PROCESS TO BE FOLLOWED FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED BY
NRRDA/MORD.
1. Submission of Proposals
The project proposal can be submitted at any time during the year to NRRDA. However,
NRRDA shall process the proposals three times in a financial year for approval (April,
August and December). The proposals shall be submitted by Principal Technical
Agencies (PTAs)/ State Technical Agencies (STAs) or by any Government, Government
aided Research/Engineering/Science/Management Institutions of the country having
credentials of established research facilities and manpower to deliver time bound
research projects. The proposals shall be submitted in the format prescribed by NRRDA
for submission of research proposals. The proposal shall be submitted in soft copy (MSWord) and also at least one hard copy to the Director (Technical) NRRDA, through Head
of the Institution. The proposal shall be preferably from any of the identified thrust areas,
the list of which is enclosed. Following items should necessarily be submitted with the
proposal:
(a) Proposal in prescribed format
(b) Certificate from Investigators
(c) Certificate from the Head of the Institution.
The proposals can also be submitted as Cooperative / Collaborative research proposal
involving more than one institution, in such cases the Principal Institution shall be from
PTAs/ STAs.
2. Constitution of Expert Group
The project proposals will be reviewed and selected by an expert group (the ‘Expert Group’)
to be formed by NRRDA in consultation with the Chairman of Standing Advisory Committee
of NRRDA. The Expert Group will have four permanent members and two experts in the
specific area of research proposal, who will be appointed by NRRDA in consultation with the
Chairman. The Expert Group will have the following composition:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
Chairman of Standing Advisory Committee - Chairman
Three members from NRRDA -Two Directors and a representative of IFD of
MoRD, - Permanent members by designation
Two experts – to be appointed specific to the research proposal
The Expert Group will have the overall authority to finalize the selection of the research
proposal, research team, and the project cost.
3. Processing of Proposal and Award
Following procedure will be adopted for processing and award of research proposals:
(i)
Scrutiny of the project proposals shall be carried out in-house by the R&D
Cell of NRRDA. Proposals scrutinised and recommended by the R & D cell,
shall be forwarded to the members of the Expert Group. The proposals shall
be circulated to members at least two weeks prior to the date of the meeting
to allow the members sufficient time to study the proposal
(ii)
After two weeks of circulation of the proposal, the Expert Group will hold its
meeting in which the Principal Investigator will be invited to make a
presentation on the proposal and furnish clarifications and further details as
required. The Expert Group may require the Principal Investigator to modify or
amplify the proposal.
(iii)
Final selection for award and funding of the research project shall be based
on the recommendations of the Expert Group.
4. Project Monitoring & Evaluation
The progress report of the project shall be submitted by the Principal Investigator at the
specified periodicity in the prescribed format. For projects of duration of one year or
longer, progress reports shall be furnished every six months commencing from the date
of award. The first six monthly report (in maximum 10 pages) shall report progress in all
tasks and milestones indicated in the project proposal; and the subsequent reports will
be more elaborate and cover the cumulative progress for all tasks and milestones, and
interim results/ findings, if any. These reports will also include an up-to-date expenditure
statement as against the approved budget. In respect of projects of short duration (less
than one year), progress reports shall be furnished at the mid of the project period and at
the completion.
The progress reports shall be reviewed by NRRDA internally. NRRDA may like to involve
any member of the Expert Group in the specific field for his comments, as per standard
format of NRRDA. The Principal Investigator may be required to make a presentation on
the yearly report before the Expert Group and comply with the comments of the
members.
MoRD / NRRDA may depute their representative to inspect the field or laboratory
investigations/studies under progress. The Principal Investigator will ensure that they are
provided full access to the data, reports, experiments and performance evaluations in
progress.
One month prior to the completion date of the research project, the Principal Investigator
shall submit the research findings and draft reports etc., and will present the same before
the Expert Group for evaluation, as per standard format of NRRDA. The Principal
Investigator shall submit the Final Report within 30 days of the communication of the
comments by NRRDA.
Normally, extension of the project period is not allowed beyond the sanctioned period. If
the project is delayed, it must be justified and NRRDA may consider on recommendation
of the Expert Group, extension of time without any additional cost for such time
extensions.
5. Equipment and Software
Ownership of all the equipment and software procured/ developed under the research
programme shall be with the institution carrying out research. Further, the responsibility
of maintenance / upgrade of the equipment and software will also be with the concerned
institute. These equipment and software should also be made available to SRRDAs for
conducting any test/ analysis. The institute will have to give an undertaking to this effect.
The process of procurement / development of equipment and software will be as
prevalent in the institution.
6. Utilization of Research Findings
NRRDA/ MoRD may request the Investigator(s) to prepare any guideline or circular, it
desires to issue to the States, based on the findings and results of the research project.
The Principal Investigator will prepare such guidelines/ circulars and submit the same
with final project report as part of the project.
7. Completion of Project
After the submission of the Final Report by the Principal Investigator along with complete
financial accounts with ‘Utilisation Certificate’ for the project.indicating all expenses for
the project, NRRDA shall issue a completion certificate to this effect.The Institution shall
also refund any unspent amount, from the project grant received from NRRDA/ MORD.
8. Publications and Patents
The Investigators are advised to publish the project findings and results freely for
dissemination to the profession duly acknowledging the funding and support provided by
the NRRDA/MoRD for the research work. The patents/ copyrights also can be filed for
Intellectual Property Right (IPR), jointly by Investigator and NRRDA.