In the year 1992, a Sub-Committee on Education was set up by Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Centenary Celebrations Committee, recommended a scheme for setting up subject wise “Dr. Ambedkar Chairs” in different universities/institutions.

Objectives of the Scheme

The Scheme for creating Dr. Ambedkar Chairs in various Universities/Institutes was for befitting tribute to this illustrious son of India and study the present-day relevance of Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar, which includes the following objectives:

• To provide advanced Centres of learning in the premier universities and educational institutes, where academicians, scholars and students would enrich and advance studies and research to understand, assess, disseminate and implementation of ideas and thoughts of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
• To engage in research and, in turn, contribute to the advancement of knowledge in this area of the study, particularly in the disciplines of Economics, Political Science, Religious Studies, Philosophy, Constitutional Studies, Education, Anthropology, Sociology, Social Work, Law, Human Rights as well as in other disciplines considered pertinent for the realization of our National Goal of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• To conduct advanced research and teaching on the present and past of the deprived sections of Indian society to provide justice and empower them. The specific areas of research and learning in the concerned disciplines will be spelt out in the Memorandum of Understanding to be signed jointly by Dr. Ambedkar Foundation and the concerned University/Institute
• To conduct research and higher studies vis-à-vis the socio-economic and cultural life as well as the biological aspects of the marginalized/oppressed groups or backward classes or weaker sections of the society.
• To publish the outcome of their research works in the form of scholarly articles in the peer-reviewed indexed journals from the UGC-CARE list and also as books published by reputed national and international publishers having a strong peer-review policy.
• To develop proper methodologies to translate Dr. Ambedkar’s ideas of justice and empowerment into practical propositions and policy instruments for the upliftment of the disadvantaged sections of the Indian population.

Academic Function of the Chairs

The Chairs will serve as Centres of learning and research not only on the subjects concerning Dr. Ambedkar’s Works and Philosophy but also on the issues concerning the socio-economic and cultural life as well as biological aspects of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Minorities, Backward Classes and other socially and economically Weaker and Oppressed Sections of the Society. In pursuance of the above objectives, the Chairs will have the following academic function:

• To conduct research on the present and past of the deprived people, teaching and organizing lectures, seminars, symposia, workshops, and other similar academic activities on the justice and empowerment of the weaker and oppressed section of the population with a minimum of one National Level Programme.
• To engage in field research work relating to the contemporary problems and issues concerning SC/ST/Minority/Weaker Sections/Women/Transgender etc. in addition to the table research work.
• To initiate quality research to be reflected by publications in the form of scholarly articles in the peer-reviewed journals (indexed and/or in the UGC-CARE list) and books/book chapters by the Chairs, and each Chair is expected to make two such publications every year.
• To supervise doctoral students in research in accordance with the thrust areas of the Chair.
• To submit a research proposal(s) in the prescribed format for procuring research funds which will be evaluated and selected for funding by the DAF’s Research Appraisal Committee.
• To design and execute short-term awareness and capacity-building programmes for teachers in higher education focused on the objectives, including thrust areas of the Chair.
• To coordinate and to provide a think tank on the thrust areas of the Chair, drawing expertise and inputs from academic experts from other sectors like Government and other National/ International NGOs.
• To provide a forum for research policy level dialogues, discussion meetings, summer/winter institutes involving universities/institutions/government agencies/ non-government agencies.
• To participate in the teaching and Ph.D. programme of the department of the parent university/institute.
• To publish the proceedings of the lectures/seminars/symposia organized by the Chair in the form of an edited book, and each Chair is expected to publish at least one such book per year.
• To maintain its own website to upload research outputs and other activities regularly.

Dr. Ambedkar Foundation has signed a MoU with these 24 University/ Institution at BHU Varanasi On 22nd April, 2022.

The MoU is signed with the following Universities/Institutions: