ICSSR institutions face crisis due to delay in 7th Pay Commission

NEW DELHI: Institutions affiliated to the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), the national body that oversees research in the social sciences in the country, have been facing an escalating financial crisis, one that has adversely impacted both recruitment and retention of qualified staff, for the last eight years.

- Vrinda Tulsian

The crisis stems from the delay in implementation of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) revised pay scales, despite the ministry of education issuing an order in January 2016.

"We are being paid salaries that are much lower than our counterparts in other centrally funded institutions, despite being equally or more qualified. It is disheartening to see such apathy towards institutions that contribute immensely to policy research and social sciences in the country," a professor from a leading ICSSR institution said.