The Research and Development (R&D Fund has been established by the Bank, in accordance with the provisions of the NABARD Act 1981, with the objective of acquiring new insights into the problems of agricultural and rural development through in-depth studies and applied research and trying out innovative approaches backed up by technical and economic studies. The R&D Fund is utilised for formulating policies on matters of importance to agricultural operations and rural development, including facilities for training, dissemination of information and promotion of research by undertaking techno-economic studies and other surveys in the fields of agriculture, rural banking and rural development.
More specifically, the present objectives of the Fund are to support:
Applied research and studies of a technical/economic nature in the areas of agriculture, non-agricultural rural economic activities, rural credit, rural financial systems, agricultural extension and similar aspects of interest of NABARD;
Training related to the aspects mentioned against (a) above,
Dissemination and collation of information
Strengthening the efforts of State Land Development Banks, State Co-operative Banks, District Central Co-operative Banks and Regional Rural Banks towards establishing a Technical, Monitoring and Evaluation (TME) Cell for facilitating the preparation, appraisal, monitoring and evaluation of projects refinanced by NABARD.
Approved research institutions, organisations and other agencies which are engaged in action-oriented, applied research are eligible,
Individuals or groups of individuals would also be extended assistance provided they are sponsored by suitable organisations which would certify the proper use and accounting of funds,
The institutions sponsoring proposals must be able to demonstrate that the staff designated to conduct the proposed research has the necessary professional competence and experience for successfully carrying out the research envisaged in the proposals.
Private and commercial organisations are not normally eligible for assistance under the Fund.
The criteria for judging the eligibility of proposals for assistance from the Fund are:
The subject matter of the proposal should pertain to any one or more aspects of the entire spectrum of development of agriculture and other rural activities, including constraints to such development and suggestions for overcoming them.
The proposed research must be of an empirical nature having a bearing on problems of agriculture and rural development including those relating to rural industries, rural artisans, services, etc. In the context of social science research, the term `empirical research' means an analysis of the primary data to be collected by the sponsor through surveys or case studies or analysis of secondary data already published by official sources or other agencies.
The proposed research should pertain to technical, socio-economic and managerial aspects.
The proposed research should be of an original nature in the sense that it does not repeat work already done or being done by other agencies.
Every proposal seeking assistance from the R&D Fund should include a budget showing the estimated cost of the proposed task. NABARD shall ordinarily reimburse the following:
The recurring costs on account of salaries and allowances, travel, postage, stationery, typing, etc., related to the project.
Non-recurring costs, if any, on the purchase of laboratory equipment, books, etc., required exclusively for the project.
A share of the overhead costs of the sponsoring institution towards the use of office premises, furniture, typewriters, etc., in accordance with its rules.
Expenses on computerised analysis of data, if any,
The budget estimate must be reasonable and realistic. The salary levels of the concerned staff should be comparable with those obtaining in universities and other academic bodies.
No institution or individual shall ordinarily be sanctioned a fresh project without its successfully completing the previous one. It shall, however, be permissible to break one big project into identifiable phases with separate budgets for each phase, but disbursements for the second or subsequent phase shall depend upon the sponsor successfully completing the previous phase/phases.
Assistance from the R&D Fund would be generally through grant assistance by way of reimbursement of the expenditure incurred by the institution in the previous quarter or phase of the project.
The general terms and conditions governing the sanction of assistance from the R&D Fund would be broadly as under:
Only those proposals are eligible for assistance, which are approved for the purpose by NABARD's Research Advisory Committee. The same Committee also approves the amount and mode of assistance. The decision of the Committee as to approval, amount and mode of assistance shall be final.
Depending upon the merits of each proposal, necessary assistance would be extended by way of grant assistance.
Eligible institutions availing of financial assistance would be required to give an undertaking for proper utilisation of assistance from NABARD. Where the amount of assistance disbursed by NABARD has not been utilised for the purpose for which it was sanctioned and no satisfactory explanation acceptable to the NABARD is forthcoming, NABARD reserves the right to recall the entire amount of grant/loan at once.
The institutions/organisations seeking assistance from the Fund would be required to execute such Agreements as may be prescribed by NABARD.
Separate accounts showing details of expenditure in respect of each of the approved projects for which the assistance is extended will have to be maintained by the recipients.
The assistance would normally be released by NABARD in suitable instalments.
For each instalment of assistance released by NABARD the recipient would be required to submit periodic expenditure statements and utilisation certificates prescribed by the NABARD from time to time.
The recipient shall not publish the reports or results of research without a written permission from NABARD. The Bank shall also have the right to use the reports or results of research for its internal use and for training, after acknowledging the sources.
Where the results of research or studies assisted by NABARD lead to the sponsors obtaining a patent or to commercial exploitation in any other form, NABARD shall have a right to demand a share in the gains made by the sponsors.
Assistance would also be made available, on a selective basis, to approved agencies with a view to augmenting or improving the facilities for training. Thus, assistance may be extended for the generation of training materials such as audio-visual aids, case studies, strengthening of libraries, etc.
NABARD would also make token contributions from the R&D Fund to professional bodies on a selective basis for holding seminars/conferences, etc. intended to discuss subjects which are of relevance to NABARD. The assistance would be towards meeting the cost of certain selected items of expenditure. For this purpose the organisers should furnish a detailed budget and a list of sponsors to NABARD, well in advance. NABARD may depute its representatives to participate in the conference or attend as observers. The grantee organisations are also required to supply 25 copies each of the agenda papers and proceedings for the use of NABARD.
ASSISTANCE FOR SETTING UP TECHNICAL, MONITORING AND EVALUATION CELLS
Financial institutions such as State Land Development Banks, State Co-operative Banks, District Central Co-operative Banks and Regional Rural Banks whose operations are not wholly commercial in nature, would also be provided assistance from the Fund for setting up/strengthening their technical, monitoring and evaluation cells by appointing key personnel in the disciplines required to man the cells. The amount of assistance for the purpose and the period for which it will be tenable shall be decided by NABARD.
NABARD has constituted a Management Committee (MC) of the Bank and a Research Advisory Committee (RAC), comprising of eminent researchers, for consideration of proposals received for assistance from the Fund. The Committee's decisions are final.
CHECK-LIST FOR FORMULATION OF PROJECTS/STUDY PROPOSAL FOR GRANT FROM R&D FUND OF THE NATIONAL BANK
1.
Title of the Research Project/Study/Activity
2.
Actual location where the research work/activity will be carried out
3.
Legal status/constitution of the organisation available
4.
Information on other on-going projects at the Agency
5.
Highlights of the available experience, infrastructure, competence and standing of your agency as well as that of the principal investigator including his experience, research papers authored, etc.
6.
Objectives, sample size, methodology, day-to-day/weekly/ quarterly/year-wise work plan with justification proposed for the research/work including the main items of observations to be recorded, etc.
7.
Highlights of technical inputs and innovative approaches proposed
8.
Current status of the work already done/ being done in the area/subject(s)proposed to be covered under the project/activity by various national/international agencies and scope/need for further research/work
9.
Relevance and utility of the findings/proposed work/result of the research in terms of likely benefits expected to accrue to the beneficiaries/field functionaries at grass-root level/ banking institutions/developmental institutions/National Bank, etc.
10.
Financial outlays proposed under different components with specific reference to objectives, methodology and project period proposed under the research project/study/activity/work, etc.
11.
The applicant and the competent authority of applicant Agency are required to furnish necessary certificates/undertakings to the Bank as at Sr.No.16 of the proforma application.
