About this science scheme
The scheme aims to solve water sector problems through effective research and development. It provides Grants-in-Aid to academicians, universities, laboratories, government departments, and Non-Governmental Organizations to fund basic, applied, and action research projects.
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.
Benefits at a glance
| Scheme name | Research and Development Programme in Water Sector (RDPWS) |
|---|---|
| Launched by | Ministry Of Water Resources,River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation |
| Benefit type | Cash (money paid to your bank account) |
| Category | Science |
| Level / State | Central · All India |
| Official portal | jalshakti-dowr.gov.in (link at the end of this page) |
Key facts
| Scheme type | Central Sector Scheme |
|---|---|
| Scheme for | Individual |
| Application mode | Offline |
| Last date | Ongoing (no last date notified) |
| DBT (direct bank transfer) | No |
| Age | 18 to 35 years |
Who can apply (quick check)
- 👤All genders
- 🎂Age 18 to 35 years
- 📝Offline
Quick check from official data. Full conditions are in the Eligibility section.
What you receive
- 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 Rs. 25,000/- for a Junior Research Fellow, Rs. 28,000/- for a Senior Research Fellow, and Rs. 36,000/- to Rs. 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 Rs. 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 Rs. 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.
Who qualifies
- 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.
Who is not eligible
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Papers to keep ready
Application Stage
- Complete Research Proposal (five copies in print format and a soft copy in PDF and Word format)
- Brief Bio-Data of Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator
- Views of End Users (certificate from two end users)
- Endorsement from the Head of the Institution
- Undertaking from the Collaborating Institution (required only for multi-institutional proposals)
- Proforma Invoices or Budgetary Quotations (required for equipment and commercial items costing more than Rs. 1,000/-)
- Copy of Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations (required only for Non-Governmental Organizations)
- Certificate from the Appropriate Registrar Demonstrating Submission of Audited Accounts for the Last Three Financial Years (required only for Non-Governmental Organizations)
- Copy of Income Tax Returns for the Previous Three Financial Years (required only for Non-Governmental Organizations)
- Affidavit Stating That the Organization Has Not Been Blacklisted by Any Government Agency (required only for Non-Governmental Organizations)
Benefit Disbursal and Renewal Stage
- Acceptance of the Terms and Conditions of Grant
- Bond with Two Sureties (required only for Non-Governmental Organizations before the release of grants)
- Annual Progress Report (includes a brief narrative report and the proforma for progress)
- Utilization Certificate in Form GFR 19-A
- Statement of Head-Wise Expenditure
- Statement of Equipment Purchased
- Certificate Stating That Research Staff Has Been Engaged in Accordance with Norms
- Certificate Stating That the Grant Does Not Relate to the Same Staff Structure for Which Another Grant Has Been Allowed
Completion Stage
- Draft Completion Report (five copies)
- Final Completion Report (five copies in print format and a soft copy)
- Complete Source Code and User Manual in Print and Soft Copy (required only if software or computer programmes are developed as part of the project)
Registration walkthrough
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.
Frequently asked questions
As a private institution or a charitable registered society, what portion of the permanent equipment costs will be covered if my research proposal is approved for funding?
Private entities and Non-Governmental Organizations are required to bear 50% of the equipment costs from their own resources, as the grant will only cover half of these expenses.
I am considering applying for a research fellowship position, and I would like to know if there is any strict upper age limit criteria for different research personnel roles.
Yes, the upper age limit is 28 years for a Junior Research Fellow, 32 years for a Senior Research Fellow, and 35 years for a Research Associate, with standard relaxations for certain categories.
My proposed research methodology involves traveling abroad to consult with international experts and review global practices; can I include the expenses for international flights in the project estimate?
No, the grant strictly prohibits funding for foreign travel, and you must not seek any financial support or budget allowances for international journeys or overseas collaboration.
I understand that the practical application of the proposed research is important, so do I need to provide any formal proof that someone will actually use the results of my study?
You must identify probable users of your new technology and include formal certificates from at least two specific end-users along with your submitted proposal.
I am currently leading another ongoing funded study under the same ministry; am I allowed to submit a fresh application for a new independent study simultaneously?
You cannot seek funding for a new proposal if you have an ongoing project. Only one proposal is considered at a time, and previous projects must be fully completed first.
To properly conduct our experiments, our laboratory requires structural modifications, routine maintenance, and new air conditioning units; are we permitted to allocate a portion of the grant towards these specific needs?
The grant funds cannot be utilized for the construction, maintenance, or repair of buildings, nor can they be used to purchase vehicles or air conditioners.
Our charitable group was registered quite recently and we want to conduct action research in water management; is there a minimum operational period required before we can apply?
Non-Governmental Organizations must have been in active operation for not less than three years following their official date of registration to be considered eligible for this funding.
In order to support our institutional infrastructure like electricity and water supply during the study, will our recognized private educational institution receive an allowance for overhead expenses?
No, overhead charges are only provided to public funded institutes. Private institutions and universities are not eligible to receive any funds for institutional overhead expenses.
We have an exceptionally qualified foreign student working in our laboratory who wants to apply for the fellowship position; does the candidate need to hold a specific nationality?
Yes, only Indian citizens are eligible to be awarded research fellowships and associateships, so foreign nationals cannot be appointed to these funded positions.
We are an eligible non-profit organization planning to hire dedicated personnel for the proposed study; is there a maximum ceiling on the salary we can pay our administrative staff from the grant?
For Non-Governmental Organizations, the payment of salary to their personnel from the grant funds is strictly capped and must not exceed Rs. 25,000/- per annum in each individual case.
Research often involves unforeseen situations and unexpected expenses; what is the maximum amount or percentage we can safely include in our financial estimate to cover such random contingencies?
You may include a contingency budget provision of up to 5% of the total cost of the four main expenditure heads, or Rs. 1,00,000/-, whichever amount is less.
If we hire a postgraduate candidate with a basic science degree who has successfully qualified the National Eligibility Test, what exact monthly remuneration will they receive during the first two years?
A Junior Research Fellow meeting those precise educational and examination criteria is entitled to a monthly emolument of Rs. 25,000/- during the initial two years of the project.
As an established charitable society selected for the grant, are there any specific legal documents or financial guarantees we must execute before the first installment of funds is actually released to our bank account?
Yes, Non-Governmental Organizations are mandatorily required to execute a formal bond with two acceptable sureties to the President of India before any funds can be disbursed.
Sometimes experiments take much longer than initially planned due to unpredictable environmental factors; if we face severe delays, what is the absolute maximum time extension we can request for finishing the work?
While extensions are discouraged, in highly deserving cases where valid reasons exist, the maximum total time extension granted for project completion will not exceed two years.
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