Scheme for Action Research and Studies on Judicial Reforms 2026: Up to ₹25 Lakh Research Grant

At a glance

About the scheme

Introduced by the Department of Justice under the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Scheme for Action Research and Studies on Judicial Reforms (SARSJR) supports evidence-based policymaking under the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms. The programme funds research bodies, national law universities, judicial academies, and management institutes to undertake action research, evaluation studies, training, and conferences. Financial aid is strictly linked to actual project expenses and released in phases upon milestone reviews.

Benefits

• Financial assistance up to a maximum limit of ₹25,00,000 per project (relaxable in exceptional cases with large scope or sample size).
• Funding for action research, evaluation studies, and monitoring studies on judicial reforms.
• Financial support for organising seminars, conferences, and workshops.
• Assistance for conducting capacity-building programmes for research and monitoring activities.
• Grants for publishing reports and research materials.
• Support for promoting innovative programmes in legal research and justice delivery.
• Stipulated disbursal in instalments, covering strictly the actual expenditure incurred by the grantee institution.

Who can apply (eligibility)

• Must be one of the specified institutions: Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Indian Institute/s of Management (IIM), Indian Law Institute (ILI), National Law University (NLU), National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), National Judicial Academy, or a State Judicial Academy.
• Must be working in the field of Justice Delivery, Legal Education and Research, or Judicial Reforms.
• Any other Government Institute or Organisation, or Government-aided Institute or Organisation, if approved and deemed suitable by the Project Sanctioning Committee.

Who cannot apply

• Institutions not specifically invited or approved by the Department of Justice.
• Proposals that do not fall under the identified priority subjects of the Department of Justice.
• Expenditure beyond the actual incurred cost or outside the approved budget head.

Documents required

• Comprehensive Project Proposal indicating detailed terms, conditions, and project cost.
• Project title and name of the implementing agency.
• Details of the Principal Coordinator including name, designation, and research experience.
• Clear project objectives and proposed research methodology.
• Work schedule and timeline (including initiation, interim progress report, presentation, and final report submission).
• Itemised project cost estimate with complete financial break-up.
• Utilisation Certificate in the format prescribed by the Department of Justice (during disbursement stage).
• Final Project Report (required before releasing the final instalment of at least 10%).

How to apply

1. 1Wait for an invitation from the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms, Department of Justice, on identified priority subjects.
2. 2Prepare a comprehensive Project Proposal outlining objectives, methodology, timelines, budget breakdown, and coordinator profile.
3. 3Submit the physical Project Proposal directly to the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms, Department of Justice.
4. 4The proposal is placed before the Project Sanctioning Committee for scrutiny and formal sanction.
5. 5Following approval, the proposal is cleared by the Integrated Finance Division of the Ministry of Law and Justice for financial sanction and first instalment release.
6. 6Carry out the project as scheduled, submit interim progress reports, deliver presentations, and submit the final report along with the prescribed Utilisation Certificate to claim the remaining payment.

Frequently asked questions