The Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS) is an autonomous social science research institute located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It conducts multidisciplinary research on issues of economic and social development, with a particular focus on Tamil Nadu and the wider south Indian region. The institute is recognised as a research centre by the University of Madras and operates with support from the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Key facts
| Type | Autonomous social science research institute |
|---|---|
| Location | Adyar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Founder | Malcolm S. Adiseshiah |
| Affiliations | ICSSR; University of Madras; Government of Tamil Nadu |
| Focus areas | Development economics, public policy, social sciences |
Background
MIDS was established by the educationist and economist Malcolm S. Adiseshiah, who served as its first chairman after a long career with UNESCO. The institute was conceived as an academic centre that would generate empirically grounded research on the problems of underdevelopment, poverty, agrarian change, industrialisation and human development, and inform public policy in southern India.
Research and academics
The institute carries out research across several disciplines within the social sciences, including economics, sociology, political science, geography and development studies. Faculty work has covered themes such as agrarian relations and land reform, labour and employment, industrial economics, regional development, gender, education, health, and the political economy of Tamil Nadu.
MIDS offers a doctoral programme leading to a Ph.D. degree, with students registered through the University of Madras. It also conducts an M.Phil. programme in applied economics and hosts visiting scholars, seminars and workshops. The institute publishes working papers, monographs and a working paper series, and its faculty contribute to peer-reviewed journals on development.
Library and resources
The MIDS library is among the well-regarded social science libraries in southern India, with collections on development economics, government reports, statistical series and journals supporting the institute's research activities.
Significance
As one of the ICSSR-recognised research institutes in the southern region, MIDS has played a notable role in shaping scholarship on the Tamil Nadu and south Indian development experience. Studies produced at the institute have contributed to debates on poverty measurement, social welfare schemes, decentralisation, and the development trajectories of Indian states.
Related topics
- Indian Council of Social Science Research
- Malcolm S. Adiseshiah
- University of Madras
- Chennai
- Development economics
- Centre for Development Studies
References
- Wikidata entity: Q6728488
- Indian Council of Social Science Research — list of recognised research institutes.