Dr. Ambedkar Chair in Social Justice was set up at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) in 2004 by the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India.
In the year 1992, a Sub-Committee on Education was set up by Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Centenary Celebrations Committee, recommended a scheme for setting up subject-wise "Dr. Ambedkar Chairs" in different universities/institutions.
Since its inception, Dr. Ambedkar Chair in Social Justice at IIPA has focused on ‘Social Justice’ as a theme covering pertinent social issues like exclusion, inclusion, marginalisation, disadvantaged sections and the like. As per the mandate of the Chair, several quality publications, value-adding workshops, memorial lectures, national seminars, dialogue/ discussions, awareness and extension programmes, and inter-chair collaborations are organized regularly.
The Chair serves as Centres of learning and research not only on the subjects concerning Dr. Ambedkar’s Works and Philosophy but also on the issues concerning the socio-economic and cultural life as well as biological aspects of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Minorities, Backward Classes and other socially and economically Weaker and Oppressed Sections of the Society.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was a great national leader of the twentieth century. He was an intellectual, a scholar, a statesman and contributed greatly in the nation building. He led many movements to emancipate the downtrodden masses and secure human rights for millions of depressed classes. He has left an indelible imprint through his immense contribution in framing the Constitution of India. He stands as a symbol of the struggle to achieve Social Justice. Therefore, the chair has a special significance in the Indian Institute of Public Administration, which has a key role in providing inputs for policy formulation and governance besides sensitizing the administration.