In the field of Development Studies, its focus has been on issues like WTO and its impact on agriculture, rural employment, rural indebtedness and agribusiness. It has also been engaged in the study of issues relating to liberalization and its impact on health and education.

In Governance, Peace and Human Development, the main focus has been on resolution of conflicts, globalisation of the economy and the emerging conflicts in South Asia, victims of militancy with special reference to social, psycho-somatic and economic effects, alcoholism, state policy and socio-cultural milieu, drug abuse and its impact on the youth, formulating policy prescription packages, community policing for victim relief and crime prevention.

In Gender Studies, it has formulated policies and strategies for combating violence against women, including female foeticide, impact of liberalisation on women's employment, rights of the girl child, gender and AIDS interface. It has also developed printed and video resource material on gender justice and women's development.

The main focus of Evaluation Studies is on measuring the extent and reach of social security and safety nets. A number of studies have been undertaken on issues like measurement of rural poverty in Punjab, evaluation of primary healthcare system, primary education system, community health evaluation including infant and child mortality, sanitation, AIDS, immunization and family planning.

Both macro and micro level evaluations have been conducted using innovative methodological tools, including village level Integrated Participatory Seasonal Observatory System (IPSOS), participatory qualitative methods, neighbourhood analysis, walkthroughs, multi-cluster indicatory surveys etc.

These projects have been undertaken on behalf of the Government of India and various State Governments.

IDC has also been recognised by the Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development, as an educational institution for imparting non-formal adult and continuing education through Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS). It will offer vocational education to neo-literates and unemployed youth. The Institute for Development and Communication is also recognised by the Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development, as a centre for providing training to National Service Scheme Programme Officers of the Union Territory of Chandigarh, and the States of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.

IDC is a member of a unique Global Justice Alliance - ALTUS. Altus unites six well-established organizations spanning five continents into a unique powerful alliance for justice. With more than 200 professionals working in different languages, cultures, and legal traditions, Altus offers a truly multicultural perspective on issues of safety and justice. As an alliance among NGOs and academic centers, Altus promotes a larger role for civil society in the administration of justice. With a central office in The Hague and regional representatives around the world, Altus connects the growing field of international criminal law with the needs of individuals for access to justice where they live.

During the last three years, the Institute has conducted 24 orientation and refresher courses. Seven hundred eighty (780) lecturers of the region obtained certificates after successfully completing orientation and refresher courses. In addition to this, 227 teachers have been trained under University Talk AIDS programme, 880 students were trained as Peer Educators and 43 programmes were conducted on AIDS awareness in different educational institutions in Chandigarh, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

Professionals, academicians and training co-ordinators associated with IDC to implement and supervise its activities include such distinguished persons as Professor(s) Y.K. Alagh, Upendra Baxi, G.S. Bhalla, J.N. Joshi, Partho Mukherji, H.S. Shergill, Pramod Kumar and Asgar Ali Engineer. All of them have had a life-long association with democratic and nationalist thinking as also progressive movements. It has a vast pool of experts, resource persons, researchers and investigators in Chandigarh and several other places.