The Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute became a Constituent Institute of the University of Allahabad on July 14, 2005, when the University of Allahabad Act, 2005 came into force. Established in 1980 as one in the network of Social Science Research Institutes, which Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) set up in association with the State Governments, in our case, the Government of Uttar Pradesh, the Institute entered privileges of the University of Allahabad in 2005. The Institute undertakes interdisciplinary research in the field of social sciences.

The main areas of research at the Institute include development planning and policy, environment, health and population, human development, rural development and management, culture, power and change, democracy and institutions.

The Institute has a doctoral programme in social sciences and a MBA Rural Development Programme. In both programmes the degree is awarded by the University of Allahabad.