VISIT OF SCHOLARS UNDER CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES (CEPs)
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The Council, is one of the implementing agencies for the social science component of the Cultural Exchange Agreements, signed by the Government of India, with other countries. The validity of such agreements is normally for two or three years. Usually these Agreements are renewed.
 
     
 
The ICSSR not only sponsors Indian social scientists to visit these countries but also receives foreign scholars under the Programme. The purpose of such visits is to enable social scientists to collect research material, deliver lectures, participate in seminars, consult libraries and interact with scholars.
  
     
 
Presently, some of the major countries with which the Council has long-term exchange programmes are Russia, France, China, Egypt, or any other country from time to time, 
 
     
 
Financial Assistance
  
   
 
The details of financial assistance available under different cultural exchange programmes are laid-down in the respective Agreements. However, as far as visit of an Indian scholar to another country is concerned, the ICSSR pays for the airfare (to and fro) economy/ excursion only while local hospitality, which includes accommodation, per-diem allowance, internal travel and medical insurance etc. are borne by the host country.
  
     
 
Conditions
  
   
  A scholar will be eligible for assistance under this Programme once in three years.  
  A scholar would be normally provided assistance under this programme only twice during his/her lifetime.
Other academic qualifications being equal, preference will be given to:
   
  a. Younger scholars
   
  b. Scholars who have knowledge of the local language
   
  c.
Scholars working on one of the priority themes as identified by the ICSSR from time to time
   
  d. Scholars from the ICSSR supported Research Institutes
     
 
How and When to Apply ?
  
   
 
Applications, under this programme, are generally received in August / September of each calendar year. For details, please see  Annexure-1

Note  :  Applicants belonging to “SC” ,  “ST” or "OBC" category must enclosed a copy  of their Category Certificate issued by the Competent Authority.

 
  
 
  The application should be accompanied by the following documents:  
   
  i. Duly completed application form.  
 
  ii.
Two copies of the proposal, which should contain formulation of the problem to be studied, spelling out the research questions, conceptual/theoretical issues and research design. The proposal should also contain a separate note on the work plan, describing nature of the material to be collected, libraries to be visited, and scholars to be consulted.
  
 
  iii.
Two copies of the applicant's bio-data and a certificate of proficiency in the language of the country to be visited, if any.
  
 
  Procedure  
   
  i. All proposals received under different cultural exchange programmes will be referred to the Experts Committee for evaluation.  
 
  ii. The visit must be approved by the host country;  
 
  iii. The selected candidates, will be referred to Government of India for obtaining clearance, if required;  
 
  iv. Selected candidates will make their own travel arrangements i.e. visa, ticket, Boarding pass  etc. A photocopy of the air ticket must be submitted to the ICSSR for reimbursement. However, in case a scholar wants the ICSSR to arrange his air ticket, the secretariat would facilitate this.  
 
  Submission of the Report  
   
   
After the visit is over, the scholar is required to submit
 
 
(a)
A Report on the work done (meeting with scholars, visit to research institutes, libraries and archives etc) within 15 days from the date of the completion of the duration of visit.
(b) Status report (in detail) on the topic concerned based on the data/Material collected during the visit.
(c) After completion of the study, the scholar should submit a copy of the Final Report (preferably in publishable form) to the ICSSR within 180 days from the date of the completion of the duration of the visit.
 
 
   
 
 
N.B. If (a) & (b) are not submitted, the scholar will not be eligible for support under any of the Schemes of ICSSR.