6/30/2017 research projects

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RESEARCH PROJECTS
(Major and Minor)
GUIDELINES
Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), provides grant to scholars to conduct research in various fields of Social Sciences which have a theoretical, conceptual, and
methodological or policy orientation on the subject of their choice. The scholars will be requested to indicate under which field/disciplines their proposals fall.

1. Eligibility for the Grant

1.1 Professional social scientists who are regularly employed as faculty in UGC recognized University/college or a publicly funded Research Institute, or an ICSSR funded/recognized
Research Institute having a Ph.D degree and research publications to their credit are eligible for this grant.

1.2 Some other categories of scholars such as retired academics, civil servants, journalists, social workers, etc. known for their academic interests having a Ph.D degree, and a strong
academic background, including record of publications, can also apply under the scheme.

1.3 All application forms have to be submitted in soft copy through e-mail (as intimated in the application form), followed by submission of a hard copy. A research proposal may be
submitted in the prescribed format (Annexure - I) by an individual scholar or a team of scholars through his/her employer along with Bio-data in the prescribed format (Annexure-
II).

1.4. This grant-in-aid would normally be available for scholars below the age of 70 years.

1.5. Separate allocation of Project Grant shall be made for the SC/ST candidates as per allocations made in the ICSSR Plan Grant.

2. Duration and Value

The duration of a project is ordinarily six to twenty four months. The maximum budget permissible in this category will be Rupees five lakhs for a minor project and Rupees fifteen
lakhs for a major project. The budget estimates for these proposals are to be prepared on the basis of the guidelines format (Annexure- III).

3. Procedure of Selection

3.1. Research project proposals are evaluated by a Committee of Subject Experts.

3.2. The Committees will ordinarily meet twice a year to shortlist the proposals.

3.3. Proposals which are rejected at the short-listing stage will not be taken up for further consideration.

3.4. Except for those shortlisted proposals which do not require revision and are considered by the Committees as outstanding, all other shortlisted applicants will be called for
interaction with designated subject committees at ICSSR Regional Centres or ICSSR head office. The short-listed applicants who are invited for interaction, not more than one per
project/programme, will be reimbursed for travel, as per ICSSR norms.

3.5. After interaction, the candidates may be asked to revise their proposals, and /or budgets, wherever considered necessary.

3.6. The committees will grade the shortlisted proposals as follows:

A - Outstanding
B - Very Good
C - Satisfactory
D - Unsatisfactory (Deemed to be rejected)

3.7. The Research Projects Division will draw up a table of proposals along with budget and place them before the Research Committee (RC) along with total budget allocation. The
list of projects to be sanctioned will be placed before the Research Committee for approval.

3.8. If additional funds are available, the RC may consider waitlisted projects and approve the same.

3.9. Other things being the same, the RC may give preference to projects submitted by women, persons with disability, and researchers from educationally backward areas.

3.10. Similarly proposals from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will be given preference as per the Government of Indias directives.

3.11. Project proposals, submitted in any financial given year will not be taken forward to the next financial year for consideration. Project Director(s) may revise and resubmit
applications in any subsequent period.

4. Submission of Proposals

4.1. Research Proposals will be invited through an advertisement in some national dailies, and or journals, University News, etc. ordinarily, twice a year in April/May and
September/October of each year. Detailed information will be available at the ICSSR Web-site. Deadlines for proposal submission will be advertised and will normally be June 30,
and November 30 of every year.

4.2 The affiliating institution should be publicly funded Universities or Research Institutions/Central, Deemed and Private Universities/ ICSSR recognized or funded institutes.

4.3 The completed applications should include the following documents to the ICSSR as per deadlines indicated in the call.
Research Proposal in not more than 3000 words (Five Copies. See Annexure - I for Format)
Summary of Research Proposal in 500 Words (Five Copies) See Annexure - V for Format)
Bio-Data (Five Copies See Annexure - II for Format)
Cost Estimation (Five Copies Annexure - III for Budget Format and Approved Rates of Project Staff).
Consent Letter from the Affiliating Institution (See Annexure - IV for format).

N.B. The research proposals along with the above documents is to be submitted to: Research Projects Division, ICSSR, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, JNU Institutional Area, New Delhi
110 067. If applicant is employed, the proposal should be routed through proper channel.

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6/30/2017 research projects
5. Affiliation

5.1 The forwarding institution(s), where the proposed research project is to be located and administered has to provide, in the prescribed format contained in the Application Form,
an undertaking to administer and manage the ICSSR grant and provide logistical support for the study.

5.2 Such institution (s) will be under obligation to ensure submission of the final report and audited statement of accounts.

6. Release of Grant

The Sanctioned grant is normally released to the institute/university in three installments, depending upon the duration of the project. The first installment (which can be up to 40% of
the grant) is released after the approval of the Project and receipt of acceptance from the Project Director, along with a tentative breakup of expenditure for the first phase of the
project. Subsequent grants are released on the basis of the receipt of progress reports, including financial statement of the use of the grant. Twenty per cent of the grant (including
7.5% of the overhead charges payable to the affiliating institute) is withheld and is released only after the submission of the Final Report of the project and audited Statement of
Accounts including Utilization Certificate in GFR 19 A Format ( See Annexure - VI) and their approval by the Council.

7. Progress Report

The Project Director is expected to submit to the quarterly/Six Monthly Progress Report of the project along with a certified statement of expenditure actually incurred and an
anticipated expenditure for the next quarter/six months in the prescribed form (See Annexure - VII). The release of subsequent installment of grant is subject to satisfactory progress
of the work.

8. Final Report

The Project Director is required to submit three copies (two hard copies and a soft copy) of the Project Report to the Council on completion of the project. The Council, after
evaluation of the report by an expert, may request the Project Director to revise, if necessary, before releasing final instalment. The Project Director is also required to submit a
Summary of the report in around 2500 words.

9. Preservation of Data

The Project Director shall make suitable arrangements for preservation of data such as filled-in schedules, tabulation sheets, manuscripts, report etc., relating to the project. The
ICSSR reserves the right to demand raw data or such part of it as may be specified to be transferred to the ICSSR.

10. General Guidelines

Please refer to General Guidelines for ICSSR Research Projects and Programmes for other administrative and financial procedures.

Other relevant documents:

Agreement format (See Annexure - VIII)

Grant-in-aid bill format (See Annexure - 1X)
Download Application Forms

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