Centre for Development Studies

Centre for Development Studies (CDS) is a premier autonomous institution for social science research and higher education located in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala, India. Established in 1970 under the leadership of the then Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri C. Achutha Menon, and renowned economist Professor K. N. Raj, CDS has developed into a leading centre for research and academic excellence in development studies.

The institution is affiliated with Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and is supported jointly by the Government of Kerala and the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR). CDS offers academic programmes, including an M.A. in Applied Economics and doctoral-level programmes in Economics. Its research focuses on applied economic analysis, economic development, international migration, and other important social and economic issues, supported by specialised research units and rigorous academic training.