'Council' is the Governing Council and highest decision-making body of the ICSSR. It consists of twenty-six members including the Chairman and the Member-Secretary. The Chairman along with eighteen social scientists are nominated by the Government of India. In addition, there are six representatives of the Government of India including one each from the Department of Education, Ministry of Social Welfare and Ministry of Finance. The term of the Chairman, Member-Secretary is normally of three years. Similarly, the term of office of all other nominees is generally of three years.

The meeting of the Council, as per the Memorandum Of Association (MOA), should be held at such time as may be determined by the Chairman who may convene the ordinary general meeting whenever he thinks fit. However, the Council should ordinarily hold at least two ordinary general meetings every year. Ten members of the Council present shall form the quorum in every meeting of the Council (for further details, please see Memorandum Of Association at Annexure I ).

Important committees of the ICSSR are the Policy, Planning and Administration Committee (PPAC) and the Research Committee (RC).

The Rules contained in the MOA provide for the formation of the Committee. It states that there shall be a Policy, Planning and Administration Committee which shall look after, subject to Rules and Regulations and Orders of the Council, the policies, plans, administration and financial affairs of the Council.

PPAC consists of the Chairman, the Member-Secretary and not less than five or more than nine members appointed by the Council at the Annual General Meeting. The term of the Committee shall be one year from the date of the AGM in which it is constituted. However, the Committee once constituted shall continue in office until another PPAC is constituted.

By convention, representatives of the Department of Education and Finance, Govt. of India are always appointed to the PPAC. Every meeting of the Committee shall be presided by the Chairman and in its absence, by a member chosen by the members present at the meeting. The Committee shall meet at least three times a year at such time as the Chairman may decide. Five members shall constitute a quorum. The list of members of PPAC is given at Annexure II (for details please see MOA at Annexure I).

The Research Projects Committee (Research Committee) of the Council shall scrutinize the sanctioning of grants-in-aid to research projects and other research proposals for financial assistance submitted to the Council or sponsored by the Council subject to Rules and Regulations and Orders of the Council.

The Committee consists of the Chairman, the Member-Secretary and not less than five or more than twelve members appointed by the Council at the Annual General Meeting (not more than three of the members may be persons who are not members of the Council).The term of the Research Committee shall be for one year from the date of the AGM on which it is constituted. However, a Research Committee once constituted shall continue in office until another Research Committee is constituted. The committee shall meet at least three times a year. A minimum of five members constitute a quorum. The list of members of Research Committee (RC) is given at Annexure III (for details please see MOA at Annexure I).