Research and Development Programme in Water Sector

The scheme "Research and Development Programme in Water Sector" was launched by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. The scheme aims to provide solutions to the problems related to the water sector through effective research and development for achieving sustainable development and self-reliance. The scheme provides Grants-in-Aid for basic research, applied research, and action research, detailing key provisions such as remuneration for research personnel, travel expenses, infrastructure costs, experimental charges, and overhead charges. The applicant must submit a well-written research proposal clearly stating a synopsis of the work already done, objectives, methodology, estimated cost, duration of the scheme, milestones, and the phasing of physical and financial progress. The scheme is implemented by the Indian National Committees and the Research and Development Division of the Ministry of Water Resources, and the applications for this scheme are accepted offline by submitting physical copies to the concerned committee.

• The scheme provides Grants-in-Aid for Basic Research, Applied Research, and Action Research.
• The scheme provides remuneration and emoluments for research personnel assisting the investigators.
• The revised monthly emoluments are ₹25,000/- for a Junior Research Fellow, ₹28,000/- for a Senior Research Fellow, and ₹36,000/- to ₹40,000/- for Research Associates across different levels.
• The grant funds the cost of conducting experiments, including consumables, wages for full-time non-research personnel, and third-party services like typing and lab analysis.
• The grant provides travel expenses connected with the research, including one long-distance journey by one person once a year for attending a research and development session or committee meeting.
• The scheme provides infrastructure funding for the purchase of equipment of a permanent nature, software, and necessary meteorological or satellite data.
• The scheme provides overhead charges to the host institute for facilities like infrastructure, staff, water, electricity, and communication.
• For projects costing up to ₹1,00,00,000/-, overhead charges are provided at 10% of the total cost for educational institutions and Non-Governmental Organizations, and at 8% for laboratories and institutions under Central Government Departments.
• The scheme provides a contingency budget provision up to 5% of the total cost or ₹1,00,00,000/- (whichever is less) for unforeseen situations.
• Funds are provided by direct transfer of money into the bank account of the appropriate authority in the institute.
• The funds are released in installments commensurate with the progress of the work and actual requirements during the financial year.

Conditions

• The beneficiary institute must provide full infrastructural facilities by way of accommodation, water, electricity, and communication for the smooth implementation of the project.
• Non-Governmental Organizations and Private Institutions must bear 50% of the equipment cost from their own resources.
• The overhead expenses shall actually be paid to the institute by the Ministry Of Water Resources only after the completion of the research scheme and the acceptance of the final report.
• The Principal Investigator must submit an annual progress report indicating milestones achieved and a utilization certificate to the concerned Indian National Committee on or before the 30th of June every year to receive further installments.
• The Principal Investigator must refund any unspent balance or unused funds along with interest accrued to the Pay and Accounts Office via a crossed demand draft after the completion of the scheme.

• The applicant must be an academician or expert working in Indian Institutes of Technology, recognized universities, recognized engineering and agricultural colleges, or Water and Land Management Institutes.
• The applicant must be an expert from an organization under the Ministry Of Water Resources or from a research and development institute or laboratory of the Central or State Government.
• The applicant must be from an Indian Non-Governmental Organization registered under the relevant Society Act.
• The applicant must be from a non-profit making recognized Indian Private Research and Development Institution registered with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
• The applicant must propose a research topic that falls within the subject domain or priority areas related to the respective Indian National Committee.
• The applicant must ensure the proposed research has not been done elsewhere to avoid duplication.
• The applicant must identify the probable users of the new technology and end-users of the results of the proposed research.
• The applicant must not seek funding for foreign travel, salaries of regular employees of the institute, or honorariums for investigators.
• The applicant must not utilize the grant for the construction, maintenance, or repair of buildings, or the purchase of vehicles and air conditioners.
• The applicant must complete any previous ongoing research projects funded by the Ministry of Water Resources before a new research proposal can be considered.
• The applicant must be an Indian citizen to be eligible for research fellowships and associateships.
• The applicant must ensure the upper age limit for Junior Research Fellow, Senior Research Fellow, and Research Associate is 28, 32, and 35 years respectively on the day of application.

Desirable Criteria

The applicant should associate a Co-Principal Investigator in the research scheme.

Post-Selection Conditions

• The applicant must execute a bond with two sureties to the President of India if applying as a Non-Governmental Organization.
• The applicant must maintain a separate audited account and register for permanent or semi-permanent assets acquired solely out of the project grant.
• The applicant must publish research papers emerging out of the research scheme in leading journals with prior approval of the Ministry of Water Resources.
• The applicant must acknowledge the assistance received from the funding agency in all publications and patent findings.

Relaxation

The applicant should note that the upper age limit for fellowships is relaxable for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Classes, Women, and physically handicapped candidates.

Offline

Step 1:**** Preparing the Research Proposal

The applicant must carefully read the guidelines and prepare a comprehensive research proposal stating a synopsis of the work already done, objectives, methodology, estimated cost, duration, milestones, and physical and financial phasing. The estimated cost must be structured into specific expenditure heads, supported by necessary quotations and justifications.

Step 2:**** Securing End User Views

The applicant must identify possible end-users for the results of the proposed research. The applicant must then obtain their views and enclose a certificate from at least two such end-users along with the proposal.

Step 3:**** Submitting the Application

The Principal Investigator must get the proposal duly recommended and endorsed by the Head of the Institute. The applicant must then submit five physical copies of the proposal along with a soft copy in PDF and Word format to the concerned Indian National Committee secretariat.

Step 4:**** Evaluating and Reviewing the Proposal

The Indian National Committee secretariat will examine the proposal, allocate an identification number, and send it to peer reviewers and committee members. The committee may ask the Principal Investigator to submit a revised proposal after incorporating the views of the experts and reviewers.

Step 5:**** Approving the Scheme

The applicant will be invited to present the proposal before the committee for discussion. The recommended proposals will be forwarded to the Research And Development Division for administrative approval and a formal sanction order will be issued by the competent authority.

Step 6:**** Executing the Bond and Releasing Funds

The Principal Investigator and the Head of the Institution must submit the acceptance of the terms and conditions. Non-Governmental Organizations must execute a prescribed bond with two sureties, after which the Ministry will process the release of the first installment of funds directly into the bank account of the institution.

Application Process Detailing

Where to Apply: Applications must be sent physically to the Secretariats of the Indian National Committee on Surface Water (Sewa Bhawan, R.K. Puram, New Delhi), the Indian National Committee on Ground Water (Jamnagar House, Mansingh Road, New Delhi), or the Indian National Committee on Climate Change (National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee) depending on the research domain.
Application Deadlines: The research proposal can be submitted at any time during the year.
Grievance Redressal / Help & Support: Director, Research And Development Division, Ministry of Water Resources, Wing No. 4, I Floor, West Block No.1, R.K. Puram, New Delhi - 110066. Telephone and Fax: 011-26104082. Email: watrnd-mowr@nic.in.