Mankind in its awakened thought has persistently returned to some of the basic questions of life and its meaning. Questions like 'what is man's life?', 'what is its meaning and purpose?', 'how is man to plan his life to attain his purpose?', 'how is man to plan his life to attain his ideals?', 'if life is a part of reality, how is man to know this reality?'- these and similar other inquiries are to be found even in the earliest traditions of quest all over the world. In India we find them in its earliest records of the Vedic Age, and it is in these that we find the source of philosophical reflection in our country. Co-ordinate research activities in philosophy, encourage programmes of interdisciplinary research, promote teaching & research in philosophy and give financial support to institutions & organisations engaged in the conduct of research on philosophy.