Below are some of the Frequently Asked Questions related to existing projects. If your question is not listed below, kindly contact BRFST. This page will be updated routinely.

Please read the FAQ's carefully. This is applicable to both academic and industrial projects.

Q. I wish to publish the results of the work done in the BRFST funded project. Do I need any clearances ?

A. YES. The PI has to first get a prior clearence from BRFST before sending any material arising from the BRFST funded project for conference/publications.

Q. I wish to take a patent based on the work carried out under the BRFST project sanctioned to me. What is the procedure ?

A. Patents can be taken on a equal sharing basis. The costs incurred for taking the patent will have to be bourne by the PI and can be deducted from the % of royalty due to BRFST. The PI will have to sign an "Agreement on joint patent filing" before initiating the process. PI is adviced to discuss the matter in detail with BRFST before initiating the patenting process. 

Q. I wish to come to IPR to carry out discussions/work as part of the project sanctioned to me. What is the procedure ?

A. PI’s are always welcome to visit IPR for discussions or to carry out work related to their project. The PI is required to contact the IPR coordinator and fix up the date(s) of their visit. Accommodation in the IPR campus may be requested through the IPR coordinator. However, it is subject to availability. The PI will have to bear his/her travel expenses from his/her project budget.

Q. My project is completing its 1st year. What documents need to be submitted as part of the 1st year review process ?

A. The PI will have to submit, in appropriate formats the following documents by e-mail ; (i) The progress report (ii) budget expenditure sheet (iii) extension request if applicable (iv) additional budget request (if applicable). At the time of review, the PI will have to submit the original signed copies of the above documents as well as the Budget Utilization Certificate (BUC) issued by the competent authority of the host Institute as well as copies of publications arising from the project. PI is required to send the documents by email well before the deadline. Do not send PDF files.

Q. Due to certain unavoidable circumstances, I will not be able to attend the review meeting. What alternate options do i have ? 

A. It is mandatory for the PI or the Co-PI of the project to attend the review meetings.  The dates of the review meetings are announced well in advance (Always in March/August) and if in doubt, the PI may always contact BRFST. In the event that the PI/Co-PI is not able to attend the review meeting, the subsequent year's funding will be withheld untill the review is completed, either on a date fixed by BRFST or in the next review meeting. While project staff are welcome to attend the review meetings, kindly do not send them in place of the PI/Co-PI to defend the project.

Q. My project is ending this August.  What documents do I need to submit ?

A. The PI has to submit (i) Comprehensive project report (ii) Budget Utilization Certificate (BUC) issued by the competent authority of the host Institute (iii) Copies of publications arising from the project (iv) details of the project staff employed in the project.

Q. I had underestimated my budget while submitting the project. What can be done ?

A. In principle, the PI has to wait till the next review meeting in order to get additional funds, which under normal circumstances is granted after the Board considers your request and finds it justified. Mid-term sanction of additional funds is usually not given, except in very specific cases and is at the discretion of the Board.

Q. I have not spent the complete amount sanctioned to me in the 1st year. Can I transfer the balance to the next year ?

A. In principle, the Board encourages that the PI spends his budget completely as far as possible within the 1 year for which it is provided. Unspent money will NOT automatically be transferred to the next year, but will be adjusted against the subsequent year’s budget.  For eg, At the end of 1st year of the project, if the PI has an unspent amount of Rs.1 Lakh and if the sanctioned amount for 2nd year is Rs.10 lakhs, the final amount that the PI will get for the 2nd year will be only Rs.9 Lakhs.

Q. Can I ask for additional funds in the subsequent year ?

A. In principle Yes. Additional expenditure under each head will have to be justified in detail and Its sanction will however be at the discretion of the Board.  Institutional overheads will not be provided for additional budget sanctioned. 

Q. I have overspent amount under certain budget heads. Can it be reimbursed ?

A. Overspending within reasonable limits is allowed under certain budget heads like ”Equipment“. However, overspending is not permissible under budget heads such as Salary, Travel, Contingency or Consumables.  Request for reimbursement of ANY overspending has to be accompanied by a detail justification and is subject to sanction by the Board.

Q. My estimate for funds under equipments overshot the sanctioned budget due to foreign currency fluctuation and some other unforeseen charges. What can I do ?

A. If the margin of overspending is reasonable and justifiable, BRFST will reimburse the overspent amount along with the subsequent year’s budget.

Q. I feel that a particular instrument (not included in the sanctioned list) that is very important for the progress of the project needs to be procured.  Can I get funds for the same ?

A. The PI will have to make the request for additional budget in advance while submitting the annual progress report and justify the same at the review. If the Board sanctions it, funding will be provided.

Q. My project is ending in August 2011, but the SRF who has hence registered for PhD needs one more year to complete, but will not have a fellowship after August 2011. What can be done ?

A. Even after the project has officially been closed, BRFST will support fellowship and a small contingency /travel for the project staffs who have registered for and is in an advanced stage of his/her PhD programme. This support is limited to one year only.

Q. I am running short of funds in my ”Equipment“ budget head to purchase sanctioned items. Is possible to use funds from other budget heads for compensating this shortage ?

A. As a rule, transfer of funds from one budget head to another is NOT allowed without prior sanction of the Board. PI may request BRFST for such a transfer along with appropriate justification. 

Q. I need to hire a labour for two days to shift lab equipment. From which budget head can I pay ?

A. For hiring short term labour on daily wages, the amount may be paid from contingency.

Q. Do I need to travel by Air India/Indian Airlines while using BRFST travel funds  ?

A. PI has to follow his/her host institution’s guidelines for air travel.