The Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS) was founded by Dr.Malcolm S Adiseshiah and Mrs. Elizabeth Adiseshiah, in January 1971, shortly after Dr.Adiseshiah's retirement as Deputy Director-General of UNESCO. 

In 1976 the Government of India through the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi, sent a mission to study the possibility of developing MIDS into a national institute of social science research. On the recommendations of the mission the Institute was reconstituted as a National Institute in March 1977 under the joint sponsorship of the Government of India through the ICSSR and the Government of Tamil Nadu. The trustees gifted to the reconstituted National Institute its land and buildings, its library, furniture and equipment and a cash endowment. The Reserve Bank of India established a Chair in applied research in regional economics in the Institute in 1985.

Objectives:

• To undertake studies and research pertaining to development problems, with special reference to the agro-rural aspects of Tamil Nadu and the socially and economically backward sections of the population throughout the country.

• To conduct seminars and conferences on development issues concerning Tamil Nadu and the country at large. 

• To foster inter-university co-operation among social scientists of the universities of the four southern states. 

• To promote inter-disciplinary research, and disseminate information relating to the above activities. 

• The research concerns of the faculty are wide ranging. MIDS has become a centre for critical thinking on development issues. The service of faculty members are sought by State and Central Government departments, autonomous agencies, universities and colleges, non-government and international organisations