CSIR YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARDS

In order to promote excellence in various fields of science and technology, a scheme of awards for young scientists in the CSIR system was introduced in 1987. Normally, 5 awards, one in each of the following fields, are given annually:

· Biological Sciences

· Chemical Sciences

· Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences

· Engineering Sciences

· Physical Sciences (including instrumentation)

GUIDELINES

Any scientist, engaged in research work in any of the CSIR laboratories/institutes, who is not more than 35 years of age, as reckoned on 26 September (CSIR Foundation Day) of the preceding year, is eligible for the Award. Nominee should be a regular employee of CSIR system holding a post of Scientist ‘B’ or above in Group IV. Neither Junior nor a Senior Technical Assistant (JTA/STA) nor a Quick-hire-fellow (QHF) is eligible for consideration.

Nominations are invited for CSIR Young Scientist Awards every year from Directors of CSIR Laboratories/ Institutes and Chairperson of Research Councils (RC) of CSIR Laboratories/ Institutes and Bhatnagar Awardees working at CSIR Laboratories. Information regarding nominees should be sent as per proforma prescribed for nomination.

Directors/ Chairmen (RC) / Bhatnagar Awardees should propose nominations of scientists belonging to the CSIR laboratories/ institutions with which they are associated. Each of them can send a maximum of two nominations.

Duly approved Advisory Committees in the above-mentioned five fields would make selections from among the nominations received. The scientists, nominated for CSIR Young Scientist Award, are required to make a brief presentation about their research work before the concerned Advisory Committee. No nomination will be considered in absentia.

Each award consists of a citation (signed by the Director General, CSIR and the Vice-President, CSIR), a cash prize of Rs.50000 (Rupees Fifty Thousand only) and a plaque.

The awards are given for outstanding contributions made by the young CSIR scientists based on work done primarily in India during the last five years preceding the year of the Award.

The CSIR Young Scientist Awards will be presented to the recipients on 26 September, the CSIR Foundation Day.

After the selections, each Awardee would be required to submit a research project indicating the grant required for equipment and contingency by him/her for the pursuit of research as per his/her proposed project. Duration of the project may be for five years or less. The project should have the approval of the Director/ Research Council of the laboratories/ institutes. Work under the project is to be carried out independently. With effect from 1 April 1994, the Directors of CSIR laboratories/ institutes have been empowered to release the grant, which is normally to the tune of Rs 5.00 lakh (enhanced from the year 2008 onwards) per annum per awardee for the approved projects to the CSIR Young Scientist Awardee, where he/ she is working. The grant may be debited to the centrally operated budget head (P 81-113) of the Extramural Research (EMR), Human Resource Development Group, CSIR Complex, New Delhi. Intimation regarding this should be sent to HRDG along with a copy of the project for reference and record.