For over five decades, the Council for Social Development (CSD) has functioned as a non-profit, non-partisan, vibrant research institution engaged in issues of social development, especially the welfare of the marginalised. In 1962, CSD began its journey as an informal study group at the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi. Prominent social workers and social scientists, under the leadership of the legendary freedom fighter and social worker Durgabai Deshmukh, were part of this group. The Council was registered as a society in 1970 with C. D. Deshmukh as President and Durgabai Deshmukh as Executive Chairperson and Honorary Director.

 
A Southern Regional Centre (SRC) of CSD was set up in Hyderabad in 1967. It is currently funded by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the Government of Telangana.

 
Eminent educationists and representatives of public institutions constitute the CSD society, which guides its programmes. The Delhi and Hyderabad offices include about 40 academic/research professionals and 20 administrative/support staff. The CSD academic staff consists of a good mix of experienced and young researchers, and most of them have a doctorate degree. The CSD team has members from different parts of India, and about 40 per cent are women. The organisation also welcomes foreign scholars as visiting faculty and foreign students as interns.