The SERB – POWER Research Grants are a component of the SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities For Women in Exploratory Research) Program, launched by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. The program is designed to mitigate gender disparity in research funding by providing structured, competitive research grants to emerging and eminent women researchers. The aim is to support individual-centric R&D activities in frontier areas of science and engineering, thereby enhancing diversity and equal opportunities for Indian women scientists in academic institutions and R&D laboratories.
Benefits
- Funding Categories:
- Level I: Up to ₹60 lakhs for three years
- Level II: Up to ₹30 lakhs for three years
- Usage of Funds:
Grants may be used for equipment, manpower, consumables, travel, and contingency expenses. - Overheads:
Provided to the implementing institution as per prevailing SERB norms. - Regulatory Framework:
Funding and associated terms are governed by SERB-CRG guidelines, with specific provisions (e.g., for non-recurring costs and equipment budget limits for Tier II institutions).
Eligibility
- Applicant Requirements:
- Applicants (PI and Co-PI(s)) must be Indian citizens.
- Must hold a regular academic/research position in a recognized academic institution, national laboratory, or any other recognized R&D institution in India.
- Institutional Categories:
- Applicants from IITs, IISERs, IISc, NITs, Central Universities, and National Labs are considered under Level I funding.
- Applicants from State Universities/Colleges and Private Academic Institutions should apply under Level II funding.
- Additional Eligibility Criteria:
- Faculties recruited through the UGC-Faculty Recharge Program, INSPIRE Faculty, Ramanujan, and Ramalingaswamy Fellows are eligible provided they have at least 3.5 years of tenure remaining at the time of application.
- There is a mandatory requirement for a female Co-PI from the same institute. Male Co-PIs are not allowed.
- A PhD guide cannot serve as a Co-PI.
- PIs who have already received a POWER Grant, or who have completed two CRG projects, are not eligible.
- A woman scientist cannot hold a POWER Fellowship and a POWER Grant simultaneously.
- The number of Co-PIs should not exceed two per project.
Application Process
Mode: Online
- Registration:
- Applicants must first register on the SERB online portal (www.serbonline.in).
- Profile Completion:
- Fill in all mandatory fields in the Profile Detail section (including bio-data, photos, and institute address).
- Ensure that any Co-PI included in the proposal is also registered in the system following the same procedure.
- Proposal Submission:
- Enter the project details:
- Project Title (max 500 characters)
- Project Summary (max 3000 characters)
- Keywords (max 6)
- Objectives of the project (max 1500 characters)
- Expected output/outcome (max 1500 characters)
- Detailed budget covering research personnel, consumables, travel, equipment, contingency, and overheads.
- Enter the project details:
- Upload Documents:
- All other technical documents should be uploaded as a single PDF file (maximum size 10 MB).
- Selection Process:
- The selection is based on recommendations by the Program Advisory Committee (PAC) constituted by SERB. Applicants may be called for discussions or presentations as part of the evaluation process.
Documents Required
- Identity proof
- Passport-size photograph
- Detailed project proposal
- Educational qualification certificates
- Any other supporting documents as required
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the maximum amount of the grant?
Level I grants are up to ₹60 lakhs, and Level II grants are up to ₹30 lakhs for a three-year period. - What do Level I and Level II mean?
Level I is for applicants from premier institutions (IITs, IISERs, IISc, etc.), while Level II is for applicants from State Universities/Colleges and Private Institutions. - Are there any priority areas for funding?
Funding is provided for frontier areas of science and engineering; specific priority areas may be outlined in the official guidelines. - Can I apply for another project if I am currently executing a CRG project?
PIs already receiving a POWER Grant or those who have completed two CRG projects are not eligible. - Are Co-Investigators allowed?
Yes, a maximum of two Co-PIs is allowed, and at least one must be a female from the same institute. - Under which heads can the research grant be utilized?
Grants can be used for equipment, manpower, consumables, travel, and contingency expenses. - What is the mode of selection?
Selection is based on recommendations by the Program Advisory Committee (PAC) following a competitive evaluation. - Can a woman scientist hold both the SERB-POWER Fellowship and the POWER Grant simultaneously?
No, simultaneous holding is not permitted. - Do I need permission if I am away from my institute for more than 6 weeks?
Yes, any extended absence requires prior approval from SERB. - Can I apply if I am a Co-PI in an ongoing CRG project?
No, PIs currently serving as Co-PIs in ongoing CRG projects are not eligible. - How do I apply for the SERB-POWER Research Grants?
Applications are submitted online via the SERB online portal. Follow the registration and submission steps outlined above.