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

Please read the FAQ's carefully before submitting your project proposal

Q. How do I find the right area of projects to do ?

A. The BRFST website has a list of areas of R&D interest in the field of fusion science & technology. There is also a frequently updated document listing project seeds which can be taken up by interested persons. If the person has an independent idea that he/she thinks can be taken up in the mentioned areas, please feel free to contact BRFST.

Q. I have a project idea which does not directly seem to fit into the scheme of things as mentioned in the project seeds document. What do I do ?

A. Please feel free to contact BRFST with your project idea. BRFST will evaluate your idea and see how it can be appropriately modified to suit the needs of fusion R&D.

Q. Who can apply for BRFST projects ?

A. Any person holding a permanent position in any Indian academic/R&D Institution other than those governed by DAE can submit a project proposal to BRFST.

Q. Can the project have many PI’s ?

A. NO. The project can have only ONE Principal Investigator (PI), but can have multiple Co-PI’s from the same or other institutions.

Q. Can the project have co-PI’s from institutions outside India ?

A. As of now, NO.

Q. Can the project have a co-PI from an industry ?

A. Yes. However, in case of projects funds are being utilized by the industry as part of the project, separate budgeting needs to be done. Please contact BRFST in such cases.

Q. Is a coordinator from IPR mandatory ?

A. Yes it is mandatory. BRFST will help you find a coordinator from IPR

Q. Is there a time frame for the project tenure ?

A. Typical project tenure is between 1-3 years with scope for extensions (with and without financial implications) varying between 6-12 months as decided by the Board.

Q. I have a background in theoretical plasma physics and I wish to take up experimental basic plasma R&D studies. How can BRFST help ?

A. BRFST believes in capability building activities wherein developing experimental plasma physics capability at the PI’s institution is encouraged. If the PI does not have any experience in experimental plasma physics, he/she may still submit a project proposal with the a co-PI who has experience in experimental plasma physics is included.

Q. When should I submit the project proposal ?

A. BRFST Board meets twice a year to review projects (both old & new). This meeting is usually held in August and February of each year.  New project proposals should be received by BRFST by 30th May or 30th November in order to be considered for the August or February review respectively. Proposals received after the respective deadlines will be automatically considered only for the next review (after 6 months).

Q. Can I submit more than one proposal ?

A. YES you can. However, sanction of more than one project is not guaranteed and would be at the discretion of the Board.

Q. Is there a budget ceiling for the project ?

A. In principle,  No. However, the PI must be able to justify the budget under various heads.

Q. What can I use the contingency budget for ?

A. Contingency money can be used for procuring sundry items, books, accommodation charges, repairs of equipment, workshop charges and other non budgeted items required for the project. Contingency money cannot be used to pay any kind of salary.

Q. What can I use ”consumable“ budget for ?

A. While usage of this is left to the discretion of the PI, as a guideline, this budget can be used for items such as stationery, photocopy, printer toner, chemicals, etc for use in the project. Consumable budget cannot be used to pay any kind of salary.

Q. Can I budget for computers & accessories in my project ?

A. If the project explicitly requires the use of a dedicated computer, then yes. Adequate justification and the detailed specification of the computer needs to be provided (avoid using terms like ”high end computer“). Purchase of laptop / color laser printer etc. are not permitted.

Q. What posts can I hire in the project ?

A. Project posts that are allowed by BRFST are ;  

HRA as per host institution’s norms can be paid in addition to fellowship. No other additional payments with the fellowship are permissible.  For all positions, the candidate must have completed and obtained 1st class in the qualifying course. For positions (i) and (ii), qualification in any NET exam is also sufficient.  The PI has to specify the required qualifications (for example., M.Sc. in material science, M.Tech. in mechanical engineering etc.). In projects more than 2 years, JRF automatically becomes SRF and PA-I becomes PA-II respectively after completion of 2 years. PI has to make appropriate adjustments in the salary budget head to account for this.

Q. Can I employ scientific / technical /Lab assistants/secretary/clerk etc in the project ?

A. NO. BRFST does not support any of the above posts. The PI’s institution has to provide these if required.

Q. Some of the tests required as part of my project are not available in my laboratory/Institute. How can I get them done ?

A. BRFST has a budget head named ”Procured Services“ which is meant for these situations. The PI may budget appropriate amounts wherein services outside his/her institution have to be hired to carry out the tests required for the project. Appropriate justification is required for this budget head.

Q. What is the typical budget allowed under "Travel"

A. Travel budget is subject to location of the PI's institution vis-a-vis IPR and also on the requirement of the project .Travel budget cannot be more  than Rs. 1.00 Lakh/ year for a project.  Final sanctioned amount will be at the descretion of the Board.

Q. What is the typical budget allowed under Contingency / Consumables ?

A. Typically for non-experimental projects, the combined value of these two budgets cannot be more than Rs. 1.00 Lakh/year. For experimental projects, this combined amount can be up to Rs.2.00 Lakhs/ year. Final sanctioned amount will be at the descretion of the Board.

Q. Can I travel abroad using BRFST project funds ?

A. NO. The PI can use the project travel funds ONLY for travel within India. However, for students working in the BRFST funded project and having registered for a PhD, BRFST offers partial travel support to attend scientific conference abroad (with conditions).

Q. What is Institutional Overheads ?

A. Institutional overhead is a % of the total sanctioned budget which is provided to the host institution in order that basic aminities such as laboratory, electricity, lab assistants etc are provided for the tenure of the project. The upper limit of this amount  is 20% of the total budget. 

Q.  Can I use BRFST funds for infrastructure development of my lab  ?

A. NO. Since BRFST pays a percentage of the total project fund as Institutional overheads, infrastructural items like building, furnishing,  a/c, non-scientific and administrative staff etc have to be provided by the PI’s Institute.

Q. The project requires fabrication and also procurement of materials. How do i budget these items ?

A. The PI may add appropriate budget heads like "Fabrication", "Materials" etc in order to budget these items.

Q . What documents need to be submitted to BRFST during submission of the project proposal ?

A. The PI will have to submit, in their appropriate formats, the following documents by e-mail ; (i) Project proposal (ii) budget excel sheet (iii) List of equipment & project staff (iv) List of referees. At the time of review, the PI will have to submit the original signed copies of the above documents as well as the signed (i) Undertaking by PI (ii) Guidelines for implementing Research Projects. (iv) Forwarding letter from the PI's head of the Institution.  Please do not submit documents in PDF format.

Q. How long does it take from project submission to possible sanction of project funds ?

A. If the proposal is submitted well within the prescribed deadline, if all the external review reports are received by BRFST on time, and the recommendations of the Board are incorporated, the first installment of the funding is usually released within one month of the review.

Q. I have been invited to attend the review meeting. Will I be provided TA/ accommodation ?

A. YES. As you have been invited to attend the review, you will be paid TA as per your entitlement and shared accommodation will also be provided at no cost.  Only the PI will be provided with TA and accommodation.

Q. Can the Co-PI of the project also attend the meeting ?

A. Of course Yes. However, only the PI will be provided TA and free accommodation.

Q. The review dates are 10-11 August and my review is scheduled on 10th August. Do I have to be present on both days of the review . Do I have to be present on both days of the review ?

A. The board encourages that the PI be present at IPR on both the days of the review so that there is more interaction between the PI and the IPR coordinator of the project in order that the project progresses smoothly.

Q. I am arriving by flight 9W 241 from Delhi at 21:00. Will BRFST arrange for my pick-up from the airport?

A. No. BRFST does not provide airport / railway station pickup or drop off. The PI will have to call the hotel and arrange for the same at your cost.  However, transportation from the hotel to IPR will be provided on both days of the meeting.