Ministry of Science & Technology

Department of Science & Technology

Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure in Universities and
Higher Educational Institutions (FIST)

Proposals are invited for consideration of support under the Scheme ‘Fund for Improvement of S&T
Infrastructure (FIST)’ of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India. The
Scheme is intended to provide basic infrastructure and enabling facilities for promoting R&D activities in
new & emerging areas and attracting fresh talents in universities and other educational institutions.

Nature of Support: The Scheme will provide optimal infrastructure facilities such as, adequate laboratory
space and cold rooms (no fresh constructions), modernization of laboratories, acquisition of essential
equipment and up-gradation of existing facilities, databases, scientific books, etc.

The facilities provided under the Program are intended to support the efforts of the Department as a
whole or a number of faculty members in the Department.

Duration: The duration of support for each Department will be for a period not exceeding 5 years.

Eligibility: All Science & Engineering Departments/Centres having post-graduate programs which have
existed for at least 5 years in universities and other higher educational institutions are eligible.
The Departments/Centres already approved for support under the Scheme are not eligible.

Type of Support
(A) Level – I: Proposals from relatively small but active Departments requiring moderate funding for
improving quality of teaching and research through modernization of laboratories, for augmenting library
and networking & computational facilities.
(B) Level – II: Proposals from well established Departments requiring substantial funding for acquiring
state-of-the-art equipment and setting up laboratories confirming to GLP norms for conducting
internationally competitive research including networking and computational facilities.

Selection: The selection will be through a peer review mechanism and visit to the laboratories, if necessary.
An Advisory Board of Experts will assist the DST in making final selection.

Application: Applications are invited from eligible Departments in the universities and other higher
educational institutions in the prescribed format given below. The Departments may be required to
submit additional information and/or presentation. One copy of application complete in all respects
along with a floppy diskette (3.5″″) with proper labelling should reach the following address on or
before 30 April 2003.

A Summary Sheet in a separate page containing Level, Subject Area, Name of Department/Centre and
University/Institute, Year of Establishment, Status of Institute/University/College, complete postal
address for correspondence including name of Head/Contact Person, Pin Number, State/UT, Telephone
no., Fax and e-mail and the total budget may also be attached. Please note that it will not be possible to
consider incomplete applications for processing to support under the Program.

Dr A Mukhopadhyay, Director, Science & Engineering Research Council (SERC) Division, Department
of Science & Technology (DST), Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi 110 016, India.
Tel: 011-26602193 (direct), 2656 7373, Extn. 445, E-mail: [email protected].

The envelope should mention on top ‘PROPOSAL UNDER FIST in Subject Area -----------’.
[e.g. Life Science, Physical Science, Chemical Science, Engineering Science, Earth & Atmospheric Science &
Mathematical Science]

CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 84, NO. 6, 25 MARCH 2003 831

 PRESCRIBED FORMAT

Application for [please tick one] Level I Level II

1. (a) Name of the Department and Year of Establishment

(b) Name of the University/Institution

(c) Address for correspondence including

Telephone, Telegram, Fax, e-mail, etc.

2. Status of the Institute/University/College

(Central Govt./State Govt./Private)

3. (a) Name & Number of Faculty members in position: (a) Professors, (b) Readers & (c) Lecturers
(List only those, who are faculty members)

(b) Sanctioned Strength

4. Distinction earned by faculty members like National

and International Awards, Professional Societies

5. (a) Actual Current student strength at: (i) PG level – M.Sc. – Regular students & Donation Seats
M.Phil.
M.E./M.Tech., etc.
(ii) Ph.D. in each sub-discipline.

(b) Actual Degree-wise students output for last five years:

No. of students in Years

each degree 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Total
M.Sc.
M.E./M.Tech.
M.Phil., etc.
Ph.D.

6. Indicate the development grant received from UGC/AICTE during the Eighth and Ninth Plan.

Eighth Plan Ninth Plan

Building

Equipment

7. What is the annual grant available to the department from your university/institution during the last two
years

Year For research For teaching

832 CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 84, NO. 6, 25 MARCH 2003

 8. Has the Department received any major infrastructure research grant during the last five years from
S&T agencies including UGC/AICTE. If yes, details.

Heads Name of agency/scheme

with year and amount

Building
Equipment
Books
Supplies and materials
Computing and networking
Facilities

9. Is the Department recognized under DRS (Departmental Research Support), DSA (Departmental
Special Assistance), CAS (Centre for Advanced Study) and COSIST schemes of UGC for receiving
support. Please [tick] one:

DRS DSA CAS COSIST

10. Details of research grant received from different agencies during the last five years:

Name of the Title of the project and Amount sanctioned Funding agency
investigator duration

11. Details of any other Resource Generation Avenues (other than Sponsored Research Grants).

12. Indicate the research activities of the faculty members as per the following proforma

Name and designation of Major areas of research Number of Ph.Ds. produced (in
faculty last 5 years)

13. (a) List of Research Publications in refereed journals coming from the Department during the last five
years (Authors’ Names, Title of Paper, Name of the Journal, Volume, Page nos., Year).

(b) List of Publications in Conference Proceedings during last five years (Authors’ Names, Title of
Paper, Name of the Conference, Volume, Page nos., Year).

(c) List of Patents obtained or applied for during last five years.

(d) List of scientific/technical books written by Faculty members in the Department.

14. Give a list of Equipment, which are available and functional in the Department costing Rs.5 lakhs and
above.

Name of equipment Year of purchase Status

CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 84, NO. 6, 25 MARCH 2003 833

 15. Library facilities – List the Journals received in your department/university library in the concerned
discipline.

16. Details of computing and networking facilities available in your department and institution.

17. Details of facilities in Central Instrumentation Centres such as RSIC, USIC, etc. if any.

18. Details of Research profile/plans of the Department for the next 5 years.

19. Has the Department applied in the year 2000 or 2002 and not been recommended for support?
If yes, indicate (in 200 words) the major developments in the Department in last 3 years.

20. Details of funds requested for 5 years along with phasing for each year:

Cost in Rs. (FE component in US$)

Sl. no./Items name 1st Year 2nd Year …. 5th Year Total

A. Equipment

B. Infrastructure facilities

C. Networking & computational

Facilities, etc.

D. Maintenance of equipment

Total

21. Justification for each item given at Item No. 20.

22. Specify the recipient of the Grant (Registrar/Director/Principal/Any other) by attaching an

endorsement from Head of Institution/University/College.

Information submitted as above is true and is correct.

Signature of the Signature of the

Head of the Department Head of the Institution

[This advertisement is also available on Internet at: http://www.serc-dst.org]

834 CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 84, NO. 6, 25 MARCH 2003