The Council has two statutory committees - the Administrative Committee and the Research Projects Committees. Besides, it has other sub-committees comprising members from within the Council and those co-opted from outside. These are the Study Grants / Junior Research Fellowship Committee, the Foreign Travel Grants Committee, the Editorial Board, the Sources Committee (Ancient, Medieval and Modern), the Publication Committee, the Library Committee, the Administrative Reforms Committee, the ICHR Southern Regional Centre Advisory Committee (Bangalore) and the ICHR North East Regional Centre Advisory Committee (Guwahati), besides committees to monitor these regional centres.
The Council Secretariat headed by the Member Secretary implements its decisions.