The primary aim and objective of the Indian Council of Historical Research is to promote and give directions to historical research and to encourage and foster objective and scientific writing of history. Enhancing the academic standard of the output of ICHR activities has been foremost objective in it's agenda. The objectives of the Council as laid down in the Memorandum of Association (MoA) are as under:

a.     To foster objective and scientific writing of history such as to inculcate an informed appreciation of the country’s national and cultural heritage;

b.     To review the progress of historical research from time to time and indicate neglected or new areas where research needs to be especially promoted;

c.      To sponsor historical research programmes and assist institutions and organizations engaged in historical research;

d.     To provide technical assistance for the formulation of historical research programme by individuals or institutions and to support institutional arrangements for training in research methodology;

e.     To develop and support centres for documentation and reference service on historical research;

f.      To maintain a National Register of research workers in history and their fields of specialization;

g.     To initiate measures, in cooperation with State Archives and Regional Record Survey Committees, for the location, survey, listing and preservation of historical material in private custody or in institutions lacking the necessary facilities;

h.     To indicate periodically areas and topics on which historical research is to be promoted and adopt special measures for the development of research in neglected or new areas of historical research such as economic and social history, historical geography, history of science and technology, history of arts, etc;

i.      To coordinate research activities in the field of historical research;

j.      To act as a clearing house of ideas and information on historical research in India and abroad;

k.     To organize, sponsor and support seminars, workshops and conferences for the promotion and utilization of historical research;

l.      To promote publications of historical research of a high standard and to undertake publication of digests, periodicals and journals devoted to such research;

m.    To encourage the production of popular literature which would foster an objective understanding of India’s cultural heritage;

n.     To undertake the compilation and publication of source material such as would facilitate historical research and historical writing;

o.     To institute and administer scholarships and fellowships for historical research;

p.     To develop a body of talented young historians and to identify and encourage research talent, encourage the young teachers in universities and other research organizations;

q.     To advise the Government of India on all such matters pertaining to historical research and training in history methodology as may be referred to it from time to time, including cooperation arrangements in historical research and training facilities with foreign academic bodies;

r.      To enter into arrangements with the Government of India, State Governments and other public or private organizations or individuals for furtherance of its objectives, for implementation of its programmers and for securing and accepting endowments, grants-in aid, donations or gifts on mutually agreed terms and conditions;

s.      To acquire by gift, purchase, lease or otherwise any property, movable or immovable, which may be necessary or convenient for the purposes of the Council and to construct, alter and maintain any building or buildings for the purposes of the Council;

t.      To draw, make, accept, endorse, discount and negotiate Government of India and other promissory notes, bills of exchange, cheques or other negotiable instruments;

u.     To invest the funds of the Council in such securities or in such manner as may from time to time be determined by the Governing Body and, from time to time, to sell or transfer such investments;

v.     To take over and acquire by purchase, gift or otherwise from Government and other public bodies or private individuals, movable and immovable properties or other funds together with any attendant obligations and engagements not inconsistent with the objects of the Council;

w.    To sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any movable or immovable property of the Council; and

x.     Generally to take all such measures as may be found necessary from time to time to promote historical research and its utilization in the country.