It was inaugurated on the 31st of January, 1958, by Desh Ratna Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the First President of India. Later it was made a statutory autonomous body through legislation on the 8th of October, 1964 under the A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies Act 1964 by the Govt. of Bihar. The Institute is governed by the Board of Control and funded by the Department of Education, Government of Bihar and Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) through the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

Anugrah Narayan Sinha Institute of Social Studies (ANSISS) was established by the Government of Bihar, in memory of Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha, an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi since the days of the Champaran Satyagraha Movement, first Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Finance Minister and one of the architects of modern Bihar.

It was inaugurated on the 31st of January, 1958, by Desh Ratna Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the First President of India. Later it was made a statutory autonomous body through legislation on the 8th of October, 1964 under the A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies Act 1964 by the Govt. of Bihar. The Institute is governed by the Board of Control and funded by the Department of Education, Government of Bihar and Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) through the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

The Institute is located in a sprawling campus situated on the southern bank of the river Ganga at a distance of 3 kms from Patna Railway Junction and in the North West end of the Gandhi Maidan on the Ashok Raj Path opposite Divisional Commissioner`s Office. Even though located in the heart of the city, it boasts of a picturesque location with quiet surroundings.