Ministry of Science & Technology

Department of Science & Technology

“Funding support for various schemes under Nano Mission Program –

2017”

The Nano Mission is an umbrella programme for capacity building which envisages the overall development
of this field of research in the country and to tap some of its applied potential for nation’s development. In
brief, the objectives of the Nano-Mission are:
Basic Research Promotion – Funding of basic research by individual scientists and/or groups of scientists
and creation of centres of excellence for pursuing studies leading to fundamental understanding of matter
that enables control and manipulation at the nanoscale.
Infrastructure Development for Nano Science & Technology Research – Investigations on the nano
scale require expensive equipment like Optical Tweezer, Nano Indentor, Transmission Electron Microscope
(TEM), Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM), Matrix Assisted Laser
Desorption Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (MALDI TOF MS), Microarray Spotter & Scanner etc. For
optimal use of expensive and sophisticated facilities, it is proposed to establish a chain of shared facilities
have been established across the country.
Nano Applications and Technology Development Programmes- To catalyze Applications
and Technology Development Programmes leading to products and devices, the Mission proposes to
promote application-oriented R&D Projects, Nano Applications and Technology Development Centres, Nano-
Technology Business Incubators etc. Special effort’s are made to involve the industrial sector into
nanotechnology R&D directly or through Public Private Partnership (PPP) ventures.
Human Resource Development – The Mission focuses on providing effective education and training to
researchers and professionals in diversified fields so that a genuine interdisciplinary culture for nanoscale
science, engineering and technology can emerge through national and overseas post-doctoral fellowships,
chairs in universities, etc.
International Collaborations – Apart from exploratory visits of scientists, organization of joint workshops
and conferences and joint research projects, it facilitates access to sophisticated research facilities abroad,
establish joint centres of excellence and forge academia-industry partnerships at the international level
wherever required and desirable.

Organizational Structure
The Nano Mission is a Mission-Mode programme within DST. At the apex level, it is steered by Nano
Mission Council(NMC). It is currently being chaired by Bharat Ratna Professor CNR Rao, FRS, National
Research Professor and Honorary President & Linus Pauling Research Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for
Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore.

The technical programs of the Nano Mission are being guided by respective advisory groups as various
activities.
 How to Apply for Financial Support
The Nano Mission receives proposals for financial support throughout the year. In other words, there is no
last date for applying for financial support. Decisions on various funding applications are taken periodically.
Currently, financial support for the following R&D activities is available —
1. R&D projects from individual scientists or a group of scientists. Normal duration of such projects will
be 3 years. Regular calls are made.
2. Establishment of Centers of Excellence and sophisticated research facilities. Normal
duration for such projects will be 5-7 years. Proposal to be submitted against Special calls.
3. Joint Institution-Industry Linked projects for development of products and devices utilizing
nanotechnology. In such projects, partial financial contribution (in kind or directly) by the participating
industry is desirable. For the participating industry, DSIR’s SIRO recognition is desirable. Normal
duration for such projects will be 3-5 years.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILLING ONLINE APPLICATION

1. Log on onlinedst.gov.in to access the home page of the “DST e-PMS Portal”.
2. It is desirable that the Project Investigator may not have an ongoing project with
remaining duration > 6 months, with the same or other scheme of DST or SERB
3. Before filling up the form candidates are advised to carefully go through the Relevant
Advertisement published at the DST Website ( http://dst.gov.in/scientific-
programmes/mission-nano-science-and-technology-nano-mission ) and also available
under Proposal Formats in the e-PMS Portal.
4. To save your time and avoid data loss please download the appropriate proposal format as
suitable for your schemes, fill all the information required as per the format as a Word and PDF
file (max. size 5 Mb) and then keep it ready for upload during submission of mandatory
documents.
5. Click on “Submit proposals” link which would take you to a page seeking multiple information
starting with – General information, Principal investigator etc. Fill all the mandatory information
sought against each menu.
6. After filling all above particulars there is provision for preview your detail before final submission
of application form on clicking on “Preview” button. Preview page will display all facts/particulars
that you have mentioned on entry time if you are sure with filled details then click on “Submit”
button to finally push data into server.
7. Candidates are advised to carefully fill and verify the details filled in the online application
themselves as no change will be possible/ entertained after clicking the FINAL SUBMIT
BUTTON.
 PLEASE NOTE
1 IT IS MANDATORY TO SUBMIT THE PROPOSALS THROUGH ONLINE MODE. SUBMISSION OF
PROPOSAL ONLY ON OFFLINE THROUGH HARD COPY WITHOUT ONLINE SUBMISSION OF THE
PROPOSAL WOULD BE SUMMARILY REJECTED AND WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR FURTHER
PROCESSING UNDER THE NANO MISSION PROGRAM.
2 CANDIDATES ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT ONLY ONE HARD COPY AS PRINT OUT OF THEIR ONLINE
SUBMITTED APPLICATION TO THE DST WITH THE SIGNATURES AND RUBBER STAMPS OF THE
CONCERNED PERSONS/ OFFICIALS.
3 INCOMPLETE OR WRONGLY FILLED UP APPLICATION FORMAT OR APPLICATION WITH LACK OF
ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS WILL BE SUMMARILY REJECTED. ANY LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IN RESPECT TO
ANY MATTER OF CLAIM OR DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF THIS ADVERTISEMENT AND / OR APPLICATION
CAN BE LODGED ONLY IN DELHI COURTS/ TRIBUNALS/ FORUMS AND DELHI COURTS / TRIBUNAL/
FORUMS ONLY SHALL HAVE THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION TO TRY ANY CASE / DISPUTE.
4 PROPOSAL SUBMITTED THROUGH E-MAIL WILL NOT BE ENTERTAINED. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL
OTHER THAN THE PRESCRIBED FORMAT SHALL SUMMARILY BE REJECTED WITHOUT ANY
FURTHER PROCESSING AS PER PROGRAM NORMS.

FORMAT FOR SUBMISSION OF R&D (Nano Science Scheme) PROJECT

Project Team and Institute Details :

1. Project Title

2. Duration (Normal duration of such projects is 3 years)

3. Total cost

4. FE Component

5. Proposal Category: NANO SCIENCE/NANO TECHNOLOGY/OTHERS

6.

Note: in case of multi institutional (more than one PI) involvement the individual PI

have to fill PI details from 6(a) to 6(f) separately. And the lead PI should compile it

(a) Principal Investigator

Name, Telephone(O),
Designation, Telephone (R)
Institute/Universi Date Likely Date Gender Category Mobile email
Department and Fax
ty Name and of of (M/F) (Gen/SC/
Address Birth retirement ST/OBC)

(b) Education and Training (Graduation onwards):

Degree Year University/Institute Field of

Specialization

(c) Field of Experience (Keywords)

(d) Number of Papers published

(e) Significant publications (Maximum 10)

Title Authors Journal Volume Page Year

Note: Kindly attached full paper

 (f) List of subject related publications from last five years

7.

(a) Co- Principal Investigator

Name, Telephone(O),
Designatio Telephone
Institute/Universi Date Likely Date Gender Category Mobile email
n, (R)and Fax
ty Name and of of (M/F) (Gen/SC/
Departme
Address Birth retirement ST/OBC)
nt

(b) Education and Training (Graduation onwards):

Degree Year University/Institute Field of

Specialization

(c) Field of Experience (Keywords)

(d) Number of Papers published

(e) Significant publications (Maximum 10)

Title Authors Journal Volume Page Year

Note: Kindly attached full paper

(f) List of subject related publications from last five years

8. Other Co-Investigator *

Name, Telephone(O),
Designation, Telephone
Institute/Universi Date Likely Date Gender Category Mobile email
Department (R)and Fax
ty Name and of of (M/F) (Gen/SC/
Address Birth retirement ST/OBC)
*You can add additional Co-Investigator as per your requirements as (a),(b),(c),(d),(e),(f)
…...

Scientific/Technical Details

Note: It is desirable that the Project Investigator may not have an ongoing project with
remaining duration > 6 months, with the same or other scheme of DST or SERB

9. Major Objective: (maximum 200 words)

10. Definition of the Problem: (maximum 200 words)

11. Specific Work Plan: (maximum 400 words)

12. Novelty: (maximum 200 words)

13. Key words :

14. Introduction (under the following heads)

a. Origin of the proposal

b. Definition of the problem
c. Objective

15. Review of status of Research and Development in the subject

a. International status
b. National status
c. Importance of the proposed project in the context of
current status
d. Review of expertise available with proposed investigating
group/institution in the subject of the project
e. Patent details (domestic and international)

16. Work plan

a. Methodology
b. Organization of work elements
c. Time schedule of activities giving milestones (also append
to bar diagram and mark it as Section 317)
d. Suggested plan of action for utilization of research outcome
 expected from the project.

17. Inter-institutional or industrial links, if any.

PROPOSED FINANCIAL DETAILS:

18. Proposal Estimated Cost (Rs in Lakh):

19. PMFS Code:

Note: Please visit https://pfms.nic.in/ portal for pfms code

20. Summary of Total Budget

Budget Year1(Rs Year2(Rs Year3(Rs Year4(Rs Year5(Rs Total:

in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh):

Manpower NA NA

Consumables NA NA

Travel NA NA

Contingency NA NA

Institute
NA NA
Overhead

Other Cost NA NA

Equipment NA NA

Total NA NA

Note: in case of multi institutional (more than one PI) involvement the individual PI

have to fill financial breakup from (19) to (36) separately. And the lead PI should
compile it

21. Budget for Manpower

Designation No of Year1(Rs Year2(Rs Year3(Rs Year4(Rs Year5(Rs Total:

Persons in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh):

Total NA NA

22. Justification for Manpower (200 words)

23. Budget for Consumables

Items Year1(Rs Year2(Rs Year3(Rs Year4(Rs Year5(Rs Total:

in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh):

Total NA NA

24. Justification for Consumables (200 words)

25. Budget for Travel

Travel Year1(Rs Year2(Rs Year3(Rs Year4(Rs Year5(Rs Total:

Type in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh):

Total NA NA

26. Justification for Travel (200 words)

27. Budget for Contingency

Travel Year1(Rs Year2(Rs Year3(Rs Year4(Rs Year5(Rs Total:

Type in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh):

Total NA NA

28. Justification for Contingency (200 words)

29. Budget for Institute Overhead

Item Year1(Rs Year2(Rs Year3(Rs Year4(Rs Year5(Rs Total:

in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh):

Total NA NA

30. Justification for Institute Overhead (200 words)

31. Budget for Other Cost

Item Year1(Rs Year2(Rs Year3(Rs Year4(Rs Year5(Rs Total:

in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh): in Lakh):

Total NA NA

32. Justification for Other Cost (200 words)

33. Budget for Equipment

Generic Imported/Indigenous Cost in Cost in Year of

name of Rs US $ Procurement
Equipment (Lakhs) (Lakhs) (1/2/3)

Total

34. Justification for Equipment (200 words)

35. Time Schedule of Activities through BAR Diagram

36. List of facilities being extended by parent institution(s) for the project implementation.
 (a) Infrastructural Facilities:

Yes/No/ Not required

Sr. No. Infrastructural Facility
Full or sharing basis
1. Workshop Facility N
2. Water & Electricity N
3. Laboratory Space/ Furniture N
4. Power Generator N
5. AC Room or AC N
6. Telecommunication including e-mail & fax N
7. Transportation N
8. Administrative/ Secretarial support N
9. Information facilities like Internet/ Library N
10. Computational facilities N
11. Animal/ Glass House N
12. Any other special facility being provided N

(b) Equipment available with the Institute/ Group/ Department/ Other Institutes for the
project:

Remarks including
Equipment available Generic Name of Model, Make & year of accessories available
with Equipment purchase and current usage of
equipment
PI & his group N n N
PI's Department N n N
Other Inst In the
N n N
region

37. Details of Research Projects being implemented/ completed/ submitted by the Principal
Investigator(s),Co- Principal Investigator(s) and other Investigator, including
 Investigator(s)Name & Institute

Project Title
Project Status:

Project Project Duration Funding Total Cost

Title From To Agency
a. Completed 1.
Projects 2…..
b. Ongoing 1.
Projects 2…..
c. Submitted 1.
proposals 2…..
d. Salient points of the completed projects:
Major Results/ Highlights of the project including achievement
(publications, patents etc.), for completed projects
e. Salient points of the Up-to date Technical progress for ongoing
projects.

38. Any other relevant matter.

39. List of documents : kindly attached following documents in Online Project proposal
Submission.

Note: in case of multi institutional (more than one PI) involvement the Lead PI

have to compile all documents 39(a) to 39 (d) into one file for individual PI

and compile it

(a). Biodata -Detailed Bio-data of the Principal Investigator(s), Co- Principal

Investigator(s) and other Investigator to be provided in given below

Format for Biodata

Detailed Bio-data of the Principal Investigator(s), Co- Principal Investigator(s) and other
Investigator(s) including

a. Name, Address,Gender,Category, Date of Birth, Institution’s Address etc.

b. Academic Qualifications (University/College from where attained, year of passing, class, Thesis
title etc.)
c. Publications list (Title of paper, authors, Journal details, pages, year etc.)
d. Patent list, if any
e. List of Projects implemented
(b). Endorsement from the head of Institute

Format for Endorsement from the Head of Institution

 Endorsement from the Head of Institution

(To be given on letter head)

Project Title :

1. Certified that the Institute welcomes participation of _____________________________as

the Principal Investigator and____________________________ as the Principal Investigator
for the project and that in the unforeseen event of discontinuance by the Principal
Investigator, the Co-Principal Investigator will assume the responsibility of the fruitful
completion of the project (with due information to DST) .

2. Certified that the equipment and other basic facilities (Section 36 of Scheme Format) and
such other administrative facilities as per terms and conditions of the grant, will be extended
to the investigator(s) throughout the duration of the project.

3. Institute assumes to undertake the financial and other management responsibilities of the
project.

Date: Name and Signature of Head of Institution

Place:

(c). Certificate from PI

Format for Certificate from PI

Certificate from the Investigator(s)

Project Title:

1. I/ We agree to abide by the terms and conditions of the Nano Mission.

2. I/ We did not submit the project proposal elsewhere for financial support.
 3. I/ We have explored and ensured that equipment and basic facilities (Section 36 of Scheme
Format) will actually be available as and when required for the purpose of the projects.

4. I/ We undertake that spare time on permanent equipment will be made available to other users.

5. I/We have enclosed the following documents with the post copy of the proposal:

Items Number of copies

a) Endorsement from the Head of Institution (on letter
One
head)
b) Certificate from Investigator(s) One
1 Hard copies of Online Submitted
c) The proposal
Application
d) Name and address of experts/institution interested
One
in the subject/ outcome of the project.

6. I/We certify that a project with similar title or objective has not been funded or submitted for
funding to any other funding agency

Date: Name and signature of

Principal Investigator
Place:

Date: Name and signature of

Co-Principal Investigator
Place:

(d). Conflict of Interest

Format for Conflict of Interest

FINAL (Approved by Secretary DST)

 DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
POLICY ON CONFLICT OF INTEREST

FOR REVIEWER & COMMITTEE MEMBER or APPLICANT or DST OFFICER

ASSOCIATED/ DEALING WITH THE SCHEME/ PROGRAM OF DST

Issues of Conflicts of Interest and ethics in scientific research and research management have
assumed greater prominence, given the larger share of Government funding in the country's R & D
scenario. The following policy pertaining to general aspects of Conflicts of Interest and code of
ethics, are objective measures that is intended to protect the integrity of the decision making
processes and minimize biasness. The policy aims to sustain transparency, increase accountability
in funding mechanisms and provide assurance to the general public that processes followed in
award of grants are fair and non-discriminatory. The Policy aims to avoid all forms of bias by
following a system that is fair, transparent and free from all influence/ unprejudiced dealings, prior
to, during and subsequent to the currency of the programme to be entered into with a view to
enable public to abstain from bribing or any corrupt practice in order to secure the award by
providing assurance to them that their competitors will also refrain from bribing and other corrupt
practice and the decision makers will commit to prevent corruption, in any form, by their officials by
following transparent procedures. This will also ensure a global acceptance of the decision making
process adopted by DST.

Definition of Conflict of Interest:

Conflict of Interest means "any interest which could significantly prejudice an individual's objectivity
in the decision making process, thereby creating an unfair competitive advantage for the individual
or to the organization which he/she represents". The Conflict of Interest also encompasses
situations where an individual, in contravention to the accepted norms and ethics, could exploit
his/her obligatory duties for personal benefits.

1. Coverage of the Policy:

a) The provisions of the policy shall be followed by persons applying for and receiving funding
from DST, Reviewers of the proposal and Members of Expert Committees and Programme
Advisory Committees. The provisions of the policy will also be applicable on all individuals
including Officers of DST connected directly or indirectly or through intermediaries and
Committees involved in evaluation of proposals and subsequent decision making process.
b) This policy aims to minimize aspects that may constitute actual Conflict of Interests, apparent
Conflict of Interests and potential Conflict of Interests in the funding mechanisms that are
presently being operated by DST. The policy also aims to cover, although not limited to,
Conflict of interests that are Financial (gains from the outcomes of the proposal or award),
Personal (association of relative / Family members) and Institutional (Colleagues,
Collaborators, Employer, persons associated in a professional career of an individual such as
Ph.D. supervisor etc.)
2. Specifications as to what constitutes Conflict of Interest.

Any of the following specifications (non-exhaustive list) imply Conflict of Interest if,

(i) Due to any reason by which the Reviewer/Committee Member cannot deliver fair and
objective assessment of the proposal.
(ii) The applicant is a directly relative# or family member (including but not limited to
spouse, child, sibling, parent) or personal friend of the individual involved in the
decision making process or alternatively, if any relative of an Officer directly involved
in any decision making process / has influenced interest/ stake in the applicant’s form
etc.
(iii) The applicant for the grant/award is an employee or employer of an individual involved
in the process as a Reviewer or Committee Member; or if the applicant to the
grant/award has had an employer-employee relationship in the past three years with
that individual.
(iv) The applicant to the grant/award belongs to the same Department as that of the
Reviewer/Committee Member.
(v) The Reviewer/Committee Member is a Head of an Organization from where the
applicant is employed.
(vi) The Reviewer /Committee Member is or was, associated in the professional career of
the applicant (such as Ph.D. supervisor, Mentor, present Collaborator etc.)
(vii) The Reviewer/Committee Member is involved in the preparation of the research
proposal submitted by the applicant.
 (viii) The applicant has joint research publications with the Reviewer/Committee Member in
the last three years.
(ix) The applicant/Reviewer/Committee Member, in contravention to the accepted norms
and ethics followed in scientific research has a direct/indirect financial interest in the
outcomes of the proposal.
(x) The Reviewer/Committee Member stands to gain personally should the submitted
proposal be accepted or rejected.

# The Term “Relative” for this purpose would be referred in section 6 of Companies Act,
1956.

3. Regulation:

The DST shall strive to avoid conflict of interest in its funding mechanisms to the maximum
extent possible. Self-regulatory mode is however recommended for stake holders involved in
scientific research and research management, on issues pertaining to Conflict of Interest and
scientific ethics. Any disclosure pertaining to the same must be made voluntarily by the
applicant/Reviewer/Committee Member.

4. Confidentiality:

The Reviewers and the Members of the Committee shall safeguard the confidentiality of all
discussions and decisions taken during the process and shall refrain from discussing the same
with any applicant or a third party, unless the Committee recommends otherwise and records for
doing so.

5. Code of Conduct

5.1 To be followed by Reviewers/Committee Members:

(a) All reviewers shall submit a conflict of interest statement, declaring the presence or absence
of any form of conflict of interest.
(b) The reviewers shall refrain from evaluating the proposals if the conflict of interest is
established or if it is apparent.
(c) All discussions and decisions pertaining to conflict of interest shall be recorded in the minutes
of the meeting.
(d) The Chairman of the Committee shall decide on all aspects pertaining to conflict of interests.
(e) The Chairman of the Committee shall request that all members disclose if they have any
conflict of interest in the items of the agenda scheduled for discussion.
(f) The Committee Members shall refrain from participating in the decision making process and
leave the room with respect to the specific item where the conflict of interest is established or
is apparent.
(g) If the Chairman himself/herself has conflict of interest, the Committee may choose a
Chairman from among the remaining members, and the decision shall be made in
consultation with Member Secretary of the Committee.
(h)It is expected that a Committee member including the Chair-person will not seek funding
from a Committee in which he/she is a member. If any member applies for grant, such
proposals will be evaluated separately outside the Committee in which he/she is a member.

5.2 To be followed by the Applicant to the Grant/Award :

(a) The applicant must refrain from suggesting referees with potential Conflict of Interest that
may arise due to the factors mentioned in the specifications described above in Point No. 2.
(b) The applicant may mention the names of individuals to whom the submitted proposal should
not be sent for refereeing, clearly indicating the reasons for the same.

5.3 To be followed by the Officers dealing with Programs in DST:

While it is mandatory for the program officers to maintain confidentiality as detailed in point no.
6 above, they should declare, in advance, if they are dealing with grant applications of a relative
or family member (including but not limited to spouse, child, sibling, parent) or thesis/ post-
doctoral mentor or stands to benefit financially if the applicant proposal is funded. In such cases,
DST will allot the grant applications to the other program officer.
6. Sanction for violation

3.1 For a) Reviewers / Committee Members and b) Applicant

Any breach of the code of conduct will invite action as decided by the Committee.

3.2 For Officers dealing with Program in DST

Any breach of the code of conduct will invite action under present provision of CCS (conduct
Rules), 1964.

7. Final Appellate authority:

Secretary, DST shall be the appellate authority in issues pertaining to conflict of interest and
issues concerning the decision making process. The decision of Secretary, DST in these issues
shall be final and binding.

8. Declaration

I have read the above “Policy on Conflict of Interest” of the DST applicable to the
Reviewer/ Committee Member/ Applicant/ DST Scheme or Program Officer # and
agree to abide by provisions thereof.

I hereby declare that I have no conflict of interest of any form pertaining to the proposed grant *
I hereby declare that I have conflict of interest of any form pertaining to the proposed grant *

* & # (Tick whichever is applicable)

Name of the Reviewer/ Committee Member or Applicant or DST Officer

(Strike out whichever is not applicable)

(Signature with date)