SERBPOWERRG
SERB - POWER Research Grants
6.7/10The aim of the ‘SERB - POWER Research Grants’ is to encourage emerging and eminent women researchers for individual-centric and competitive mode of research funding to undertake R&D activities in frontier areas of science and engineering.
States / UT: All India
Ministry / nodal: Ministry Of Science And Technology
Nodal department: Department Of Science & Technology
Scheme for: Individual
Scheme profile
DBT (direct benefit transfer): No
Categories: Science, IT & Communications, Women and Child
Target beneficiaries: Individual
Tags: SERB, Research Grant, POWER, Woman Researcher, Investigator, Woman Scientist
Details
The “SERB - POWER Research Grants” is a program category under the SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities For Women in Exploratory Research) Program, launched by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. SERB - POWER (Promoting Opportunities For Women in Exploratory Research) program is formulated to mitigate gender disparity in science and engineering research funding in various S&T programs in Indian academic institutions and R&D Laboratories. SERB-POWER is specially designed to provide structured effort toward enhanced diversity in research to ensure equal access and weighted opportunities for Indian women scientists engaged in research and development activities.
The aim of the ‘SERB - POWER Research Grants’ is to encourage emerging and eminent women researchers for an individual-centric and competitive mode of research funding to undertake R&D activities in frontier areas of science and engineering.
Benefits
- Nature and Duration of Support : POWER Grants will empower women researchers by funding them under the following two categories:
- Level I: The scale of funding up to ₹60 lakhs for three years. - Level II: The scale of funding up to ₹30 lakhs for three years. - The POWER Grant is provided for equipment, manpower, consumables, travel, and contingency. "Overheads" is also being provided to the implementing institution as per prevailing norms of SERB. Note: POWER Grant will be regulated through terms of reference conforming to SERB-CRG guidelines
Nature and Duration of Support :
POWER Grants will empower women researchers by funding them under the following two categories:
- Level I: The scale of funding up to ₹60 lakhs for three years. - Level II: The scale of funding up to ₹30 lakhs for three years. - The POWER Grant is provided for equipment, manpower, consumables, travel, and contingency. "Overheads" is also being provided to the implementing institution as per prevailing norms of SERB.
Note: POWER Grant will be regulated through terms of reference conforming to SERB-CRG guidelines.
Eligibility
- Applicants [Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Principal Investigator(s) (Co-PI(s))] should be Indian citizens.
- The Applicant(s) must hold a regular academic/research position in a recognized academic institution or national laboratory or in any other recognized R&D institution in India.
- Applicants from IITs, IISERs, IISc, NITs, Central Universities, and National Labs of Central Government Institutions will be considered under the Level I category, whereas applicants from State Universities/Colleges and Private Academic Institutions should apply under the Level II category.
- Faculties recruited through the UGC-Faculty Recharge Program are eligible to apply. INSPIRE Faculty, Ramanujan, and Ramalingaswamy Fellows are also eligible to apply provided they have at least three and half years of tenure remaining at the time of submission of application.
- There is a mandatory requirement for female CO-PI from the same institute.
- Male CO-PI is not allowed in the POWER Grant Research Scheme.
- PhD guide cannot be CO-PI.
- PIs who have already got a POWER Grant, are not allowed to apply again in POWER Grant Scheme.
- JC Bose fellows and the PIs who have already completed two CRG are not allowed to apply for the POWER Grant Research Scheme.
- The number of CO-PIs should not exceed two per project.
Note 01: Women Scientists cannot hold POWER Fellowship and POWER Grant at the same time.
Note 02: POWER Grant will be regulated through terms of reference confirming SERB-CRG guidelines.
Note 03: SERB POWER grant will be regulated through terms of reference conforming to SERB CRG guidelines except sharing of 50 % non-recurring cost by National Laboratories and Research Institutions.
Note 04: The budget under the equipment head is limited to not more than ₹14 lakhs for Tier II institutions (₹30 lakhs limit).
How useful is this scheme?
A practical look at this scheme for citizens
AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.
- Accessibility5.0
- Financial impact9.5
- Rural utility4.0
- Awareness7.5
- Simplicity4.0
- Inclusivity10.0
What problem does this scheme solve?
The SERB - POWER Research Grants scheme aims to support women researchers in India by providing funding for research activities, thereby addressing gender disparity in science and engineering.
Key challenges addressed
- Encourages women participation in research
- Mitigates gender disparity in funding
Most beneficial for
- Women researchers
- Academic institutions
- National laboratories
Likely challenges
- Complex application process
- Eligibility restrictions
Practical insights for citizens
While the scheme is beneficial, the application process may deter many potential applicants due to its complexity.
Rural challenges
- Limited internet access
- Lack of awareness in rural areas
Digital challenges
- High digital dependency for application
Implementation bottlenecks
- Complex eligibility criteria
- Limited outreach to rural women
Awareness challenges
- Low awareness among potential beneficiaries
Application analysis
- Application mode
- Online portal
- Documents burden
- Moderate, requires technical documents
- Verification complexity
- High, involves multiple eligibility checks
- Office dependency
- Low, primarily online
- DBT dependency
- No direct benefit transfer
- CSC support
- Limited
- Estimated citizen effort
- High, due to detailed proposal requirements
Estimated beneficiary reach
Benefit analysis
- Benefit type
- Composite funding for research
- Benefit frequency
- One-time grant
- Benefit practicality
- High, if eligible
- Financial meaningfulness
- Moderate, depending on project scale
- Long-term impact
- Potentially significant for women in research
Plain-language guidance
The SERB - POWER Research Grants provide funding for women researchers in India to support their research projects. Applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria and apply online.
- Who should apply
- Women researchers with a regular academic or research position.
- Who may struggle
- First-time applicants and those with limited digital skills.
- Best application route
- Apply via the online portal after registering.
This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.
Application Process
Online
For successful online submission of the application, the following points may be noted:
Step 01: Applicant(s) should first register on the online website. Click Here to Register.
Step 02: After login, applicant(s) are required to fill all the mandatory fields in the Profile Detail section under User Profile. which includes Bio-data, Photos, Institute Address, etc.
Step 03: If you have CO-PI in your proposal then ensure that all the CO-PI's are also registered into the system following the same procedure.
Step 04: Some of the details of your proposal like Project Title (max 500 characters), Project summary (max 3000 characters), Keywords (max 6), Objectives of the project (max 1500 characters), Expected output, and outcome of the proposal (max 1500 characters), Budget (Research Personnel, Consumables, Travel, Equipment, Contingency, Overheads ) have to be entered at the time of proposal submission.
Step 05: Other relevant information of the proposal has to be uploaded in a single PDF file not more than 10 MB as other technical documents (OTD).
Note: The selection will be based on the recommendations of the Program Advisory Committee (PAC) constituted by the Board. If required, the applicants may be called for discussion/presentation.
Clarifications
Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).
- What is the maximum amount of the grant the Board will fund?
POWER Grants will empower women researchers by funding them under the following two categories: Level I: The scale of funding up to 60 Lakhs for three years. Level II: The scale of funding up to 30 Lakhs for three years.
- What is level I & Level II in SERB- POWER research grant?
Applicants from IITs, IISERs, IISC, NITs, Central Universities, and national Labs of Central government Institutions will be considered under level I category. Whereas applicants from state Universities/ Colleges and Private Academic Institutions should apply under Level II category.
- Does the Board has any priority areas for funding under SERB- POWER research grant?
No. The Board funds all the areas of Science and Engineering without discriminating between disciplines. The proposal will be funded if it has novelty and the investigator has the competence to execute the project.
- I am currently executing an CRG project. I want to apply for another project under SERB- POWER research grant. Will I be funded another project?
No. The Board funds only one project to an Investigator at a time, except in cases where calls for proposals are invited for specific areas/schemes/programs.
- Are Co-Investigators allowed in SERB- POWER research grant project? If they are from different institutions, can the budget be provided separately to both the Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator(s)?
Yes. Only female Co-Investigator(s) are allowed in SERB- POWER research grant project; provided the work proposed requires complementary expertise for its implementation. A separate budget can also be provided to the female Co-Investigator (s) even if they belong to different institutions.
- Under which heads SERB-POWER research grant can be utilized?
The SERB-POWER research grant is provided for Equipment, Research Personnel, Consumables, Travel and Contingency. Overheads is also being provided to the Implementing institution as per prevailing Norms of SERB.
- What is the mode of selection for SERB-POWER research grant?
The selection will be based on the recommendations of Program Advisory Committee (PAC) constituted by the Board. If required, the applicants may be called for discussion/presentation
- Whether a woman Scientist can hold both SERB-POWER Fellowship & SERB-POWER RESARCH Grant at the same time?
No, Woman Scientists cannot hold SERB-POWER Fellowship & SERB-POWER research grant at the same time.
- I am away from my institute/university for more than 6 weeks. Do I have to take permission from SERB?
Yes, you have to take permission from SERB.
- I am a Co-PI in an ongoing CRG project. Can I apply for POWER-GRANT?
Yes, you can apply for POWER-GRANT.
- I have an ongoing EMEQ/IRPHA/ MATRIX project. Can I apply for POWER-GRANT?
Yes, you can apply for POWER-GRANT.
- I have an ongoing CRG/SRG/SURE/SUPRA project. Can I apply for POWER-GRANT?
No, you can not apply for POWER-GRANT.
- How to apply for SERB POWER Research Grants?
The Call for applications will be notified through the website "https://www.serbonline.in" and "https://serb.gov.in/". The application form along with a proper research proposal highlighting the research work to be undertaken should be submitted online through the website "https://www.serbonline.in/".
Official links
References
- Official Website
- https://serb.gov.in/page/english/research_grants#SERB%20-%20POWER%20Research%20Grants
- Scheme Details
- https://anrfonline.in/ANRF/serbPowerInstructions
- Registration - SERB Online
- https://anrfonline.in/ANRF/Registration
- User Manual
- https://anrfonline.in/ANRF/registration_guidelines#loginForm
Apply
Apply nowOpens the official application or programme portal in a new tab. If in doubt, confirm details on the ministry site.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the purpose of SERB - POWER Research Grants?
- SERB - POWER Research Grants is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Individual through benefits related to Science, IT & Communications, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
- Who can apply for SERB - POWER Research Grants?
- Eligibility for SERB - POWER Research Grants may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
- What benefits are offered under SERB - POWER Research Grants?
- Benefits under SERB - POWER Research Grants may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
- Which department manages SERB - POWER Research Grants?
- SERB - POWER Research Grants is managed by Department Of Science & Technology and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
- Can users apply online for SERB - POWER Research Grants?
- Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for SERB - POWER Research Grants through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
- Is Aadhaar mandatory for SERB - POWER Research Grants?
- Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
- Where can users apply for SERB - POWER Research Grants?
- Applications for SERB - POWER Research Grants may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
- What documents may be required for SERB - POWER Research Grants?
- Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
- Is SERB - POWER Research Grants a central government scheme?
- Yes, SERB - POWER Research Grants is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
- Is SERB - POWER Research Grants only for women beneficiaries?
- SERB - POWER Research Grants is primarily intended to support eligible women beneficiaries through welfare assistance, financial support, skill development, healthcare, or social security initiatives.
- Does SERB - POWER Research Grants support self-employment or financial assistance for women?
- Depending on scheme guidelines, SERB - POWER Research Grants may provide loans, subsidies, training support, self-employment assistance, or financial welfare benefits for women.
- Can CSC centres help users apply for SERB - POWER Research Grants?
- Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
- How can users check the latest updates for SERB - POWER Research Grants?
- Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
- Can beneficiaries track application status for SERB - POWER Research Grants?
- Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
- Where can users get help for SERB - POWER Research Grants in All India?
- Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
- Which nearby public services may help with SERB - POWER Research Grants applications?
- Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.