Institute of Sikh Studies, Chandigarh (IOSS) was established in 1989 by some eminent Sikh scholars and Sikh stalwarts like, Sardar Daljit Singh, IAS, Dr. Kharak Singh, Prof Jagjit Singh, Justice Gurdev Singh, Maj Gen Gurbaksh Singh, Maj Gen Mohinder Singh, S Inderjit Singh Jaijee, Bibi Baljit Kaur, Bhai Ashok Singh Bagrian, Brig Hardit Singh and others registered under the Society XXI Act 1860 vide 846 of 1988-89. Originating from the Residence of S Daljit Singh, IAS (retd), it shifted to its present campus on the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Kanthala, Indl Area Phase 2, Chandigarh on the Airport Road opposite The Tribune Office Roundabout in year 2000.

After constructing its own campus, the major objective behind establishing this Sikh Institute of Sikh studies was to confront and rebut the countrywide vilification campaign against the Sikhs during the turbulent decade of 1980s as well as the calculated and intentional misinterpretation of some of the fundamental tenets of Sikhism by some of the Western and Northern American scholars under the stewardship of W.H. McLeod, a Christian missionary-turned-scholar of Sikh studies.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, leading Sikh scholars and the sensitive, enlightened Human Rights Sikh activists felt an urgent to confront/ face this ideological challenge and counter this State sponsored anti-Sikh propaganda and an equally violent strong of the vocal section the Sikhs against their legitimate religious, political and economic demands. Since then, the IOSS has been actively engaged in not only preparing quality publications in Sikh Studies but also contributing its expert advice to the movements concerning various other Sikhs religious issues.