Social policy research (SPR) in India has witnessed substantial growth, driven by evolving societal needs. This study aims to examine thematic shift, research trends and collaborative networks, to explore critical insights into the evolution and emerging directions of social policy research in India.
A systematic four step approach has been used for study, from database selection, keyword identification, using bibliometric and topic modelling tools and finding major themes and future research direction in SPR. Tools like Biblioshiny, word cloud, VOSviewer and BERTopic, applied for bibliometrics, topic modelling and conceptual structure analysis.
The analysis reveals a steady growth in SPR, peaking during COVID-19 (2020–2022). Zone 1 journals account for 33.3% of publications, with author productivity following Lotka’s Law. However, low institutional collaboration suggests limited partnerships. Four keyword clusters and major research themes and future research direction were identified.
The study underscores the role of SPR in tackling contemporary societal challenges, such as economic inequalities, public health and governance in India. Findings from this research can support evidence-based policymaking and enhance social outcomes.
This study offers a comprehensive analysis of Social Policy Research (SPR) in India through bibliometric and topic modeling approaches. It represents a pioneering effort to identify major research themes and forecast emerging trends in the Indian SPR landscape.
