Established in 2003, the Indian Institute of Dalit Studies (IIDS) is amongst the first research organisations in India that focuses specifically on the development concerns of the marginalised groups and socially excluded communities. IIDS has carried out several studies on different aspects of social exclusion and discrimination of the historically marginalised social groups, such as the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and religious minorities in India and other parts of the Subcontinent.

Given the nature of our concerns, much of our research is multidisciplinary and is generally policy and application oriented. In our endeavour to build database and evidence on marginal groups for state policy and social action, we have been working with a wide range of national and international agencies and collaborating with a large number of scholars the world over. On policy front, we have been interacting with various agencies of the Government of India and have been actively collaborating with civil society organisations, which are working with marginalised sections of the Indian society. IIDS provides knowledge support to different civil society actors and functions as a resource centre for academia, government departments, bilateral agencies, developmental NGOs and INGOs.

Our Focus

To conceptualise and theoretically understand social exclusion and discrimination in contemporary world.

To develop methods and measuring tools for the study of discrimination and exclusions in social, cultural, political and economic spheres of everyday life and their consequences.

To undertake empirical researches on measuring forms, magnitude and nature of discrimination in multiple spheres.

To understand the impact of social exclusion and discriminatory practices on inter-group inequalities, poverty, human right violations, inter-group conflicts and economic development of the marginalised social categories;

To undertake empirical research on the status of different excluded, marginalised and discriminated groups in Indian society vis-à-vis their social, cultural, political, and economic situations;

To map initiatives of the marginalised groups for empowerment and leadership;

To propose policy interventions for building an inclusive society through empowerment of the socially excluded groups in India and elsewhere in the world; and

To provide knowledge support and training to civil society actors.