Core Research Grant 2025 by Science and Engineering Research Board
The Core Research Grant (CRG), formerly known as the Extramural Research (EMR) scheme, is a flagship initiative of the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB). This scheme has been instrumental for over four decades in supporting individual-centric, competitive funding to scientists and researchers in all frontier areas of Science and Engineering.
Objective
The CRG aims to provide core research support to active researchers to undertake cutting-edge research and development in frontier areas of Science and Engineering.
Eligibility Criteria
| Eligibility Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | Indian citizens. Foreign nationals (including OCI/NRI) eligible per SERB rules. |
| Position | Must hold a regular academic/research position at recognized institutions in India. |
| Institutions Eligible | Government & private academic institutions (UGC/AICTE/PCI approved), DSIR-SIRO recognized R&D institutions, NGOs under NITI Aayog Darpan. |
| Fellowship Holders | INSPIRE, Ramanujan, and Ramalingaswamy Fellows can apply (if ≥3.5 years of tenure remaining). |
| Superannuated Applicants | Allowed if a co-PI with ≥5 years of service is associated and host institute supports the PI. |
| Qualification | Ph.D. in Science, Mathematics, Engineering or M.D./M.S./M.D.S./M.V.Sc. |
| Ineligible Roles | RAs, Ad-hoc/Gues/Visiting faculty, consultants, project fellows, etc. |
| Proposal Submission Limit | One proposal per calendar year under CRG, SRG, or NPDF. |
Nature and Duration of Support
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding Duration | Up to 3 years |
| Supports | Equipment, manpower, consumables, travel, contingency, and institutional overheads |
| Eligibility of Institutions | Proposals from national labs must align with institutional mandates |
| Cost Sharing for Labs | Labs must share 50% of non-recurring costs. For proposals >₹80 lakh, 50% of non-recurring + consumables cost is required. |
Application & Selection Process
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| Proposal Submission | Only through www.serbonline.in |
| Submission Limit | Only one proposal per call |
| Duplicate Submission | Rejected proposals must not be resubmitted without major revision |
| Concurrent Projects | Only one ongoing project under CRG, SRG, NPDF, or similar schemes is allowed |
| Selection Process | Based on review by the Program Advisory Committee (PAC); presentations may be requested. |
Plagiarism Policy
- Proposals must be original. Plagiarized content will lead to immediate rejection.
- Quotations and references must be clearly marked and cited.
Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR)
- Community engagement
- Capacity building for less-resourced institutions
- Additional budget support will be provided for approved SSR activities.
How to Apply (Online Submission Process)
- Register on SERB Online Portal.
- Fill in Profile Details including photo, bio-data, and institutional address.
- Ensure all Co-PIs are also registered.
- During proposal submission, include:
- Project title (max 500 characters)
- Summary (max 3000 characters)
- Objectives (max 1500 characters)
- Expected outcomes (max 1500 characters)
- Detailed budget (Manpower, Consumables, Travel, Equipment, Overheads)
- Upload the Other Technical Document (OTD) – a single PDF (max 10 MB) including:
- Project proposal
- Biodata (template available)
- PI certificate
- Institutional endorsement
- Plagiarism undertaking
Relevant Program Divisions & Contacts
| Division | Program Area | Coordinator | Program Officer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Sciences | Organic, Inorganic, Physical Chemistry | Dr. Premila Mohan | Dr. S.V. Prasanna |
| Earth & Atmospheric Sciences | Earth and Atmospheric Sciences | Dr. Shashi Bhushan Pandey | Dr. Prahlad Ram |
| Engineering Sciences | Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Materials, Chemical | Dr. Shashi Bhushan Pandey | Dr. Anima Johari, Dr. Pankaj Rawat |
| Life Sciences | Biomedical, Interdisciplinary, Evolutionary Biology | Dr. Dipti Kakkar Thukral | Dr. A.V. Balachandar, Dr. Shilpi Paul |
| Mathematical Sciences | Mathematical Sciences | Dr. Dipti Kakkar Thukral | Dr. Rajwant |
| Physical Sciences | Condensed Matter, High-Energy Physics | Dr. Shashi Bhushan Pandey | Dr. Nilotpal Ghosh |
| Exponential Technology | Emerging Technologies | Dr. Premila Mohan | Dr. V. Ramesh |
| Quantitative Social Sciences | Quantitative Social Research | Dr. Premila Mohan | Dr. Arvind Chaudhary |
Downloadable Templates & Links
- Biodata Format
- PI Certificate Format
- Institution Endorsement Format
- Plagiarism Undertaking Format
- SERB Online Portal Registration
- SERB Guidelines for Foreign Nationals
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