The primary focus of IIDS is research and generation of information on the issue of social exclusion and discrimination. The research priorities of the Institute, therefore, are as follows:

• Theoretical research on the concepts of social exclusion and discrimination in social, cultural, political and economic spheres, including theoretical research on the consequences of social exclusion, and remedies against various types of exclusions and developing methods for measuring social exclusion in multiple spheres;
  
  
• Empirical research on measuring the forms, magnitude and nature of discrimination in social, cultural, political, economic and other spheres. Research on the consequences of social exclusion on inter-group inequality, poverty, human right violations, inter-group conflicts and on economic development of the marginalized communities in general;
  
  
• Empirical research on the status of excluded and discriminated groups in the Indian society with respect to their social, cultural, political, and economic situations;
  
  
• Empirical research for developing policies for social inclusion and empowerment of the socially excluded groups in various spheres.