Research Study/Seminar Grant-in-Aid Scheme 2026 – Financial Assistance up to ₹50,00,000
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Quick answer
The Research Study/Seminar (Grant-in-Aid Scheme) offers financial assistance for research studies, national/international seminars, and travel grants to present papers abroad. Eligible applicants are professional/research institutions engaged in official statistics for at least three years and government officials. Applications are submitted to the Additional Director General, Training Division, CSO via email with prescribed formats.
At a glance
| Main benefit | Financial Assistance for Research, Seminars and Travel Grants |
| Ministry / department | Ministry Of Statistics and Programme Implementation |
| Level | Central Government |
| Application mode | Online |
About the scheme
“Research Study/Seminar (Grant-in-Aid Scheme)” has been launched by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI), Government of India. The scheme aims to promote Research Studies and Seminars in official statistics by way of providing financial assistance and data support under the Grant-in-Aid component of the Scheme Capacity Development. The scheme is implemented by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India. The applications for this scheme are accepted by submission to the Additional Director General, Training Division, Central Statistical Organisation.
Benefits
- Financial assistance for Research Studies/Surveys up to a maximum of ₹50,00,000/-.
- In exceptional cases, the limit for Research Studies/Surveys could be enhanced up to ₹1,00,00,000 with the approval of the Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
- Financial assistance for National Seminars/Workshops/Conferences will be maximum ₹10,00,000/-.
- Financial assistance for International Seminars/Workshops/Conferences will be maximum ₹20,00,000/-.
- Financial assistance is provided towards the travel cost and related expenditures for presentation of accepted research papers in Theoretical/Applied Statistics in International Conferences/Seminars/Workshops, etc., held outside India. Such assistance includes airfare, registration fee, airport tax, visa fee, and per diem, as per the Government rules in force.
Who can apply (eligibility)
- The applicant must be a professional/research institution/organization.
- The applicant must be engaged in the field of official statistics for a minimum period of three (3) years.
- The applicant must possess qualified statisticians, economists, and social scientists.
- The applicant must fall into one of the following categories: a) Government institutions including Directorates of Economics and Statistics of States/Union Territories. b) Institutions/organizations receiving annual recurring grants from the Central or State Government Agencies including Indian Statistical Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), University Grants Commission (UGC), etc.. c) Institutions/organizations registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act. d) Institutions/organizations registered as 'Trusts' under Trusteeship Act. e) Institutions/organizations incorporated under the Companies Act.
- The applicant institution/organization shall be 'not-for-profit' to be eligible for assistance under the Scheme for National and International Seminars/Conferences/Workshops etc. on official statistics.
- The applicant must be an official of the Central Government/Central autonomous institutions/university.
- The applicant's visit must relate to the area of work of the officer.
- The applicant's technical paper should have been submitted through proper official channel in such event and not out of the officer's own volition.
- The applicant must have an official invitation from the host organization to the administrative Ministry/Department/Organization.
- The applicant must have appropriate documentary evidence of acceptance of the paper for presentation by the agencies organizing the international statistical conferences/seminar/workshop, etc..
- The applicant 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) (wherever required).
- The applicant must not have had more than one proposal recommended for travel grants during the financial year for presenting their paper abroad.
Who cannot apply
- The applicant will not receive financial assistance for proposals relating to pure theoretical research in statistics.
- The applicant will not receive financial assistance for proposals for holding annual meetings of statistical associations/societies.
- Financial assistance is not available for incurring any capital expenditure.
- The salary of the Project Director/Experts, if he or she is working as a regular employee of the institute, would not be charged from the project cost during the project period.
Documents required
- Forwarding Letter Along with An Undertaking From The Head of The Institution (Format I).
- Profile of The Institution Indicating Its Technical Capabilities (Format II) (Must Not Exceed Two Pages).
- Technical Details of The Proposal (Format III).
- Financial Details of The Proposal (Format IV).
- One Copy Each of The Reports of Three Best Projects Completed By The Organization At The Time of Making The Request.
- Copy of The Registration Certificate (Required For Institutions Registered Under Societies Registration Act, Trusteeship Act, Or Incorporated Under Companies Act).
- Audited Annual Reports and Balance Sheets For The Last Three Years (Required For Institutions Registered Under Societies Registration Act, Trusteeship Act, Or Incorporated Under Companies Act; Not Applicable For New Institutions/Organizations).
- Details of Payment of Service Tax (Required For Institutions Registered Under Societies Registration Act, Trusteeship Act, Or Incorporated Under Companies Act).
- Details of Professional Staff Regularly Employed By The Institution.
- Details of Computer and Infrastructure Facility Available.
- Details of Major Projects Completed During Last Five Years (Experience of Members/Directors For New Institutions/Organizations).
- Activity Time Schedule (Gantt Chart).
- Staffing Time Schedule (Gantt Chart).
- Curriculum Vitae of Each Expert (Including Project Director).
- Cancelled Cheque/Details of The Organization's Account Number, Indian Financial System Code (IFSC), and Customer Identification Number (CIN) In Whose Name Online National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) Is To Be Made.
- Forwarding Letter Along with An Undertaking From The Head of The Institution (Format I).
- Application For Grant–in–Aid For Holding National/International Seminar/Conference/Workshops (Format IX).
- Profile of The Institution (Must Not Exceed Two Pages, Including Brief Details of Similar Workshop/Seminar/Conference Conducted During The Last Two Years).
- One Copy Each of The Proceedings of Workshop/Seminar etc., Conducted By Them At The Time of Making The Request.
- Document of Acceptance Or Confirmation of Participation By Key Participants Along with The Subject Matter of Their Research Papers Or Lectures To Be Presented (Required For International Seminars/Conferences/Workshops).
- Copy of Approval From Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)/Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) (Required For International Seminars).
- Application Form In The Prescribed Proforma (Proforma X) Duly Recommended By The Head of The Institution.
- Certificate of Proof From The Head of The Institution That The Travel Expenditure of The Candidate Cannot Be Met From The Institute Resources.
- Photocopy of The Certificate In Support of Academic Qualifications In Statistics.
- Official Invitation From The Host To The Administrative Ministry/Department/Organization.
- Documentary Evidence of Acceptance of The Paper For Presentation By The Organizing Agencies.
- Proof That The Technical Paper Was Submitted Through Proper Official Channel.
- Proof of Necessary Clearance (Political Clearance From Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) Clearance From Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Wherever Required).
- Full Copy of The Paper Proposed To Be Presented.
How to apply
- 1Download the prescribed format from the MOSPI website (mospi.gov.in) and prepare the proposal with the required sections (forwarding letter, institution profile, technical details, financial details for research studies; or application form, profile, etc. for seminars).
- 2Submit the completed proposal and all supporting documents to the Additional Director General, Training Division, Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, either by email to training-mospi@nic.in (for studies) or training-mospi@gov.in (for travel grants), ensuring the submission is at least six months before the event date.
Frequently asked questions
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.
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.
What specific areas of statistical inquiry are ineligible for funding, particularly regarding the theoretical nature of the research work?+
The proposals relating strictly to pure theoretical research in statistics are not eligible for financial assistance.
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.
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.
When submitting a proposal for travel funds to an international statistical conference, 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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