Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) was established in the year of 1969 by the Government of India to promote research in social sciences in the country on the recommendation of Prof. V. K. R. V. Rao Committee. Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) is an autonomous organization established in 1969 on the recommendation of Prof. V. K. R. V. Rao Committee. The Southern Regional Centre was established on 1st February 1973 in collaboration with the Osmania University and the Government of Andhra Pradesh. The founders of the Southern Regional Centre were Prof. Rasheeduddin Khan and Prof. G. Ram Reddy.
The major role of the Southern Regional Centre is to act as an agent of the ICSSR within the southern region; to act as the representative of the social scientists of the region and to bring their ideas and problems to the ICSSR, New Delhi; to provide a platform for the social scientists of the southern region; to come together for the promotion of social science research and to serve as the link between the social scientists of the southern region, national and international community of social scientists. The jurisdiction of the Southern Regional Centre extends to the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu,Telangana and the Union Territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry.
The broad disciplines of study, within the domain of social sciences, are:- Economics/ Development Studies, Management, Commerce, Sociology, Social Work, Social Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Sociolinguistics, Gender Studies, Political Science, International Studies, Public Administration, Diaspora Studies, National Security and Strategic Studies, Education, Social Psychology, Legal Studies, Social Geography, Environmental Studies, Media Studies and Library Science