International Institute for Population Sciences - IIPS

Click the link below for submission of online application for Post Graduate Programmes and Ph.D. (Full or Part Time) Programme.
https://apply.registernow.in/IIPS/Registration2026/Home

Click for Admission Bulletin 2026-2027
https://iipsindia.ac.in/sites/default/files/Admission_Bulletin_2026-2027.pdf

We are pleased to invite you to the 24th Prof. C Chandrasekaran Memorial Lecture on 7th May 2026.

Dr. Santosh Kumar Gautam, Associate Professor, Development and Global Health Economics at the University of Notre Dame’s Keough, School of Global Affairs, USA, will deliver the Memorial Lecture on the topic “From Womb to Mind: How Early-Life Health and Nutrition Shape Cognitive Development in India".

Date: 7th May 2026
Time: 03:00 PM – 04:30 PM
Venue: Seminar Hall, IIPS.

We look forward to your participation in this insightful session.

Thanks & Regards,
Coordinators,
Publication Cell & STTP

The IIPS is pleased to share latest publication in BMC Psychology by IIPS Faculty Prof-Nandita Saikia in collaboration with Dr Somdutta Barua, former CSRD JNU student & UNFPA researcher

“Body perceptions and satisfaction among adults with excess weight in India: a mixed methods approach”

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40359-026-04303-0

While obesity is often framed as a physical health issue, research consistently shows that body image, perception, and social influences play a critical role in shaping health behaviors and wellbeing.
In this mixed-methods study conducted in the Kolkata metropolitan area, we explored how adults with excess weight perceive and feel about their bodies.
Key insights:
• Many participants were concerned about their weight—but misperceptions of body size were common
• Visual tools (e.g., figural rating scales) helped improve perception accuracy
• Women showed greater awareness of weight status and stronger preference for slimmer ideals
• Body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem were widespread
• Qualitative findings highlighted gendered body norms and the powerful influence of media-driven ideals
These findings align with a growing body of evidence from India showing that media exposure, cultural expectations, and social pressures significantly shape body image and dissatisfaction

💡 Why this matters:
Public health strategies must move beyond weight alone. There is a pressing need for:
– Improved body weight awareness
– Stronger media literacy
– A shift toward holistic, health-focused messaging, rather than appearance-based ideals

This work contributes to more inclusive and psychologically informed approaches to addressing obesity in India.

Dear All,

Greetings to everyone.

On the occasion of the 135th Birth Anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, is organizing the Thirteenth Ambedkar Memorial Lecture 2026 on 17th April 2026 at the Library Building, 3rd Floor, IIPS Mumbai, from 4:00 PM onwards.

We are honoured to have Prof. Vivek Kumar (Centre for the Study of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi) as the Guest Speaker for this lecture.

All students, faculty, and staff are cordially invited to attend the programme. Kindly assemble at the venue by 3:45 PM.

We look forward to your gracious presence.

With regards,
IIPS, Mumbai.

The Student Council of the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), under the guidance of Sports Coordinator Dr. Pradeep S. Salve, organized the Award Ceremony of IIPS Annual Sports Week "Sportify’26" on 9th April 2026 at the 3rd Floor, Library Building.

The ceremony recognized and honoured the achievements of participants across various sporting events, celebrating their dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship. The event marked the successful culmination of Sports Week, reflecting IIPS’s commitment to promoting holistic development and a spirit of healthy competition among students.

The International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) disseminated the findings of the project “A Study of Early Marriage in Assam (ASEMA) 2024–25” at its Mumbai campus on 26 March 2026. The study was undertaken to assess the current magnitude, distribution, and determinants of child marriage in the state of Assam.

A Study of Early Marriage in Assam (ASEMA) 2024–25 represents the first large-scale survey conducted in the state to evaluate the prevalence of child marriage at the state, district, and community levels, while also examining variations across socioeconomic and ethnic groups. As a scientific and empirical investigation, the study offers critical insights to support the design of effective policies and interventions aimed at eliminating child marriage in Assam. The study was funded by the Directorate of Women & Child Development, Assam, and was led by Principal Investigators Prof-Nandita Saikia, Dr. Srinivas Goli, and Prof. Hemkhothang Lhungdim.

The study is based on large scale primary data collected from 14,921 women aged 15–30 years across all thirty-five districts of Assam, covering both rural and urban areas. It provides one of the most comprehensive and recent assessments of early marriage in the state following intensified government interventions initiated after 2021.

The study finds that 25.2 percent of women aged 20–24 years in Assam were married before attaining the legal age of 18 years. Child marriage in Assam declined from 38.6 percent in NFHS-3 (2005–06) to 31.8 percent in NFHS-5 (2019–21), and further to 25.2 percent in ASEMA 2024–25. Districts including Dhubri (40.8%), Darrang (40.1%), South Salmara–Mankachar (39.0%), Morigaon (35.0%), and Chirang (35.2%) continue to report remarkably high prevalence.

Among women belonging to the poorest wealth quintile, 37.5 percent were married before 18, compared to only 11.4 percent among the richest quintiles. religion, Muslim women record the highest prevalence (38.7%), followed by Hindu (19.2%) and Christian (18.8%) women.

Educational attainment also emerges as a critical protective factor. Women with secondary or higher education are substantially less likely to experience child marriage. Child marriage is highest among General caste households (31.4%), followed by SC (25.5%), ST (21.2%), and OBC (19.7%). Advance statistical analysis shows that high school education reduces the odds by more than half, while intermediate and higher education almost entirely eliminate the risk. Religious affiliation shows a more pronounced effect. Women from Muslim households have markedly higher odds of child marriage compared with Christians and Hindus, while other religious categories do not differ significantly from the reference group.

The full report can be found at thehttps://www.iipsindia.ac.in/sites/default/files/FINAL_REPORT.pdf

Here are some pictures of the project’s proposal presentation to Honarable CM of Assam Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, training to the field team at Assam Administrative Staff College, Guwahati and Dissemination programs at IIPS.

Levels and Determinants of Self-Reported STIs among Men in India: Evidence from National Family Health Surveys by Dr. Reshmi R. S., Dr. Aparajita Chattopadhyay and others

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-026-01822-4