Founded by late Professor I.P. Desai in 1969 as the Centre for Regional Development Studies, CSS receives financial support from the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR, Government of India) and the Government of Gujarat. CSS also mobilises funds from government departments and national as well as international institutions.

With an emphasis on empirical research and Gujarat as its core research region, Centre also undertakes studies related to other parts of the country. The Centre’s faculty, though small in number, represents a variety of disciplines including Sociology, Economics, History, Statistics and Social Work.

Responding to contemporary dynamics, key areas of research, include marginal communities, migration, labour, land and credit markets, society and Violence, culture and conflict, public health, environment and resources, governance, women and society, urban life, social justice and civil society. Theoretical contributions of CSS have been well-recognised in the field of social stratification, agrarian relations, social movements, sociology of education, dalit studies, tribal communities and development studies. Persistent empirical enquiries into deprivation, under-development and marginalization among the scheduled castes, tribes (including nomadic tribes), women and minorities highlight our research concerns. The major achievements of the CSS include its policy related and social change oriented research, contribution to pedagogic initiatives, published research and interventions in the intellectual discourse on various issues.

CSS has also been actively involved in training of teachers, researchers, policy makers, NGOs and social activists. Under the ICSSR Guidance and Consultancy Scheme, the Centre’s faculty members offer guidance to Ph.D. scholars in designing research, refining methodology and analyzing data.

The CSS is registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 (Registration No. Gujarat/314/SURAT) and Bombay Public Trust Act of 1950 (Registration No. F-235/SURAT). The Centre is a registered research institution with Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. Contributions to the Centre are exempted under Section 35(i) (ii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

During the last five decades, CSS has carried out 288 research projects sponsored by regional, national and international agencies. Persistent empirical inquiries into deprivation, underdevelopment and marginalization among the scheduled castes, tribes (including nomadic tribes), women and minorities highlight our research concerns.