CAG and ICSSR Launch Research Competition with Rs 1 Crore Prize Pool for Students
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), has announced the CAG-ICSSR Research Article Competition, offering a total prize pool of nearly Rs 1 crore. The competition is funded by the Office of the CAG.
The initiative aims to encourage students to develop research skills in public finance, fiscal governance, and data analysis, while also improving awareness about government auditing, accountability, and evidence-based policymaking among young researchers.
Students enrolled in undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), or doctoral programmes at recognised institutions are eligible to participate. Research articles must be submitted in PDF format, with a word limit of 4,000-5,000 words for UG and PG students, and 5,000-6,000 words for doctoral students.
Participants can write on any of the following themes: fiscal federalism and governance, social sector spending, skilling, employment and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and empowering urban and rural local bodies.
The competition will be held in multiple stages. After the submission deadline, all entries will be screened and evaluated by expert committees through a blind review process. The top three research articles will be selected at both the state and national levels.
Important dates: Submission for state-level competition closes on August 31, and for national-level competition on September 30.
Prize money: State level - First prize Rs 75,000, Second prize Rs 50,000, Third prize Rs 25,000. National level - First prize Rs 1,25,000, Second prize Rs 1,00,000, Third prize Rs 75,000.
The competition is expected to give students an opportunity to showcase their research skills while contributing ideas on important public policy and governance issues.
