A joint committee of Human Resource Development (HRD) and Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) will be set up to identify both the regional areas as well as new disciplines of study where the council will set up its new research institutes.

According to reports, a group for evaluating the position of research institutes including a minimum threshold academic strength of seventeen faculty members in each institute could be considered. The plan was already approved by HRD Minister Kapil Sibal as part of a number of structural changes recommended by a review committee of the Ministry on ICSSR.

The proposal for restructuring and re-strengthening existing network of ICSSR and opening of more such institutes was also cleared by the government. The strengthening and expansion of network are aimed at removing regional imbalance and neglected disciplines and focusing on inter-disciplinary areas of research for inclusive development, said a HRD Ministry statement.

It was also decided that the selection and appointment of the chairman will now be made through a search committee comprising one council member, one social scientist of international eminence nominated by the council and one person nominated by the government from among national research professors in social science who will be the chairman of this committee. The term of the chairman which is renewable three years at present will now be for a term of non-renewable five years.