Research Projects

Dept. of Science and Technology has asked institutions like ours to submit proposals for funded projects . If any of my students are interested in taking up any such project,he/she can contact me. Some details of the focus areas in which funds are available are given below. There are still many more other areas of research in which proposals can be submitted. Further details can be found from DST website.

Department of Science and Technology (DST)

I. Introduction

The Department of Science & Technology plays a pivotal role in promotion of Science & Technology in the country. Science & Technology Policy-2003 states that “Special emphasis will be placed on equity in development, so that the benefits of technological growth reach the majority of the population, particularly the disadvantaged sections, leading to an improved quality of life for every citizen of the country.”

The Department has wide ranging activities ranging from promoting high end basic research and development of cutting edge technologies on one hand to service the technological requirements of the common man through development of appropriate skills and technologies on the other.

The Department supports research through a wide variety of schemes specifically carved out to meet the requirements of different sections of the scientific and engineering community.

II. Name of scheme(s):

1. Deep Continental Studies (DCS)

2. Himalayan Glaciology (HG)

3. Indian Climate Research Programme (ICRP)

4. Instrument Development Programe (IDP)

5. International S&T Cooperation (ISTC)

6. Joint Technology Projects under STAC/IS-STAC

7. Monsoon and Tropical Climate (MONTCLIM) & Agrometeorology

8. Natural Resources Data Management System (NRDMS)

9. Pharmaceuticals Research & Development Support Fund (PRDSF) Programme

10. Programme Advisory Committee on Earth Sciences (PAC-ES): R&D Projects Scheme

11. Science & Engineering Research Council (SERC)

12. Science & Society Programmes (SSP)

13. Seismology Programme (SP)

14. State Science & Technology Programme (SSTP)

15. Technology Development Programme (Joint Technology –Technology System Programme)

16. Utilisation of Scientific Expertise of Retired Scientists (USERS)

4. Instrument Development Programme (IDP)

Objective(s)

Department of Science & Technology under its Instrumentation Development Programme (IDP) has been funding projects on design and development of indigenous instruments / technologies for over two decades. As a result, various instruments have been developed such as IR Spectrometer, UV-VIS Spectrophotometer, Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, Soil Salinity Tester, Ion Selective Electrodes, Digital Tide Gauge etc. at various R&D institutions and know how of 31 such technologies have been transferred for their commercial production to industry. The objectives of the scheme are:

• to formulate, coordinate and implement programmes leading to indigenous development and up gradation of instruments.

III. Who can submit the proposal

The project proposals could be submitted for financial support by scientists/engineers/technologists working in universities and other academic institutions; R&D institutions /laboratories having adequate infrastructure and facilities to carry out R&D work in collaboration with industry in cash or kind is an essential condition .

IV. When and how to submit a proposal

Any time during the year in prescribed format . Twenty (20) copies of the project proposal required to be submitted in format which can be downloaded from the website.

V. Areas of research support

During the 10th plan , The Department has initiated the Instrument Development programme in mission mode for capacity building & development of instruments in the country. Therefore , National Instrument Development Board has been constituted for the purpose. The following thrust areas have been identified by the Board:

• Analytical / Optical Instrumentation ;
• Medical Instrumentation;
• Industrial Instrumentation;
• Sensors ;
• Imaging Techniques and Instrumentation.

VI. Components of Grant

Financial support is provided for project staff salaries, equipment , consumables, domestic travel and other miscellaneous items .

VII. Items not allowed out of grant

No support is provided towards creating basic infrastructure and building .

VIII. Mechanism of implementation and monitoring

• Department constitute the Steering Committee for the particular identified thrust areas for the implementation of the project .
• The Steering Committee will be the approving / recommending authority for the proposal received under the programme .
• Steering Committee also having the authority to appoint the Monitoring Committee for the project
• The functional responsibility of the project lies with Institution carrying out the project right from beginning to commercialization of the instrument / product developed .
• During implementation of the project the quarterly progress report will be submitted by the implementing agency to the Instrument Development Programme , Technology Development & Transfer Division , Department of Science & Technology .

IX. Contact Address

The Adviser & Head (IDP)
Instrument Development Programme
Department of Science & Technology
Technology Bhawan, New Delhi – 110016
TeleFax No: (011) 26963695
E-mail: laxman@nic.in
Website: www.dst.gov.in