UGC Inclusion Research Centres Under Funding Delay

The UGC's CSSIU scheme, launched in 2006 to study social exclusion, faces delays in renewal for 2026-27, leaving 24 central universities uncertain. Originally named CSSEIP, it aimed to research caste, ethnic, and religious discrimination. The 2017 renaming shifted focus to "inclusion," raising concerns about obscuring structural inequalities. Funding relies on short-term extensions, causing salary delays and forcing host institutions to advance funds. Despite this, centres have produced vital research on Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities, highlighting their importance for policy and social justice.