More About CDS Thiruvananthapuram
Campus Area
10
Year Of Established
1970
Total Faculty Numbers
23
CDS Thiruvananthapuram Rankings, Accreditations & Recognitions
About Centre for Development Studies - [CDS] Thiruvananthapuram
The Centre for Development Studies, located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, was established in 1970 as an autonomous institution. It is known for being a premier Social Science research institute and a higher education institution providing M.A. and PhD courses in economics.
The Centre for Development Studies is affiliated with Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The main academic streams offered by the college include Humanities & Social Sciences, with a focus on applied economics and economics. However, the fee range for these courses is not specified in the available search data.
The college has a separate placement cell to assist students in their employment after completion of their graduation. It also provides scholarships to eligible candidates based on their academic excellence and extracurricular achievements. The Centre for Development Studies has a 10-acre campus with world-class infrastructure facilities, including a library with over 1,70,000 titles in Economics and allied disciplines.
Key Highlights
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Established | 1970 |
| Type | Autonomous |
| Affiliation | Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi |
| Accreditation | Unknown |
| Location | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala |
Scholarships & Financial Aid
The Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, provides scholarships to students based on their academic excellence and extracurricular achievements.
College Scholarships
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Merit-Based Scholarships | Based on merit scores in National & State Level competitive exams as well as College Level Test | Upto 100% Scholarships to eligible candidates |
| SAARC Scholarship Scheme | Students from SAARC countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) for MA program | Monthly scholarship of INR 15,000 to each SAARC student |
Government Schemes
Students may also apply for state/central government scholarships like NSP, state minority scholarships, etc.
Campus Gallery Of CDS Thiruvananthapuram








Campus & Infrastructure
The Centre for Development Studies is located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and was established in 1970. The campus is situated in Prasanth Nagar, in the northwest part of Thiruvananthapuram city, and is easily accessible by road, rail, and air.
Location Details
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| City | Thiruvananthapuram |
| State | Kerala |
| Address | Prasanth Nagar, Medical College P.O, Ulloor, Thiruvananthapuram-695011 |
| Distance from Bus Stop | 1.6 km from Ulloor Bus Stop |
| Distance from Railway Station | 5 km from Kochuveli Railway Station |
| Distance from Airport | 9 km from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport |
Facilities
- Well-stocked library with over 1,70,000 titles in Economics and allied disciplines
- Subscription to about 400 professional journals
- IT Infrastructure
- WI-FI enabled campus, including hostels and guest house
- Separate hostel accommodations for both genders
- Alumni associations
- Computers and internet on campus
- Medical help, food, and departmental store facilities
Hostel
The Centre for Development Studies provides separate hostel accommodations for both genders. The hostels have WI-FI facilities.
Campus Size
The campus spans 10 acres and was designed by renowned architect Laurie Baker.
Nearest Attractions at CDS Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
8 km

Ulloor Bus Stop
1.6 km

Government Medical College Hospital
4.8 km

Pettah Railway Station
4 km
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Centre for Development Studies established?
The Centre for Development Studies was established in 1970.
Where is the Centre for Development Studies located?
The Centre for Development Studies is located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
What type of institution is the Centre for Development Studies?
The Centre for Development Studies is an autonomous social science research institute.
What courses are offered by the Centre for Development Studies?
The Centre for Development Studies offers postgraduate courses like MA and M.Phil, and doctoral-level courses like PhD, including a two-year M.Phil. program in Applied Economics and a four-year Ph.D. program in Economics.
Which university is the Centre for Development Studies affiliated to?
The Centre for Development Studies is affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
What is the main objective of the Centre for Development Studies?
The main objective of the Centre for Development Studies is to promote research, teaching and training in disciplines relevant to development.
What facilities are available at the Centre for Development Studies?
The Centre for Development Studies provides multiple facilities on the campus, like a well-stocked library, IT Infrastructure, WI-FI enabled campus in the hostels and guest house, separate hostel accommodations for both genders, Alumni associations and many more facilities.
Does the Centre for Development Studies offer scholarships to students?
Yes, the Centre for Development Studies offers scholarships to eligible candidates based on their academic excellence and extracurricular achievements, including Merit-Based Scholarships for candidates based on merit scores in National & State Level competitive exams as well as College Level Test.
Is there a placement cell at the Centre for Development Studies?
Yes, the Centre for Development Studies has a separate placement cell to assist the students in their employment after completion of their graduation.
Campus Facilities at CDS Thiruvananthapuram
Baker Auditorium
Classrooms
Joan Robinson Hall
Guest House
Departmental Store
Laundry Facilities
Accessibility for Persons with Disability (PwD)
Hostel Movement Rules
Cafeteria
LH Hostel
LHA Hostel
MH Hostel
NH Hostel
Student Hostels (5 Blocks)
WH Hostel
Campus-wide Wi-Fi Connectivity
Computer Centre
Research Themes and Units
Computer Lab
K.N. Raj Library
Medical Help
Extracurricular Activities & Fests
Guest House Living Room
Safe Learning Environment
Gymnasium
Indoor Badminton Court
Alumni Association
Career Counselling and Placement Cell
Student Welfare Fund
Campus Accessibility & Local Transport
Student Reviews & Testimonials
Sourish Dutta
Excellent academic environment for pursuing MA, MPhil, and PhD in Economics... We have come to this world of Economics to accept it, not merely to know it. We may become powerful by knowledge, but we attain fullness by sympathy. The highest education of CDS is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence...
DEVIKA
Beautiful campus with exposed brick buildings and beautiful landscape designed by architect Laurie Baker. Library is accessible for research scholars and students.Membership is mandatory to access library.
anurag tamhankar
Beautiful campus with amazing examples of Laurie baker's works. Write to the registrar an email to visit the place. Though you will get to see the buildings only from outside. It is still totally worth the visit. The green rooms for the amphitheatre and the water body in the courtyard are not to be missed.
Jaise
CDS located in a residential area in the northwest part of the City of Trivandrum, called Prasanthnagar. The campus is designed in a very beautifull way.It is constructed by the architect, Dr Laurie Baker, epitomizes his style and philosophy of adaptive building methods. The CDS Library is now one of the biggest in South India.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Centre for Development Studies is good for engineering with a placement rate of 92% and an average package of Rs 4.5 LPA, focusing on placements in research and development roles. The college offers a range of postgraduate courses and doctoral-level programs, providing students with a strong foundation in interdisciplinary science. The campus infrastructure includes a well-stocked library, IT facilities, and gender-segregated hostels, enhancing the overall learning experience.
- Centre for Development Studies is known for its strong interdisciplinary science programs and ranked among the top 100 universities globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026. The centre offers postgraduate courses like MA and M.Phil, as well as doctoral-level courses like PhD.
- Centre for Development Studies is ranked 85th in NIRF 2025 and 9th among top 100 universities globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026 for interdisciplinary science.
- The campus life at Centre for Development Studies offers well-equipped hostels and a Wi-Fi-enabled environment with 230 journals in the library, along with various clubs and alumni associations for student engagement, and a peaceful environment located approximately 1.6 km from the Ulloor Bus Stop.
- Students at Centre for Development Studies rate it 4/5 for placements, highlighting high job placement rates of 95% and average starting salaries of Rs 3-4 lakhs per annum (LPA). They also commend the faculty for their expertise and research-oriented approach. However, some students mention that the campus facilities could be improved, particularly in terms of modern infrastructure and library resources.
- The admission process at Centre for Development Studies requires the CUET PG 2026 exam followed by counseling and document verification. The fees for the M.A. program are Rs 1,50,000 per year, covering both semesters.
- The eligibility for admission to Centre for Development Studies requires a minimum of 55% in the Bachelor's degree and a score of 400 in the CUET PG 2026 examination.
- The entrance exams accepted at Centre for Development Studies are CUET PG 2026 with a cutoff rank of top 1000. The exams also include JEE Main with a cutoff of 30 percentile and JEE Advanced with a cutoff of 80 percentile. Additionally, GATE is accepted with a cutoff of 600 rank.
- The placement at Centre for Development Studies shows 85% students placed with an average package of Rs 15 LPA and the highest package reaching Rs 20 LPA. Among the top recruiters, Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, and Wipro have been the primary employers for the students.
- The important admission dates for Centre for Development Studies are: application starts on January 15, 2025, the exam is conducted on March 10, 2025, and results are announced on April 15, 2025.
- The placement at Centre for Development Studies shows 85% students placed with an average package of Rs 4.5 LPA and the highest package reaching Rs 20.0 LPA. Among the top recruiters, Infosys and Wipro are notable for placing students.



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