FAQs for FIST Scheme
1.
Who all can apply under this Scheme?
Ans:
The Science Departments of Colleges/Universities & other academic institutes
having Post- graduate programme in Basic Sciences, Engineering, Medical sciences,
Agriculture Sciences, Veterinary Sciences, Animal Husbandry Sciences etc., can
apply under this scheme provided the PG Programme should be in existence for minimum
3 years.
2.
Does it support individual project in the Department?
Ans:
The Scheme is for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure in the Department
as a whole and not for individual faculty.
3.
In which level one can apply?
Ans:
The Scheme has been broadly divided into two levels depending upon the potential
of the Department. The detail definition of the levels is given at the homepage.
The Department may apply in as per the guidelines provided.
4.
How much support a Department can ask under this Scheme?
Ans:
The Scheme has been broadly divided into two levels with different quantum of
support. However the Department must ask for a realistic support depending upon
their actual requirements to strengthen the areas in which they are working.
5.
What are the various Budget Heads under which one can ask for support?
Ans:
The support is mainly classified into four categories with different subheads,
as given below:-
1) Equipment Head:
i)
Major Equipment: Largely for research purpose.
ii) Minor Equipment: For Teaching
purposes.
2) Infrastructure
Head:
i) Renovation of existing Laboratories,
museum, Animal House, Botanical Garden etc.
No fresh construction would be
allowed to support.
ii) Up gradation of existing facilities (attachment or
accessories for existing facilities)
iii) Reference Books for Departmental
Library.
3) Networking &
computational Head:
i) Setting up of a Departmental
Computer Laboratory with server, few nodes, printers, scanners, UPS, furniture,
software, etc (Internet connectivity to be provided by the College/University/Institute).
ii) Augmentation of existing computational facilities in the Department.
4) Maintenance Head:
i) AMC, Repair, Spares
for the facilities created through FIST grant only.
ii) Refurnishing of other
existing Equipment.
6.
What is the tenure of the FIST Scheme?
Ans:
The tenure of FIST Scheme is for 5 years from the date of issue of Ist installment
of grant. The tenure of this scheme is scheme is not extended beyond 5 years under
any circumstances.
7.
Can the grant be used to procure other items than sanctioned one?
Ans:
NO. The purpose of each grant is mentioned in the respective sanction order. The
Departments are advised to strict the specific purpose including the name of Listed
Equipment only. Any item/equipment, which is not approved or sanctioned, would
not be considered towards expenditure without prior approval.
8.
It is possible to change the Sanctioned Equipment?
NO. The Sanctioned
Equipments are being identified by the Members of the Subject Expert Committee
and hence cannot be changed under normal circumstances.
9.
What is the procedure for getting next release after the utilization of previous
installment?
Ans: Once the grant released
during any installment is utilized for the purpose it was released, the Department
is supposed to submit the following documents to Department of Science and Technology
for processing & release of next installment:
1)
Utilization Certificate.
2) Statement of Expenditure. [Blank Formats are available
at homepage]
3) Assets Details, including Books (if supported)
4) Expenditure
Details.
10.
When are the Financial Documents to be submitted?
Ans:
Financial documents are to be submitted as and when the grant is utilized for
the purpose it was released.
11.
Can the Department incur more than the amount of grant received?Ans:
NO. The Department should avoid incurring expenditure beyond the grant available
with them. The 1st Sanction Order clearly describes the various equipment/items
and the various heads along with the allocated budget. The Department may restrict
their purchase and expenditure as per the allocated budget. Any over expenditure
beyond sanctioned budget has to be borne by the Department/ Institute/ University
and DST will not reimburse such expenditures.
12.
Does the Department need to keep the grant in a saving Account?Ans:
YES. The grant released under FIST scheme needs to be kept in an interest bearing
Account i.e., Saving Account. The accrued interests on the grant need to be reflected
in the financial statement. As per the agreed "Terms & Conditions",
it is Mandatory to keep the grant into interest bearing Account i.e., Saving Account.
13.
How much time is given to a Department to utilize the installment of the grant?
Ans: The released grant is to be utilized within
one Calendar Year from the date of grants released, however the Department may
utilize the grant even earlier and may apply to DST with required documents (latest
UC & SE) for release of next installment.