| leader_name = Awadhendra Sharan
| main_organ = Board of Governors
| name = Centre for the Study of Developing Societies
| abbreviation = CSDS
| founder = [[Rajni Kothari]]
| website = {{url|www.csds.in}}
}}
The '''Centre for the Study of Developing Societies''' ('''CSDS''') is an Indian research institute for [[social sciences]] and [[humanities]] located in [[New Delhi]]. 

==History==
The Centre for the Study of Developing Societies was founded in 1963 by [[Rajni Kothari]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.india-seminar.com/1999/481/481%20kothari.htm |title=Personally speaking: Rajni Kothari|publisher=India-seminar.com |date=30 March 2009 |access-date=2011-09-04}}</ref> This was done using a grant of Rs 70,00 given to Kothari by Prof. Richard L. Park of the [[The Asia Foundation|Asia Foundation]], a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]-backed cultural organization during the Cold War.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stonor Saunders |first=Frances |title=The Cultural Cold War |publisher=The New Press |year=2000 |pages=193}}</ref> It is largely funded by the [[Indian Council of Social Science Research]] (ICSSR).<ref name="csds.in">[http://www.csds.in/index.php?inc=aboutCSDS About CSDS], CSDS website, 30 March 2009.</ref> Kothari left his position as assistant director of the National Institute of Community Development in 1963 to establish the CSDS. It was housed initially in a building owned by the Indian Adult Education Association at Indraprastha Estate in Delhi.<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview Rajni Kothari, The Centre and Indian reality |url=http://www.india-seminar.com/2012/639/639_interview_kothari.htm# |publisher=Seminar |date=2012 |access-date=2014-01-14 }}</ref> In 1966–1967 CSDS moved to its present location.

From December 2017 until March 2018, [[anthropologist]] and political scientist [[Mahmood Mamdani]] served as Rajni Kothari Chair Professor at the CSDS. After his term ended, on 4 April 2018 he delivered the annual Rajni Kothari Chair lecture, titled "Thinking of Justice through Africa's Experience in the 20th Century".<ref>{{cite web | title=Mahmood Mamdani | website=CSDS | date=4 April 2018 | url=https://www.csds.in/mahmood_mamdani_ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251004041545/https://www.csds.in/mahmood_mamdani_ | archive-date=4 October 2025 | url-status=live | access-date=7 November 2025}}</ref>

In August 2025, the ICSSR issued a [[Order to show cause|show-cause notice]] to the CSDS, citing multiple administrative and financial irregularities and violations of grant-in-aid rules.<ref name="HT2025">{{cite news |title=ICSSR issues show-cause to CSDS over past irregularities |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/icssr-issues-show-cause-to-csds-over-past-irregularities-101755716865118.html |access-date=21 August 2025 |work=Hindustan Times |date=21 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref> The notice alleged that CSDS had released misleading election data related to the [[2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election]] and gave a biased interpretation of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, allegedly aimed at "maligning the reputation and image" of the [[Election Commission of India]] (ECI).<ref name="HT2025" /> According to subsequent media reports, the ICSSR and other reviewing bodies flagged several additional concerns regarding the institute's functioning, including lack of auditing, data manipulation, and funding lapses.<ref name="TOI2025">{{cite news |title=ICSSR pulls up CSDS for data manipulation, seeks funding details; Nagpur, Nashik police cases add heat |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/icssr-pulls-up-csds-for-data-manipulation-seeks-funding-details-nagpur-nashik-police-cases-add-heat/articleshow/123414068.cms|access-date=21 August 2025 |work=The Times of India |date=21 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="IE2025">{{cite news |title=ICSSR seeks clarification from CSDS over alleged data manipulation and funding lapses |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/icssr-seeks-clarification-from-csds-over-alleged-data-manipulation-and-funding-lapses-9012345/|access-date=21 August 2025 |work=The Indian Express |date=21 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="ET2025">{{cite news |title=ICSSR cites funding lapses and audit gaps at CSDS |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/icssr-cites-funding-lapses-and-audit-gaps-at-csds/articleshow/123418932.cms|access-date=21 August 2025 |work=The Economic Times |date=21 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

==Location and description==
CSDS is located in [[New Delhi]], close to [[Delhi University]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csds.in/index.php?inc=location |title=Getting to CSDS |publisher=CSDS |access-date=2011-09-04}}</ref>

Awadhendra Sharan is director of CSDS.<ref>{{cite web | title=Sharan, Awadhendra | website=SAGE India | date=9 October 2025 | url=https://in.sagepub.com/en-in/sas/author/awadhendra-sharan | access-date=7 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Awadhendra Sharan: India's Atmospheric Modernity | website=German Historical Institute London | date=17 November 2023 | url=https://www.ghil.ac.uk/publications/podcasts/indias-atmospheric-modernity | access-date=7 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Breathing In : Air and Atmospheres by Awadhendra Sharan | website=wiser.wits.ac.za | date=20 May 2024 | url=https://wiser.wits.ac.za/event/breathing-air-and-atmospheres-awadhendra-sharan | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512212848/https://wiser.wits.ac.za/event/breathing-air-and-atmospheres-awadhendra-sharan | archive-date=12 May 2024 | url-status=dead | access-date=7 November 2025}}</ref>

===Library===
The library at CSDS started with a few bookshelves in the basement of IAEA and grew into a fully-fledged one by 1970. It is meant primarily for research and higher learning in the field of social sciences and humanities. The collection consists of about 29,000 books and 5,000 bound volumes of journals and a modest set of reports and booklets. More than 130 journals are received regularly. Apart from works on contemporary themes, the library houses a collection of works on Asia and Africa, the arms race and peace movement, non-European perspectives, science studies, ecology and environment, and human rights. There is a separate collection of Hindi books covering a broad range of subjects including literature. The access to the collection has been computerised and the catalogue can be accessed through any computer in the centre. The CSDS library is a member of the [[Developing Libraries Network]] and the [[Social Science Libraries Network]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csds.in/index.php?inc=library |title=CSDS - Centre for the Study of Developing Societies |publisher=Csds.in |access-date=2012-04-25}}</ref>

===Data unit===
The CSDS Data Unit, established in 1965, maintains an archive of survey data on political behaviour and attitudes, spanning over four decades. The unit also holds a number of secondary data sets, especially on elections in India.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csds.in/data_unit.htm |title=CSDS |publisher=Csds.in |access-date=2012-04-25}}</ref>

==Programmes ==
Programmes operated by the centre include:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csds.in/programmes_and_projects.html |title=CSDS |publisher=Csds.in |access-date=2012-04-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422123220/http://www.csds.in/programmes_and_projects.html |archive-date=2012-04-22 }}</ref>

*[[Lokniti CSDS|Lokniti Programme for Comparative Democracy]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lokniti.org/ |title=Lokniti |publisher=Lokniti |date=2011-07-30 |access-date=2012-04-25}}</ref>
*[[The Sarai Programme]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarai.net/ |title=Welcome to Sarai |publisher=Sarai.net |access-date=2012-04-25}}</ref>
*Indian Language Programme<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csds.in/indian_language_programmes.html |title=CSDS |publisher=Csds.in |access-date=2012-04-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729161944/http://www.csds.in/indian_language_programmes.html |archive-date=2012-07-29 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.csds.in/}}

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[[Category:1963 establishments in Delhi]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1963]]
[[Category:Research institutes in Delhi]]
[[Category:Social science research institutes]]
[[Category:Research institutes established in 1963]]
[[Category:Humanities institutes]]