CESS-DGS organised the Inaugural Session of the Summer Internship Programme 2026 on 04 May 2026. The session commenced with an introduction by Dr. J. Srinivas, Academic Coordinator, DGS, who provided an overview of the internship programme. He highlighted that this annual initiative offers a two-month intensive research opportunity for students in the field of social sciences. This year, 28 students were selected from reputed institutions across India, including the University of Hyderabad, IIT Hyderabad, Madras School of Economics, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra, Osmania University, ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education and other leading universities. He also warmly welcomed the students and faculty members, following which the participants introduced themselves along with their research interests and proposed topics.
In her inaugural address, Prof. E. Revathi, Director, CESS, emphasised the significance of such internship programmes for graduates in the social sciences. She encouraged students to engage deeply with research by exploring diverse perspectives and understanding key components such as research methodology, objectives, and data analysis. She highlighted the importance of working with secondary datasets such as the Periodic Labour Force Survey and National Family Health Survey, which provide valuable insights for evidence-based research.
She further noted that the programme would include guided research under faculty supervision, regular engagement with the CESS library resources, and fieldwork towards the final phase of the internship. Participants will also present their findings, receive feedback, and refine their work accordingly. Stressing collaborative learning, she encouraged students to work in teams rather than individually, fostering a more enriching research experience.
The internship programme will feature lectures on research methodologies, literature review techniques, and analytical approaches such as meta-analysis. Students will explore policy-oriented research, focusing on programmes implemented by state and central governments. Additionally, those interested may undertake field surveys, which provide valuable primary data for analysis.
The inaugural session concluded with enthusiasm among participants as they embarked on a structured and intellectually engaging research journey at CESS.