The Institute for Human Development (IHD) is a non-profit autonomous institution that undertakes studies in human development and related issues. It is has established itself through its corpus of research, analysis and policy recommendations, and made contributions in a range of areas such as labour, employment and livelihoods, social security and social protection, poverty, marginalization and exclusion, food security, gender, markets, governance and decentralisation.

IHD is guided by the underlying philosophy that the basic purpose of development is to create an enabling environment for people to develop their full potential, lead productive lives, exercise their choices and participate in decision-making processes. Using the tools of intellectual inquiry, the Institute aspires to integrate quantitative and qualitative analyses with micro and macro-level policy initiatives towards restructuring the framework of governance for greater empowerment of the people.

The Institute is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and recognised by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, as a scientific and industrial research organisation. Income Tax exemption under Section 80G is available to the Institute. IHD is also registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and is entitled to receive foreign contributions