Madras Institute of Development Studies

What Madras Institute of Development Studies does

Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS) is a non-profit social science research institute founded in January 1971 in Chennai, India, by Dr. Malcolm S Adiseshiah and Mrs. Elizabeth Adiseshiah. It was reconstituted as a National Institute in March 1977 under the joint sponsorship of the Government of India through the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the Government of Tamil Nadu. The institute conducts interdisciplinary research on development issues — including poverty, inequality, labour markets, environment, agrarian change, and social transformation — with a thematic focus on Tamil Nadu and the broader Global South.

MIDS's core offerings comprise a full-time and part-time doctoral programme affiliated with the University of Madras (with ICSSR and Elizabeth Adiseshiah fellowships of Rs. 20,000 monthly plus annual contingency), a peer-reviewed half-yearly journal titled Review of Development and Change published with SAGE Publishing, a working paper series dating to 1978 (with 251 papers from 2011 onward), books and monographs, the Reserve Bank of India Chair in regional economics (established 1985, endowed 2002), a research projects service for Central and State Government agencies and international institutions, and a visiting fellows programme hosting scholars from institutions such as Cornell, Princeton, Yale, LSE, and Toronto. In 2024 MIDS also launched a Certificate Programme in Public Policy and Management (CPPM).

The institute has no commercial technology stack or software product; its underlying research infrastructure consists of a library, a Computer Centre, and a web OPAC. Revenue derives from ICSSR core funding, Government of Tamil Nadu sponsorship, the RBI Chair endowment, contract research grants from government and international agencies, and modest publication sales. Governance rests with a Board of Trustees, Governing Council, Academic Council, and Executive/Finance Committee. Leadership comprises Chairperson Dr. Duvvuri Subbarao (former RBI Governor) and Director M Suresh Babu (formerly Professor at IIT Madras, appointed 2024), supported by 14 full-time faculty and a small administrative staff.

Name

Madras Institute of Development Studies

Legal name

Madras Institute of Development Studies

Website

https://mids.ac.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Madras Institute of Development Studies is a Chennai-based national social science research institute jointly funded by ICSSR and the Government of Tamil Nadu, offering a doctoral programme, the RBI-endowed Chair in regional economics, contract policy research, and the SAGE-published journal Review of Development and Change.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Social Sciences & Public Policy Research Universities (EDAHABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Social science research
• Development studies
• Doctoral education
• Policy research
• Academic publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Chennai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: MIDS receives core funding from the Government of India through ICSSR (Indian Council of Social Science Research) and the Government of Tamil Nadu as a reconstituted National Institute since March 1977.
2. RBI Chair Support: The Reserve Bank of India established a Chair at MIDS in 1985, which was converted to an endowment in 2002, providing ongoing financial support for research activities.
3. Research Project Grants: The institute undertakes research projects for various Central and State Government agencies and International institutions, generating project-based funding.
4. Publication Sales: MIDS generates revenue through sales of publications including working papers, books, monographs, and the Review of Development and Change journal.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Madras Institute of Development Studies is a non-profit national social science research institute that conducts interdisciplinary development research, offers a doctoral (PhD) programme affiliated with the University of Madras, and publishes an extensive body of academic outputs including the Review of Development and Change journal (with SAGE Publishing), a Working Papers Series, books, and monographs. It also undertakes contracted research projects for Central and State Government agencies and international institutions, and hosts a Visiting Fellows Programme and the RBI Chair in regional economics.

Product overview

MIDS (Madras Institute of Development Studies) is a National Institute of social science research founded in 1971 and reconstituted in 1977 as a joint initiative of ICSSR and Government of Tamil Nadu. Rather than a software product company, MIDS offers a portfolio of academic and research services including the Review of Development and Change journal (peer-reviewed, SAGE-published), the MIDS Working Papers Series (251 papers from 1978-present), doctoral programmes, the RBI Chair in regional economics, research project services, and a visiting fellows programme. These offerings collectively form MIDS's research and publication ecosystem focused on development economics, social transformation, and policy research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Review of Development and Change
• MIDS Working Papers Series
• MIDS Books and Monographs
• Doctoral Programme (PhD)
• RBI Chair
• Research Projects
• Visiting Fellows Programme
• Certificate Programme in Public Policy and Management (CPPM)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 years of continuous operation as a premier research institute
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• University of WarwickminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2019Professor from University of Warwick conducted research on India's affordable pharmacy to the world.
• SAGE PublishingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Review of Development and Change journal published in association with SAGE Publishing for global distribution of print and digital subscriptions.
• Princeton UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Visiting scholar from Princeton University conducted research on nationalizing self-respect and relations among Periyar, Ambedkar & Jinnah.
• Yale UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017PhD student from Yale University conducted research on contestations of democratic rule in India.
• London School of EconomicsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Post-doctoral fellow from LSE conducted research on social and economic inequality in rural Tamil Nadu.
• University of TorontominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Post-doctoral fellow conducted research on buried legacies of slavery, caste and dye root in South India.
• NABARDminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2009Co-sponsored workshop on Financing for Rural Development during Malcolm S Adiseshiah Centenary Celebrations.
• Cornell UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008International visiting scholar affiliations - PhD student from Cornell conducted research on traditional rice varieties and agricultural development in Tamil Nadu.
• Reserve Bank of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1985Established RBI Chair at MIDS in 1985 for applied research in regional economics. Converted to endowment in 2002. Provides fellowships to PhD scholars and supports capacity-building programmes.
• Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 1977Joint sponsor of MIDS as a National Institute along with Government of Tamil Nadu since March 1977. ICSSR provides funding, oversight, and doctoral fellowships for scholars.
• Government of Tamil NaducoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 1977Joint sponsor of MIDS along with ICSSR since reconstitution in March 1977. Provides land, buildings, library, equipment, and cash endowment.
• University of MadrascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1977MIDS is a recognised research institute affiliated with University of Madras for PhD programmes. Candidates follow UGC Ph.D. Regulations 2016 and University of Madras Research Regulations 2021.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mids-chennai

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Madras Institute of Development Studies