Guidelines For Submission of Research Proposals Under the PRABODH Scheme

Application-related guidelines:

• All project proposals will be screened and selected on the basis of the recommendations of the panel of external experts.
• PI or Co-PI must have a Ph.D. degree with at least one research paper published in a reputed journal in the last three years. If PI/Co-PI do not have a Ph.D. degree then they should have at least three research papers published in reputed journals in the last five years.
• Duration of the project should not exceed two years.
• Funding support required for the project should not exceed ₹ 2.5 lakhs and should be justified by the research objectives.
• The number of faculty members and students involved in a project should not exceed the permissible limits of 3 to 4 teachers and 4 to 5 students per project.
• A faculty member can apply only for one project either as PI or Co-PI. All Project Investigators will have equal status.
• PI or Co-PI will assume the financial responsibility of the project. Projects run solely by ad-hoc PIs must associate a permanent faculty with the project for logistic and financial reasons.
• A student of the college can take part in one project only. PIs will select the students on the basis of the requirements of their projects in a transparent manner.

Budget-related guidelines:

• College will monitor the financial discipline regarding the project.
• The Project Investigators will be responsible for following GFR-2017 and other government norms of expenditure.
• The grant sanctioned should be utilized only according to budgetary heads under which the amount is allocated. Re-appropriation of funds not exceeding 10% under each budget head may be allowed in special circumstances by the college Principal and the PRABODH Committee.
• A student will receive a financial assistance of ₹2,500/- per annum or part thereof for each year of involvement in the project. A maximum of ₹5,000/- for a two-year project can be paid as financial assistance to each student.
• Any outstation travel should only be permitted if it is an absolute must for the project and has been part of the original proposal. Due caution must be taken in detailing outstation visits.
• Outstation travel should be avoided for any survey or research work that can be done locally. Clarification may be sought from the PRABODH Committee in case it is required.
• Public transport should be used for local surveys. Use of taxis/cabs should be strongly discouraged.
• Purchase of laptops, video recording instruments, air conditioners, cameras, furniture, home theatre, mobile phone etc. is not permitted. Prior approval must be sought for any exception.
• The equipment and other non-consumable items purchased in the project are the property of the College.
• Utilization Certificate has to be submitted at the time of mid-term report. The remaining grant will not be released in future without submission of Utilization Certificate. However, an Audited Utilization Certificate must be submitted at the time of submission of the final report.
• Each project should submit an audited Utilization Certificate within one month of the last date of the project. No request for future grants will be entertained till the previous project is closed and an audited utilization certificate is submitted along with other requirements like final report and return of balance amount.

Operations-related guidelines:

• Any change in the status of the project regarding change in faculty member, student etc. should be intimated to the PRABODH Committee and appropriate approval be taken.
• Ad-hoc faculty who are no longer a part of the College after submitting the project will be allowed to work in the sanctioned Innovation Project subject to the approval of the competent authority.
• Fifty per cent of the sanctioned money plus the equipment grant will be released in the first term. The funds in the second phase will be released after mid-term review of the progress of the project. If the project is not conducted according to the agreed guidelines and the progress report is not satisfactory, the second installment of the grant will not be released.
• In the projects involving laboratory-based work, the College should ensure that the major portion of the work was conducted in the laboratory facilities available/created in the college.
• The final project report accompanied with a plagiarism report is to be submitted to the PRABODH Committee.
• Students should be motivated to present research work at conferences and symposia along with the teachers.
• Due recognition must be given to grants received from A.R.S.D College at the time of any publication or presentation.
• IPR generated during the project will be shared between the College, PI/Co-PI and students. The details of the sharing procedure will be notified by the college.
• For any further clarification regarding the implementation of the projects, PIs are advised to contact the PRABODH Committee.
• The College reserves the right to modify/ revise guidelines as and when necessary.