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This scheme by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) aims to boost research and seminars Read More... in official statistics by offering financial aid and data support. Read less

Details

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) has launched a helpful initiative called the 'Research Study/Seminar (Grant-in-Aid Scheme)'. This scheme is designed to encourage and support research and seminars focused on official statistics across India. It's a way for the government to provide financial assistance and data help, essentially bridging gaps in our understanding of official data. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) under MOSPI implements this scheme, and applications are processed by the Training Division of the Central Statistical Organisation.

What Is This Scheme?

The Research Study/Seminar (Grant-in-Aid Scheme) provides financial backing for various activities related to official statistics. This includes funding for in-depth research studies, organizing national and international seminars, conferences, and workshops, and offering travel grants for officials to present their work abroad.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

The scheme targets two main groups:

Professional and Research Institutions/Organizations: These entities, involved in official statistics for at least three years, can apply for grants for research studies and seminars. This includes government bodies, UGC-recognized institutions, registered societies, trusts, and companies operating on a not-for-profit basis.
Central Government Officials: Officials from Central Government departments, autonomous institutions, and universities can apply for travel grants to present their research papers at international events, provided the visit relates to their work.

Why This Scheme Is Important

By supporting research and knowledge-sharing in official statistics, this scheme aims to enhance the quality, scope, and application of statistical data in India. It helps in identifying data gaps, promoting best practices, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement in statistical methodologies and applications.

Objective

This scheme by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) aims to boost research and seminars in official statistics by offering financial aid and data support.

Benefits

The maximum loan limit is up to ₹2,00,000/-.

The interest rate will be 5% per annum.

Under this scheme, 100% loan of the business/occupation amount is provided.

The loan amount will consist of 95% National Corporation contribution, 5% State Government contribution and zero beneficiary contribution.

Repayment:The loan amount, including interest, will have to be repaid in 60 equal monthly instalments.

Sources and references

Official Guidelines

Eligibility Criteria

For Professional/Research Institutions/Organizations (Grant-in-Aid for Research Studies/Seminars):

Must be a professional or research institution/organization.
Must have been active in official statistics for at least three (3) years.
Should have qualified statisticians, economists, and social scientists on staff.
Must fall under one of these categories:
- Government institutions, including State/UT Directorates of Economics and Statistics.
- Institutions receiving recurring grants from Central or State Government agencies (like ISI, CSIR, UGC).
- Organizations registered under the Societies Registration Act.
- Institutions registered as 'Trusts' under the Trusteeship Act.
- Organizations incorporated under the Companies Act.
Must be a 'not-for-profit' organization to receive assistance for National and International Seminars/Conferences/Workshops on official statistics.

For Officials (Travel Grants Assistance - TGA):

Must be an official of the Central Government, a Central autonomous institution, or a university.
The visit and paper presentation must be related to the officer's area of work.
The technical paper must have been submitted through proper official channels, not independently.
Must possess an official invitation from the host organization addressed to the administrative Ministry/Department/Organization.
Must have documentary proof of acceptance of the paper for presentation by the organizing agencies.
Must have obtained all necessary clearances, including political clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), where applicable.
Should not have had more than one proposal recommended for travel grants in the current financial year for presenting a paper abroad.

How To Apply

Applications for the Research Study/Seminar (Grant-in-Aid Scheme) are submitted to the Additional Director General, Training Division, Central Statistical Organisation.

For Research Studies/Projects: Submit the prescribed application forms along with all required documents, including a forwarding letter, institutional profile, technical and financial details of the proposal, and CVs of experts.
For Seminars/Conferences/Workshops: Submit the application form (Format IX) with the institutional profile, details of past events, and confirmation of participation from key speakers (for international events).
For Travel Grants Assistance (TGA): Submit the application form (Proforma X) duly recommended by the Head of the Institution, along with an invitation, paper acceptance proof, and necessary clearances.

Official Address for Submission:

Additional Director General, Training Division, Central Statistical Organisation, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India.

Please refer to the official guidelines for specific application formats and submission details.

Documents Required

The documents required vary depending on the type of assistance sought (Research Study/Project, Seminar/Conference/Workshop, or Travel Grants Assistance).

For Research Study/Project:

Forwarding Letter with Undertaking from Head of Institution (Format I).
Profile of the Institution (Format II).
Technical Details of the Proposal (Format III).
Financial Details of the Proposal (Format IV).
Reports of three best completed projects by the organization.
Copy of Registration Certificate (if applicable).
Audited Annual Reports and Balance Sheets for the last three years (if applicable).
Details of Service Tax payment (if applicable).
Details of professional staff employed.
Details of available computer and infrastructure facilities.
Details of major projects completed in the last five years.
Activity Time Schedule (Gantt Chart).
Staffing Time Schedule (Gantt Chart).
Curriculum Vitae of each expert (including Project Director).
Cancelled Cheque/Bank Account details for NEFT.

For Seminar/Conference/Workshop:

Forwarding Letter with Undertaking from Head of Institution (Format I).
Application for Grant-in-Aid (Format IX).
Profile of the Institution (including details of similar events).
Proceedings of past workshops/seminars conducted.
Document of acceptance or confirmation of participation by key participants (for international events).
Copy of approval from MEA/MHA (for international seminars).

For Travel Grants Assistance (TGA):

Application Form (Proforma X) recommended by the Head of Institution.
Certificate from Head of Institution stating inability to meet travel expenses from institute resources.
Photocopy of Certificate in support of academic qualifications in Statistics.
Official Invitation from the host organization.
Documentary Evidence of acceptance of the paper for presentation.
Proof that the technical paper was submitted through proper official channel.
Proof of necessary clearances (Political clearance from MEA, FCRA clearance from MHA, etc.).
Full copy of the paper proposed to be presented.

For Benefit Disbursal/Continuation/Claiming:

Progress Reports (Quarterly Financial and Physical).
Utilization Certificates (Format VII).
Utilization and Audit Certificates (Format VII and VIII) by Chartered Accountant (for NGOs).
Bond on Non-Judicial Stamp Paper (Format V(A)) (for non-government institutions).
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (Format V(B)) (for government institutions).
Bank Guarantee equivalent to the first installment (for non-governmental institutions seeking advance).
Statement of Expenditure (detailed item-wise) (for reimbursement of second installment for seminars).
Soft copies and printed copies of Proceedings/Report of the workshop/seminar/conference (for reimbursement of second installment for seminars).
Proof of participation of foreign delegates (passport, visa, air tickets, boarding pass copies) (for international seminar reimbursements).
Receipts of expenditure and item-wise details (for final adjustment/settlement for TGA).
Certificate from organizers stating the applicant presented the paper (for TGA).
Hard copy and soft copy of the presentation (for TGA).
Detailed Report on the presentation of the paper (for TGA).

FAQ’s

What is the minimum operational history required for a professional or research institution working in the field of official statistics to be considered eligible for grant assistance?

The professional or research institution or organization must have been engaged in the field of official statistics for a minimum period of three (3) years to be eligible.

If my institution focuses on research related to official statistics, what minimum staffing capability is required regarding statisticians, economists, and social scientists?

The institution must have qualified statisticians, economists, and social scientists on its staff to be considered eligible.

When applying for assistance to present a technical paper internationally, what official proof is required to demonstrate that my paper has been accepted for presentation?

You must provide appropriate documentary evidence confirming the acceptance of the paper for presentation by the agencies organizing the international statistical conference, seminar, or workshop.

If my organization is seeking a Grant-in-Aid specifically for hosting a National or International Seminar, Conference, or Workshop on official statistics, what status must the organization hold?

For the purpose of Grant-in-Aid for National and International Seminars, Conferences, or Workshops, the institution or organization shall be registered as "not-for-profit" to be eligible for assistance under this Scheme.

Are there specific government employees or academic personnel who are eligible to seek financial assistance under the Travel Grants Assistance component of the scheme?

Travel Grants Assistance is exclusively available for officials of the Central Government, Central autonomous institutions, or university personnel.

What are the mandatory governmental permissions, such as clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, that I must secure before submitting my application for travel assistance?

All necessary clearances must have been obtained, including political clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), wherever required.

If an official receives a direct invitation from the host organization to attend an international event, should this invitation be addressed only to the individual officer, or to a higher authority?

An official invitation must be available from the host organization, and it must be addressed to the officer's administrative Ministry, Department, or Organization.

Since various types of expenses are covered by the scheme, is financial assistance provided for the acquisition of new infrastructure or permanent assets related to the project?

No, financial assistance is explicitly not available for the purpose of incurring any capital expenditure.

If the Project Director or certain experts are regular, salaried employees of the applicant institution, can their existing salaries be covered or charged to the scheme's budget during the project duration?

The salary of the Project Director or Experts, if they are already working as regular employees of the institute, cannot be charged from the project cost during the project period.

Are all proposals concerning statistics research eligible for funding, or are there specific types of academic activities that are specifically excluded from financial assistance?

Proposals for holding annual meetings of statistical associations or societies will not be eligible for financial assistance. Similarly, proposals relating strictly to pure theoretical research in statistics are also not eligible.

If I have already received assistance for presenting a research paper abroad during this current financial year, can I still submit a separate request for this type of grant?

An applicant official will not be recommended for more than one proposal for Travel Grant Assistance during the current financial year if the purpose is presenting their paper abroad.

When applying for assistance to present a technical paper internationally, is it acceptable if the paper was developed solely through the officer's independent choice or private endeavor?

No, the technical paper must have been submitted through the proper official channel for the event and not solely out of the officer's own volition.

For an officer seeking travel grants, must the topic of the paper being presented at the international conference be directly related to the specific duties and responsibilities of the officer?

Yes, the purpose of the visit must be directly related to the area of work of the concerned officer.