Social Science Autonomy

I have read with much interest the views of distinguished commentators on the fourth review of the performance and functioning of the Indian Council of Social Science Research.

The commentators seem to be concerned mainly with four issues or questions: (1) The impact of government funding and the political influence it brings in its wake, (2) the bureaucratic character of the management which seems to be an incubus not easily got rid of, (3) the quality of research carried on under the auspices of the ICSSR, and (4) the lack or weakness of autonomy in the set-up that tells on quality of research.