Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research

Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), Mumbai is an advanced research institution established by The Reserve Bank of India in 1987 on the occasion of its golden jubilee.^[1] The Institute's mission is to carry out research on developmental issues from a multi-disciplinary point of view. It has one of the largest Social Sciences libraries in Asia. The institute has an M.Phil./Ph.D. programme in Development Studies and also an MSc programme in Economics.

After its registration as an autonomous society on November 14, 1986 and as a public trust on January 15, 1987, then Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated the campus at Goregaon, Mumbai on December 28, 1987. Subsequently, the Institute was recognized as a Deemed University under Section 3 of the UGC Act. Dr Mahendra Dev is the current director of the Institute. At present the Institute has about 150 employees of which 30 are full-time faculty members, 25 are non-academic staff, 50 M.Phil/Ph.D. students and 45 M.Sc Economics students.

Starting as a purely research-oriented institution, the Institute quickly developed into a full-fledged teaching cum research organisation when in 1990 it launched a Ph.D. programme in the field of development studies. The objective of the Ph.D. programme is to produce analysts with diverse disciplinary background who can address issues of economics, energy and environmental policy. In 1995, an M. Phil programme was started to help meet the growing need of the country for more Development Economists; this mission to address development issues has been the driving force and motivation behind the growth of the Institute.

IGIDR also has a full-fledged M.Sc. programme which draws applicants from all over India. This programme offers only 25 seats.

Management^[2]

• Urjit Patel, Chairman
• S. Mahendra Dev, Director (Vice Chancellor)
• Goverdhan Mehta, Member
• K.L. Krishna, Member
• Mihir Rakshit, Member
• Urjit Patel, Member
• Jayati Sarkar, Member
• Vikas Chitre, Member
• R. Nagaraj, Member
• Jai Mohan Pandit, Registrar

Vision and Values^[3]

The aims and objectives of the Institute are to promote and conduct research on developmental issues from a broad inter- disciplinary perspective (economic, technological, social, political and ecological). It aspires to gain insights into the process of development and alternative policy options and to further disseminate the knowledge acquired.

The primary objectives of the Institute are :

• To promote and conduct research on development from a broad inter-disciplinary perspective.
• To promote co-operative endeavour and interaction between research scholars and institutions in India and abroad.
• To undertake projects or activity which renders itself useful for the furtherance of development and social welfare.
• To carry out training for advanced degrees viz. Master’s and Doctorate award.

Special emphasis will be laid on the following areas:

• The comparative study of development and policy in different regions and countries.
• The growing interdependence among nations in the world economy and its impact on development strategies and policy options.
• The influence of international trading, financial and economic systems on countries.
• The examination of energy, technology and environment problems in global setting.
• The analytical foundations of the positions adopted by India and other developing countries in international forums and negotiations.
• Economic and technological cooperation among developing countries and India’s development experience and policies.
• Planning techniques and methodology.
• Issues in the choice of technology and social well being.
• The role of innovation and diffusion of technology in development.
• Resource utilisation and environment implications of technological alternatives.
• Social, legal, organisational and institutional aspects of development.
• The Institute shall also serve as a centre for promoting co-operative endeavour and interaction in research activities between Indian scholars and institutions as well as between Indian and foreign scholars and institutions

Campus

The Institute is located on a 14-acre (57,000 m²) site on a hillside in Goregaon (East), 15 minutes by public bus from the Goregaon railway station in Mumbai’s suburban rail system and 20 minutes drive from Mumbai’s national and international airports. The campus, whose architecture is inspired by the historical Elephanta and Jogeshwari caves, includes office buildings for research and administrative staff, several seminar rooms, a 500-seat auditorium, a library, a computer centre, a cafeteria and a guest house where visiting scholars are accommodated.

The students and staff of the Institute are provided accommodation on campus. There are also some recreational facilities which include a 20-metre swimming pool, a tennis court, an indoor badminton court, a table tennis room, a small jogging track, a fully equipped gym and a children's park at the Institute.

The Institute also has an Alumni Association, which conducts an annual meet in the month of January.

Programs offered

M.Sc. in Economics^[4]

This is a two-year programme, which imparts students with a rigorous and hands-on training in Economics, with special emphasis on analytical and problem solving skills as well as exposure to emerging policy issues at the national and international levels. This programme involves a successful completion of either 16 courses or 15 courses and a Master’s thesis. It is aimed at all those with necessary quantitative prerequisites who would like to be grounded in economic analysis.

Admission Eligibility

Minimum qualification for admission to M.Sc. programme includes one of the following degrees or their equivalents: B.A./B.Sc. in Economics/B.Com./B.Stat./B.Sc. (Physics or Mathematics)/B.Tech./B.E. with at least a second division for Economics discipline and first division for other disciplines. The applicant must have studied mathematics at the higher secondary or higher leve.

M.Phil and Ph.D.^[5]

The M.Phil. programme is a two year programme, designed for those who would like to acquire a certain level of analytical and applied skills but may not be keen on pursuing a Ph.D. degree.

The Ph.D. programme is designed to create academic researchers as well as professionals who are capable of conducting policy analysis, relating to national and global economic and development issues, from a quantitative and inter-disciplinary perspective. While an interdisciplinary approach is encouraged, the programme lays somewhat larger emphasis on economics to provide an integrated framework within which various development issues can be addressed. Ph.D. students are expected to submit their dissertations within four years of joining the Institute.

Both M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes involve successful completion of course work as well as submission of dissertation. Both M.Sc., M.Phil./Ph.D. stream students who would like to register for a Ph.D. degree need to pass the oral comprehensive examination in the form of proposal cum evaluation seminar and fulfil prescribed course and minimum grade requirements.

Admission Eligibility

Minimum qualification for admission to the M.Phil. and Ph.D. programme include one of the following degrees or their equivalents:

M.A./M.Sc. in Economics/M.Stat./M.Sc. (Physics or Mathematics or Environmental Science or Operations Research)/M.B.A./M.Tech./M.E./B.Tech./B.E. with at least 55% aggregate marks for Economics discipline and 60% aggregate marks for other disciplines. The applicant must have studied mathematics at the higher secondary or higher level.

Visiting Scholars Program^[6]

Overview

The Visiting Scholar Programme (VScP) has been instituted at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR) as one of its outreach activities with the objective of supporting research being conducted by Ph.D. Scholars and junior faculty members of colleges and universities in India. The scholarship will enable up to five selected scholars to spend three months at a stretch at IGIDR to work on a research proposal that can be satisfactorily completed during their stay. Selected researchers can join the programme during any one of the following two blocks (i) between May 15, 2016 and no later than October 15, 2016 (Block I), and (ii) between October 15, 2016 and no later than March 31, 2017 (Block II).

Eligibility

At the time of application, applicants should possess a Masters degree in any field and be registered for Ph.D. on a topic broadly involving any area of economics including energy and environmental policy. Applicants are required to submit their curriculum vitae (CV), a research proposal and two letters of recommendation. One of the letters of recommendation should be from the concerned Ph.D. supervisor in the case of a Ph.D. student, and the principal of the College/University in the case of a junior faculty member. Recommendation letters should clearly give the contact details of thereferees. Candidates should also mention in the application the preferred three-month period of stay at IGIDR.

Research Proposal

The proposal should focus on theoretical/empirical analysis ofeconomic issues including those related to energy and environment. It should be strictly within 1,500 words, and its scope should be such that the project can be completed in three months. The research proposal should be accompanied by a signed certification by the applicant as well as by the concerned thesis supervisor/Principal, stating that the research proposal is original work of the applicant, and has not been submitted to any journal for publication.

Selection

Selection will be based on a joint evaluation of the CV, letters of recommendation and the quality of the research proposal submitted at the time of application.

Post Doctoral Fellowship

The Post-Doctoral Fellowship (PDF) Programme has been instituted in IGIDR as part of its outreach activities. Its objective is to support high quality research by scholars with a doctoral degree and an outstanding academic record. Up to three fellowships are available per year. The fellowships are granted for an initial period of one year, which can be extended by a maximum of one more year.

Eligibility

Applicants should be resident Indians, under 40 years of age, secured a minimum of 55% aggregate marks or equivalent in the Masters degree, and should have obtained a Ph.D. degree in the broad areas of Economics or Energy and Environment Policy. Candidates who have completed their Ph.D. thesis in the last six months; and/or employed as junior faculty in academic institutions; and/or have strong publication records are particularly encouraged to apply.

References

External links

• IGIDR Website
• IGIDR's success with SAS
• Economics Departments, Institutes and Research Centers in the World
• IGIDR at EPW
• Tenth Convocation at IGIDR
• IGIDR Silver Jubilee Coverage