1. To carry out research on all important development issues with a bias for inter-disciplinary approach; in particular, Economics, Politics, Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, Commerce, History, Law and allied disciplines would receive special priorities;

2. To carry out consultancy works on behalf of various organisations and authorities particularly in areas pertaining to economic development ;

3. To publish the results of its research work and to disseminate the results to other institutions, organizations, independent researchers in the form of monographs, reports, journals etc ;

4. To establish facilities for staff exchange programme under which academics and researchers from other Institutions / Universities could come to the Institute and carry on independent or collaborative research work;

5. To provide facilities to post-graduate students to do their field work at the institute;

6. To be affiliated to voluntary organisations to enable the Institute exchange staff, scholars and post-graduate students to get the necessary inputs for their research work ;

7. To be affiliated to University and Research Centres for exchanging information and for collaboration in research and to enable the institute staff to supervise post-graduate research works of students of such Universities etc. leading to doctoral/post-doctoral degrees/diplomas;

8. To be directly involved in practical development work with a view to gain new insights of the problems of development;

9. To organise seminars, conferences and workshops and conduct short refresher / reorientation courses on development issues at different levels;

10. Any other activity which falls within the scope of development studies.