The Council has been set up by the Government of India to review the progress of research in Philosophy from time to time;

• To sponsor or assist projects or programmes of research in Philosophy;
• To give financial support to institutions and organizations engaged in the conduct of research in Philosophy;
• To provide technical assistance or guidance for the formulation of research projects and programmes in Philosophy, by individuals or institutions, and/or organize and support institutional or other arrangements for training in research methodology;
• To indicate periodically areas in and topics on which research in Philosophy should be promoted and to adopt special measures for the development of research in neglected or developing areas in Philosophy;
• To co-ordinate research activities in Philosophy and to encourage programme of inter-disciplinary research;
• To organize, sponsor and assist seminars, special courses, study circles, working groups/parties, and conferences for promoting research in Philosophy, and to establish institutes for the same purpose;
• To give grants for publication of digests, journals, periodicals and scholarly works devoted to research in Philosophy and also to undertake their publication;
• To institute and administer fellowships, scholarships and awards for research in Philosophy by students, teachers and others.