Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS)

What Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) does

The Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) is an autonomous, non-profit social science research institute established in 1980 in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, and recognized as an ICSSR national institute since 1986. It conducts interdisciplinary research spanning economics, sociology, anthropology, and political science, with a particular focus on socio-economic development issues of Telangana and other Indian states. Its core deliverables are policy-relevant research projects, Human Development Reports, impact assessments, and academic publications including books, monographs, working papers, and policy briefs; it also produces the Telangana Gazetteer and runs longitudinal studies such as Young Lives spanning over 20 years.

CESS operates through a portfolio of specialized divisions — the Division for Graduate Studies, Division for Studies in Social Inclusion, Research Cell for Studies in Education Policy (RSEPPG), Division for Studies on FPOs, Young Lives @ CESS, and the Public Finance Division. Its supporting infrastructure includes a 50,000+ volume library (the only World Bank depository in Telangana) using KOHA and DSpace, computer labs equipped with SPSS/STATA and ARC GIS, a 220-seat auditorium, and seminar/dining facilities. It delivers a full-time PhD Programme in Development Studies in collaboration with Telangana University, Nizamabad.

The business model is grant-funded rather than commercial: core operations are financed by grant-in-aid from the State Government of Telangana and ICSSR (Ministry of Education, GoI), supplemented by sponsored research projects from agencies including the World Bank, ADB, UNICEF, UNDP, ILO, EU, NABARD, RBI, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and Jamsetji Tata Trust. Foreign contributions are enabled by FCRA registration, DSIR recognition provides R&D tax benefits, and income tax exemption under Section 35(1)(iii) of the Income Tax Act supports the non-profit structure. Customers are predominantly government policymakers, with secondary segments in doctoral researchers, academic institutions, and international development organizations; there is no commercial product, SaaS platform, or paid pricing model.

Name

Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS)

Legal name

Centre for Economic and Social Studies

Website

https://cess.ac.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CESS is an autonomous, ICSSR-recognized social science research institute in Hyderabad, India, founded in 1980, delivering government-funded policy research, academic publications, and a PhD programme in Development Studies to central and state government agencies and international development organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Science Research

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Management Research Institutes & Doctoral (PhD/DBA) Programs (EDAHAHAO), Social Sciences Scholarly Publishing (EDAGAFAD), Conference Proceedings & Research Reports Publishing (EDAGAFAL)

Keywords

• Social science research
• Policy research
• Development studies
• Economic research
• Academic publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Hyderabad, Telangana

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grant-in-Aid: Core funding from State Government of Telangana and ICSSR, Ministry of Education, Government of India under plan and non-plan grants
2. Sponsored Research Projects: Project-based funding from various agencies including State Government, Central Government, international organizations, and foundations
3. One-time Grants: One-time grants from institutions such as Reserve Bank of India for specific research studies
4. PhD Programme Fees: Tuition and fees from PhD programme conducted in collaboration with Telangana University, Nizamabad

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CESS conducts interdisciplinary social science research on economic and developmental issues affecting India, with a focus on Telangana. It delivers sponsored research projects for government and international agencies, runs a PhD Programme in Development Studies in collaboration with Telangana University, and disseminates knowledge through publications, training programmes, and library services.

Product overview

Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) is a social science research institute that functions as an interconnected portfolio of research, education, and knowledge dissemination services. The core offerings include the PhD Programme in Development Studies (conducted via the Division for Graduate Studies in collaboration with Telangana University) and interdisciplinary research projects covering economics, development studies, and social sciences. Supporting these are specialized divisions focused on social inclusion, education policy, Farmer Producer Organizations, child studies (Young Lives), and public finance. CESS produces and disseminates knowledge through publications (books, monographs, working papers), the comprehensive Telangana Gazetteer project, and the institutional library with digital repository. Academic programming includes seminars, memorial lectures, workshops, and capacity building programmes. The institute does not offer a technology product or SaaS platform, but provides research services, educational programmes, and knowledge products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PhD Programme in Development Studies A full-time doctoral programme conducted in collaboration with Telangana University, Nizamabad, focusing on Development Studies. The programme imparts research skills to students and is managed by the Division for Graduate Studies.
• Research Projects Interdisciplinary sponsored research projects covering socio-economic and development aspects including agriculture, rural development, public finance, food security, and social inclusion. Projects are commissioned by State Government, Central Government, and international organizations.
• Publications (Books, Monographs, Working Papers) Academic publications including books, monographs, working papers, policy briefs, discussion papers, conference and seminar proceedings, articles, and reports spanning economics, development studies, and social sciences.
• Telangana Gazetteer Comprehensive state gazetteer sponsored by the General Administration Department, Government of Telangana. First of its kind initiated after more than a century, covering 21 chapters on physical, natural, administrative, social, economic, and cultural aspects of Telangana.
• Library Services Resource library with approximately 50,000 volumes, nearly 120 print journals, access to JSTOR, EBSCO-EconLit, EPW Research Foundation India Time Series, IndiaStat, and CMIE Prowess Database. Services include document delivery, interlibrary loans, and reference services. Also serves as the only World Bank depository library in Telangana.
• Capacity Building and Training Programmes Training programmes including workshops on SPSS/STATA, qualitative data analysis, social audit, and capacity building for government officials and Farmer Producer Company CEOs.
• Seminars, Lectures and Conferences Academic events including Waheeduddin Khan Memorial Lectures, Foundation Day Lectures, BPR Vithal Memorial Lectures, R. Radhakrishna Memorial Lectures, faculty seminars, and national and international conferences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Human Development Reports prepared for United Andhra Pradesh (2007), Telangana and Andhra Pradesh (2017)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1986ICSSR recognized CESS as a national institute in 1986 and included it in its network of institutions. ICSSR provides grant-in-aid support and recognition as a premier social science research centre under Ministry of Education, Government of India.
• Telangana State GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState Government of Telangana supports CESS through grant-in-aid under plan and non-plan budgets. CESS conducts various policy studies for state government departments including Finance Department, Planning Board, and various sectoral ministries.
• World BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Bank sponsors research projects and studies. CESS also serves as World Bank depository library, providing access to World Bank publications to researchers.
• Asian Development Bank (ADB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADB sponsors research projects and studies on development topics relevant to India's growth and transformation.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF supports child-focused research studies and programmes, leveraging CESS expertise in longitudinal child welfare studies.
• UNDPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNDP sponsors development research and capacity building initiatives in alignment with sustainable development goals.
• NABARDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNABARD promotes and supports Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and sponsors related research. CESS conducts studies on FPO performance and impact with NABARD support.
• DFID (now FCDO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer UK development agency supported research projects on development and social welfare topics in India.
• GIZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman development agency sponsors research and capacity building programmes on development topics.
• International Labour Organization (ILO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerILO sponsors labour and employment-related research studies and policy analysis.
• European UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU supports development research and social science studies through various funding mechanisms and collaborative programmes.
• Telangana UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative PhD programme in Development Studies for academic year 2026-27, conducted with focus on providing research skills to students.
• Global Development Network (GDN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGDN partnership for Doing Research Assessment (DRA) in India starting October 2024 with grant up to $50,000 for 15-month implementation with technical support from GDN.
• Volkswagen University-GermanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partnership for research collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER): New Delhi-based autonomous policy research institution conducting economic and policy research. Comparable in policy research mandate, government engagement, and survey-based research capabilities, though larger in scale and broader in national visibility.
• Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS): Delhi-based ICSSR-supported research centre studying politics, sociology, and social change in developing societies. Comparable in ICSSR-affiliated social science research mandate and autonomous institute governance model.
• Institute of Economic Growth (IEG): Delhi-based autonomous, multi-disciplinary social science research institute supported by the Ministry of Education. Closely comparable in mandate (economic and social research for policy), governance structure (Board of Governors), and ICSSR-affiliated status.
• Centre for Development Studies (CDS): Trivandrum-based institution under the Indian Institute of Public Administration, conducting applied research on development. Comparable in scope (economics, sociology, demography), PhD programme, and ICSSR/Ministry of Education affiliation.
• Madras School of Economics: Chennai-based autonomous post-graduate and research institution in economics. Comparable in regional focus on economic research, doctoral training, and autonomous not-for-profit structure supported by government.
• Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC): Bangalore-based ICSSR research institute focused on social and economic change research with doctoral programmes. Directly comparable in multi-disciplinary social science mandate, state/regional policy research focus, and ICSSR institutional structure.
• Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics: Pune-based research institute focused on economics and political studies. Directly comparable as an older Indian economic/social research institution with doctoral programmes and policy advisory roles for state and central government.
• Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS): Chennai-based ICSSR-recognized research institute conducting interdisciplinary research on development economics and social change. Directly comparable in regional ICSSR-affiliated social science research mandate, doctoral training, and government-funded autonomous structure.

Regional players

• Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS): Dhaka-based autonomous multi-disciplinary research organization on development economics. Comparable in institutional model (autonomous, government-funded, multi-disciplinary social science research) but operates in Bangladesh rather than directly competing with CESS in India.

Broad incumbents

• Indian Statistical Institute (ISI): Kolkata-based institution of national importance under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Comparable in statistical research expertise and survey-based social science methodology, though substantially larger with broader mandate including pure statistics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cessicssr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCuoGXYJ_dfwhIWv5PiNx-A
• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Centre-for-Economic-and-Social-Studies-Hyderabad/61552768051102/?mibextid=9R9pXO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-for-economic-and-social-studies-cess
• Instagraminstagram.com/cess_hyderabad

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS)