The Institute of Development Studies(IDS), Jaipur was established in 1981 at the initiative of a group of academics, scholars and administrators of Rajasthan and is being supported by the Indian Council of Social Science Research ( ICSSR ) and the Government of Rajasthan (GOR).

The Institute is located at 8-B, Jhalana Institutional Area. Situated at the lower ridge of the Arravali in a serene atmosphere, it has easy access to the campus of University of Rajasthan and several national and state level institutions located in Jaipur.

The Institute is a multi-disciplinary research organization. It takes cognizance of the macro environment, planning processes and strategies including their socio-economic dimensions and attempts to make timely interventions through research and dialogue. Particular attention is given to the study of processes, the impact of trickle down effects of growth, direct public interventions such as poverty and employment programs and the participatory efforts of voluntary organization with respect to the marginalized section of the society. The Institute is specifically concerned with regional issues relating to Rajasthan.

The researchers at the Institute are concerned with issues critical to livelihood such as sustainable use of natural resources, improvements in irrigation and water management; pattern and pace of agricultural development; land use and livestock management; deterioration of common property resources and environment; illiteracy; poor social infrastructures; low access of poor to food and minimum social services; unemployment and poverty in rural and urban areas; levelsof political consciousness; communalism; violence and atrocities on women; empowerment of women; and emerging role of the state, NGOs, PRIs and cooperatives in the changing economic and social environment. Based on the informed assessment an attempt is made to bridge the gap between ground realities or practices and macro initiatives. A distinguishing feature of the Institute is to help design interventions for grassroots organization that are concentratedly attempting to cope with the problems of deprivation in a specific area.

Training programs

The Institute conducts training programs to disseminate information as well as to learn from the process of information sharing. The training programmes are designed to meet the specific target groups, which include senior policy planners, middle level development functionaries, non governmental organizations and panchayati raj institutions. For instance, the Institute has conducted training programm of three weeks' duration for senior agricultural policy planners of developing countries. The faculty of institute are invited as resource persons for several international and national training courses. It has been the endeavour of the Institute to design training programmes in those areas and for those functionaries who could enhance their ability to contribute to the process of development. Although the training programmes conducted by the Institute are many times demand driven, the knowledge gained through different studies is applied to make the programs informative and more useful to the participants. In quite a few areas, the Institute has prepared training modules and manuals.

In view of the growing interest in the role of NGOs in rural development in particular and development in general, the Institute has embarked on a number of training programmes related to NGOs.The purpose of conducting such programmes is not only to provide a platform to initiate discussion/debate on development issues but also make attempt to resolve problems NGOs face both at conceptual and operational level while participating in the development programs in rural areas. Some of the important institutional aspects of development like panchayati raj institutions, is also a major concern of the training programmes of the Institute. The objective of conducting training programmes on such areas is to locate the conflicts and difficulties that arise while NGOs participate in the development programs which are initiated by PR institutions. Besides, another major focus of the training programme is on women and children. The development functionaries concerned with this area are given exposure to different means of addressing the problems of women and children, such as mal-nutrition, illiteracy and impoverishment.

Library

The Institute's library has a rich collection of books, back volumes, research materials, reference data books and other documents relating to various aspects of development. The library has nearly 17081 documents. During the year, 501 books were procured out of which 295 were received by exchange or complimentary basis.It receives 150 journals from India and abroad.

Computer Centre

The Institute has a Local Area Networking (LAN) with facilities for analyzing large data, financial accounting, office automation and access to library information.

Campus and Building

The Institute is situated at the lower ridges of the Arravali mountain range in a serene atmosphere. It has easy access to the University of Rajasthan and several other institutions. The campus has a three story building with one and a half floors occupied by the Library, a large conference room and several committee rooms and class rooms. Constructions of a guest house and hostel is being planned.