The Centre for Development Studies (CDS), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India is a premier Social Science research institute . It is also a higher education institution providing M.A. course in applied economics and PhD course in economics. It is a very reputed institution internationally also. Its main objective is to promote research, teaching and training in disciplines relevant to development. The institute was established on October 9, 1970, by the economist Professor K. N. Raj. Overview Set up in 1970 by the late famous economist Professor K. N. Raj, the Centre for Development Studies (CDS) is a self-governing institution known for its research in applied economics and topics germane to socio-economic development, pedagogy, and training programmes. The CDS is housed in Prasanth Nagar in the Thiruvananthapuram city. It is easily accessible by road, rail and air. The 10 acre campus is designed and delivered by renowned architect and builder Padma Shri Laurie Baker. The K. N. Raj Library at CDS is one of the biggest repositories of books in South India with over 1,70,000 titles in economics and related disciplines and subscribing to about 260 print and 2800 online professional journals. It has a faculty strength of about 20. Research at CDS is organised into eleven distinct themes: Culture and Development Decentralisation and Governance Gender and Development Human Development, Health and Education Industry and Trade Innovation and Technology Labour, Employment and Social Security Macroeconomic Performance Migration Plantation Crops Politics and Development The teaching programme of the CDS includes: A two-year M.A. Programme Applied Economics A four-year Ph.D. Programme in Economics. All three programmes are affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The University of Kerala also has recognised CDS as a research centre for its doctoral studies. Besides, it has a number of short-duration occasional training programmes. Organizational structure The core financial support to the Centre comes from the Government of Kerala and the Indian Council of Social Science Research. Reserve Bank of India and the NITI Ayog (formerly Planning Commission of India) have instituted endowment units for research in selected areas at CDS. The Union Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has established a migration unit at CDS to study issues relating to international migration from India. The governance of CDS rests with the Governing Body consisting of academicians from across India. The present chairman of the Governing Body is Shri. K. M. Chandrasekhar I.A.S. The current director is Professor Sunil Mani.