New Delhi: The faculty of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) has expressed concern over the possibility of losing government funding, saying the institute had never faced such a situation “even during the Emergency,” after an inquiry committee reportedly recommended action that could jeopardise its principal source of financial support.In a resolution adopted on Friday, the faculty said suspension of grants from the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) would have a “debilitating effect” on the institution’s academic work, noting that grants-in-aid account for around 90% of faculty salaries.The resolution was adopted a day after the Indian Express reported that an ICSSR-appointed inquiry committee had recommended action against CSDS under the council’s grants-in-aid rules, a step that could lead to suspension of funding.According to the newspaper, the committee’s report alleges irregularities in academic appointments, recruitment of non-academic staff and financial procedures, and recommends action under ICSSR’s grant rules. The report has not been made public, and neither the ICSSR nor the committee has officially released its findings.Responding to the report, CSDS Director Awadhendra Sharan told the Indian Express that the institute would issue a formal response after receiving a copy of the inquiry report. “CSDS will respond formally when it receives a copy of the report. In the meanwhile, the faculty has expressed its response to the story carried by the Indian Express suggesting possible withdrawal of funds”.The faculty resolution said CSDS had cooperated fully with both the inquiry committee and the ICSSR but had not been shown any draft of the report.It also disclosed that the institute has not received grants from the ICSSR since July 2025, although faculty members and non-academic staff had continued their work, including research, publications and academic events. According to the report, salary payments have become irregular during this period.The controversy stems from an August 2025 social media post by CSDS professor Sanjay Kumar, who had claimed that the number of registered voters in Maharashtra’s Ramtek and Devlali constituencies had declined sharply between the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Kumar subsequently withdrew the post and apologised, saying the research team had misread the data.Following the episode, the ICSSR, an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Education, issued a show-cause notice to CSDS questioning the institute’s “impartiality, objectivity and quality” of research, alleging possible political bias and raising concerns over administrative and financial practices. It also set up a three-member inquiry committee after finding the institute’s initial response unsatisfactory.The Maharashtra controversy also led to two FIRs being registered against Kumar, although the matter subsequently moved to the Supreme Court.In Friday’s resolution, the faculty underlined the long institutional relationship between CSDS and the ICSSR, noting that the council has been represented on the institute’s Board of Governors since 1973 and that CSDS founder Rajni Kothari later served as ICSSR chairperson between 1977 and 1980.Describing CSDS as one of the Council’s “flagship institutes”, it warned that any attempt to “shut down or financially cripple” the institution would be a major setback for social science research in India and the Global South.CSDS, established in 1963, is among India’s oldest independent social science research institutions and is best known for its work on political behaviour and elections through its Lokniti programme. It has received ICSSR support since 1969 and has historically depended substantially on government grants, although the exact proportion has varied over time.