Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has been established through an Act of Parliament (ANRF Act 2023) to undertake initiatives including seeding, growing and facilitating research at academic and research institutions.The ANRF Governing Board in its First Meeting Chaired by Hon'ble Prime Minister discussed several areas of strategic interventions that include global positioning of India in key sectors, aligning R&D with national priorities, promoting inclusive growth, and capacity building. ANRF in its endeavour to facilitate equal participation of researchers from all sectors of society, has initiated the scheme Inclusivity Research Grant (IRG). IRG scheme will provide funding support to researchers belonging to the Scheduled Caste /Scheduled Tribe to undertake research in frontier areas of science and engineering. It aims to provide a platform for researchers to further their capacity and move on to mainstream research programs.
Nature of Support :
• Funding is provided up to Rs. 60 lakh plus overheads for a period of three years.
• The measures for ease of doing research include flexibility to utilize resources under recurring head; flexibility in manpower recruitment; enhanced travel, contingency and overhead charges; and support for expenses related to open access publications and patent filing charges.
• International travel for project-related activities is also permitted.
Eligibility
• The applicant should be an Indian National.
• The applicant should be an active researcher belonging to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe category working on a regular basis in an academic institution/national lab or any other recognized R&D institution in the field of Science and Engineering.
• The applicant should hold a PhD degree in Science or Engineering or MD/MS/MDS degree.
• The applicant should have at least four years of service remaining before superannuation as of the date of submission of the proposal.
• Researchers/scientists who have ongoing projects under the IRG / erstwhile EMEQ scheme as of the date of submission of the proposal are not eligible to apply.
• Co-investigators are not allowed in the scheme.
• An investigator will be allowed to avail IRG project for a maximum of three times in their career this includes EMEQ projects of erstwhile SERB.
Mode of Application and Selection
• The call for applications will be made once a year and will be notified through the websites anrfonline.in and anrf.gov.in. The project proposal should be prepared according to the guidelines and submitted online through the website anrfonline.in
• The selection will be based on the recommendations of a Task Force Committee that will be constituted for the purpose. If desired by the Committee, the applicants may be called for personal discussion.
Terms & Conditions
I. Operational Flexibility :
Operational flexibility under Recurring - I head (consumables, research personnel, travel, contingency, and other costs) is provided to the PI, subject to the following conditions.
a) Travel:
• The expenditure under the travel head is limited to Rs. 3 Lakh for a three-year project, and proportionately lower for projects of shorter duration, except (where the project entails field work etc.) in cases where a higher amount for travel is explicitly sanctioned in the project.
• International travel for project-related work is permitted within the travel head. However, the expenditure is limited to Rs. 3 Lakh for a three-year project, and proportionately lower for projects of shorter duration.
b) Contingency :
• The expenditure under the contingency head is limited to Rs. 3 Lakh for a three-year project, and proportionately lower for projects of shorter duration.
• Contingency funds can be utilized for registration charges for international conferences.
c) Research Personnel :
• Operational flexibility is provided for engaging research personnel in the project subject to the following conditions:
(a) The norms for emoluments, and general terms and conditions of research personnel engaged in the project will be as per ANRF norms, informed through Office Memoranda viz., ANRF/OM/N/01/2024 and SB/S9/Z-06/2019 and updated time to time.
(b) The PI shall ensure that the total funds sanctioned under the recurring head is not exceeded in any case.
• All personnel, including Research personnel engaged under the project, for the full/part duration of the project, are to be treated as temporary employees and will be governed by the administrative rules/service conditions (for leave, TA/DA etc.) of the host institute. They are not to be treated as employees of the ANRF or Government of India nor permanent employees of the host institute and the ANRF will have no liability, whatsoever, for the personnel after completion of the project duration.
d) Publication and patent filing charges:
Expenditure towards open access publications in top journals of any discipline is permitted. However, the PI must obtain prior approval from ANRF to utilize the project funds for publication related expenditures, through the ANRF online portal. Funds under the recurring head can also be utilized for patent filing charges.
e) Interoperability or reappropriation between non-recurring and recurring budgets is not permitted under any circumstances.
f) Equipment: The change of approved or sanctioned equipment is generally not permitted and may only be considered on a case-by-case basis. The PI must obtain prior approval from ANRF to change the approved or sanctioned equipment.
II. Transfer, Extension, and Termination of the Project :
• The project is individual-centric and cannot be transferred to any other person(s).
• Change of host institution can be undertaken only after obtaining due approval from ANRF.
• If PI wishes to terminate the project, they shall inform ANRF immediately with proper justification. The host institute should not incur any expenditure from the date of termination of the project or the date of resignation of the PI, whichever is earlier.
• The PI must seek the consent of ANRF if they intend to be away from the implementing institute (except for field work related to the project) continuously for a period of more than eight weeks.
III. Monitoring the Progress of the Project :
• PI should submit annual progress reports, in its specified format, through the ANRF online portal.
• The project will be periodically monitored by ANRF. The PI should attend the Monitoring Meetings/Workshops to present the progress/outcome of the research project, as and when organized.
• ANRF may designate a specialist or an Expert Panel to visit the host institute to review the progress of the work being carried out and to suggest suitable measures to ensure realization of the objectives of the project.
IV. Utilization of the Funds :
• The host institute and the Principal Investigator (PI) must ensure that the funds are used exclusively for the approved research project.
• The host institute must maintain separate audited accounts for the project. Funds should be kept in an interest-earning bank account, with any accrued interest reported to the ANRF in the Statement of Expenditure (SE) or Utilization Certificate (UC).
• The interest shall be returned to ANRF via a demand draft drawn in favor of "Science and Engineering Research Fund", payable at New Delhi.
• The fund shall not be utilized for construction of any building unless specific provision is made for that purpose by ANRF. The host institute is responsible for providing essential infrastructure (accommodation, space, water, electricity, communication, etc.) for the project.
• Any expenditure incurred prior to the issue of the financial sanction and after the expiry of the sanctioned duration of the project, will not be admissible.
• Any unspent balance must be returned to the ANRF via a demand draft drawn in favor of "Science and Engineering Research Fund", payable at New Delhi, upon project completion.
• The host institute/PI cannot transfer project implementation to another institution or redirect funds as assistance. If the project is not completed, the institute must refund the full amount or unspent balance, plus applicable interest.
• ANRF can terminate the project if it finds that progress is insufficient, funds are misused, or false or misleading information is provided by the PI/host institute.
V. Release of Next Instalment of Funds :
• At the end of each financial year (FY) and at the time of seeking further instalment of grant, the Institute/PI has to furnish the following documents strictly as per ANRF formats, and upload the same through the ANRF online portal:
• Audited / interim Utilization Certificate (UC), and up to date Statement of Expenditure (SE) for the financial year in the correct format.
• Annual / interim progress report, as per approved format.
• List of publications / patents, if any, from the project.
• List of Assets acquired till that Financial Year.
• The release of next instalment of grant will be contingent upon the submission of financial statements and its acceptance by ANRF.
• ANRF shall carry forward any unspent balance of funds from the previous financial year to the next financial year, during the tenure of the project.
VI. Settlement of Accounts of the Project :
• The following documents must be uploaded to the ANRF online portal within three months after the completion of the project duration:
• Final Consolidated Statement of Expenditure (SE), giving expenditure financial year wise (FY) from date of start till date of completion.
• Utilization Certificates (FY wise), matching with Statement of Expenditure figures.
• Project Completion Report (PCR) with a list of publications, and patents filed/granted.
• DD/ cheque for the unspent funds, drawn in favour of "Science and Engineering Research Fund", payable at New Delhi. The DD/Cheque must be posted to the Program Officer, ANRF.
• The Principal Investigator (PI) is primarily responsible for the timely submission of utilization certificates, statements of expenditure, progress/monitoring reports, the project closure report (PCR), and the refund of any unspent balance at the end or in the event of early closure of the project. If, due to unforeseen circumstances, the PI is unable to settle the project's accounts, the host institution must submit the above documents to ANRF for the proper closure and settlement of the project's accounts.
VII. Maintenance of Assets Procured Under the Project:
• The host institute must maintain an audited register of permanent or semi-permanent assets acquired primarily with capital funds, including immovable property and movable capital assets listed in the sanction order. The institute may be required to send a list of these assets to the ANRF.
• Assets acquired with project funds are considered part of the Institutional Inventory, gifted by the ANRF. They cannot be disposed of or encumbered without prior ANRF's approval. ANRF has the discretion to allow other investigators to utilize the assets for projects sanctioned by the ANRF or advice the host institute to transfer them to any other institute if it is considered appropriate.
• The Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG), at its discretion, shall have the right of access to the books and accounts of the Institute maintained in respect of the fund received from the ANRF.
Last Date : 31st July 2025
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