OBJECTIVE

To groom students (primarily from Universities, Colleges, Private Academic Institutions, and newly established Institutes) in their scientific career pursuits by developing dedicated research skills in selected areas/discipline/fields of Science and Engineering through Training and Skill Internship. This program would facilitate the young talent to choose a career path in Science and Technology, at a later stage.

SCOPE

The program is meant to support regular PG and UG 4th-year level students who are having a strong orientation towards scientific and engineering research and are pursuing their degree from University / Institution within India (primarily from universities, colleges, private academic institutions) in the fields of Science and Engineering and having an interest in scientific research. However, the support will not be provided to the beneficiaries directly, but through the Event Organizers applying for and coordinating these events on behalf of SERB.

ELIGIBILITY

• Faculty or Scientists working in Central institutions of higher learning and research such as IITs, IISc, IISERs, NITs, and other institutions and laboratories of eminence like CSIR, ICAR, ICMR, etc. 
• The proposals may be submitted on the established areas of Science and Engineering available in the Institute. However, SERB may also invite proposals for VRITIKA from the Institutes on a special call based on identified thrust areas. 
• The application for VRITIKA should be applied through ONLINE mode at Accelerate Vigyan web-portal for consideration of SERB funding support. The proposal, if approved, the institute should invite well-formulated applications from the PG and UG 4th-year level students.
• Institute should devise a well-defined shortlisting criterion for the selection of candidates based on the basic eligibility criteria laid by SERB and as per formulated guidelines for the specific internship.
• Institute should make sure that at the time of inviting applications for the internship, the applicants produce a letter of authentication from their Supervisor / Head of the Department / Head of the Institute indicating their association with the Institute and “No Objection Certificate (NOC)” for allowing their student to undergo internship, if selected.
• One supervisor can take a maximum of 5 (five) participants for an internship at a time. However, the Institute / University / Department / Division / Centre, as a whole, may accommodate as many interns as they can fulfilling the criteria of maximum 5 interns per Supervisor (Event Organizer).
• Internship should be planned by the Event Organizers in generic break periods in Summer (May - July) and Winter (November – January), to encourage participation from the potential research students.
• The application may be submitted against the call for the proposals at Accelerate Vigyan web-portal generally in the month of May for the incoming winter season (November - January) and in the month of November for the summer season (May - July) next year.
• The current call is open only for Summer Season (May 2024-July 2024) inviting applications till 30 November 2023.

NATURE OF SUPPORT

• The internship will be given for meeting daily necessary expenses such as stationery, consumables, accommodation, food, etc., and will not contain any stipend for them. The support amount will be of Rs. 30000/- per intern for the whole internship period. However, in case of the need for enhanced amount as projected by the Event Organizer, it could be given based on the recommendations of the Committee constituted for the purpose.
• The interns will be eligible for TA reimbursement for their journey to the host institute from their hometown/home institute, both ways, as per GOI norms.

DURATION AND CERTIFICATION

• The period of the Training and Skill Internship shall be at least 4 weeks but not exceeding 2 months.
• The supervisor to whom the interns are attached would be assigning them tasks/assignments, on which, the intern should work and prepare a report to be submitted.
• A certificate regarding successful completion of internship shall be issued to the intern by the supervisor and head of the concern department on satisfactory completion of the internship and on submission of the assignment report.
• Interns not completing the requisite period will not be issued any certificate.

HOW TO APPLY

• The Event Organizer (Faculty / Scientist) should register at Accelerate Vigyan web-portal first and follow the instructions given in the web-portal for the successful submission of the proposal. 
• The proposal can be submitted online mode only when the call for proposals is on.

FORMATS

Mandatory Documents to be uploaded with the application

• An endorsement letter duly signed and stamped by the competent authority of the host institute.
• Certificate from the Event Organizer
• A short summary (Program Details) of the planned research work for the intern(s), and other technical details.            

GUIDELINES

(a) After Completion

After completion of the internship, the following documents need to be submitted online by the Supervisor / Event Organizer:

• Copy of completion certificate issued to the intern(s)
• Financial Papers (Statement of Expenditure and Utilization Certificate).

(b) Engagement

The interns would be attached to Faculty(ies) / Expert(s) / Scientist(s) of the institute for the entire period of internship. During this period, interns will be accountable to the Event Organizers

Event Organizer (EO)

Q1: What can be the typical duration of a Training and Skill Internship?

Ans:  The period of the Training and Skill Internship shall be at least 4 weeks but not exceeding 2 months.

Q2: How one can apply to conduct the Training and Skill Internship?

Ans:  The proposal can be submitted online mode only when the call for proposal is on.

Q3: Is this internship programme also meant for industrial training or tool handling?

Ans: No. The AV internship programme is only meant to work on scientific research projects, primarily at institutions/laboratories of national importance.

Q4: When can the proposal be submitted to organize a Training and Skill Internship event?

Ans: The invitation of applications to organize a Training and Skill Internship event under VRITIKA is against the call. In a calendar year, the applications will be invited two times for holding a Training and Skill Internship event, in the month of May for the incoming winter season (November - January) and in the month of November for the next year summer season (May - July).

Q5: What documents should be submitted with the application?

Ans: The following mandatory documents to be submitted/uploaded with the application:

• An endorsement letter duly signed and stamped by the competent authority of the host institute.
• Certificate from the Event Organizer
• A short summary (Program Details) of the planned research work for the intern(s), and other technical details.

Q6: Can I organize two Training and Skill Internship programs in a calendar year?

Ans: Yes, once the accounts of earlier Training and Skill Internship are settled and closed successfully, you may put up a proposal for the next Training and Skill Internshipevent against the succeeding calls for applications.

Q7: Can I apply for two or more applications under Training and Skill Internship programs having different themes/subject against the same call?

Ans: No, the applicants are encouraged to apply one application at a time against one call.

Q8: How many interns can I propose at the time of applying for funding to organize a Training and Skill Internship?

Ans: An event organizer can propose upto maximum of 5 (five) interns at a time.

Q9: How would the Event Organizer select the students/interns for an approved Training and Skill Internship?

Ans: The selection of the eligible students/interns for Training and Skill Internship will be done based on the recommendations of the Selection Committee constituted for this purpose by the host institutions.

Q10: If my application is approved for funding; will I get the same amount as requested at the time of submission of the application?

Ans: There is no guarantee of the same. The approved amount depends on many factors including the availability of the funds. However, the final recommendations would be made by the ABHYAAS Expert Committee (AEC).

Q11: Can I get the approved funds in other than institute’s bank account?

Ans: No, the approved funds would be released in the favour of the institute’s bank accounts only and the account details should be authorized by the head of the institute and verified by the issuer bank.

Q12: Are the non-central government institutes eligible to apply for financial assistance to organize a Training and Skill Internship?

Ans: The Accelerate Vigyan is looking forward to the proposals from institutions/universities/laboratories of higher learning, research & eminence. If your organization has proven expertise track record in these aspects, one may apply. The merit of the proposal will be assessed for funding by the respective ABHYAAS Expert Committee (AEC) constituted for the purpose. In essence, the host institution would be decided on the basis of the sole criteria of the basic objectives of the program.

Q13: I am working as an Assistant Professor on ad-hoc/contractual basis in a State Govt. University. Can I apply for financial assistance to organize a Training and Skill Internshipprogram?

Ans: No, only regular employees (Faculty/Scientists) working in the institute can submit their applications through proper channel to seek financial assistance to organize a Training and Skill Internship event/program.

Q14: If I get a new job to another institute, can I organize my approved event by SERB in the new institute? If yes, then what is the procedure to do so?

Ans: The approved event needs to be organized at the host institute only for which it was originally approved. If the EO gets a new job in another institute, then he has to withdraw the approved event and return the funds, if already transferred, as unspent balance, to the SERB. In order to organize a Training and Skill Internship in the new institute, the EO needs to submit a fresh application against the call for applications, whenever announced.

Q15: Can I pay TA/DA, remittance/honorarium etc. to the invited experts/speakers from the approved fund in an approved Training and Skill Internship?

Ans: No, the approved fund is mainly meant for students meeting of their daily necessary expenses such as stationary, consumables, accommodation, food etc. and TA reimbursement for their journey to the host institute from their hometown / home institute, both ways, as per GOI norms. Since it is an internship program, the need of outside experts is not envisaged by the AV. However, in extreme cases, one may cater the TA/DA and honorarium to the outside experts as per standard norms / guidelines of SERB. Notwithstanding, as far as possible, the honorarium by the experts could be declined by them, treating this noble contribution as scientific social responsibility while imparting the requisite knowledge / skills to the students.

Q16: Can I organize a Training and Skill Internship in collaboration with another or multiple institutes?

Ans: You may collaborate; however, the application needs to be submitted by an individual from an organizing institute only and the funds will be disbursed to the host institute only.

For Students

Q1:  Who are the beneficiaries of ‘VRITIKA’ module?

Ans: The aim is to expand the research base by creating opportunities for the young researchers (PG and UG 4th-year level students) by providing platform to them for spending quality time in the pre-identified premier institutions / labs. These young researchers do not have the access or resources to such esteemed research environment in their parent institution.

Q2: Does this internship programme give assurance of a research position/job?

Ans: No, the internship is only to support/train potential PG and UG 4th-year level students in their endeavors for pursuing a scientific career.

Q3:  Does this internship provide stipend to the interns?

Ans: No, the internship will be on an unpaid basis. However, support for daily necessary expenses such as accommodation, food etc. including TA will be provided to the interns, through the organizers.

Q4: How can a student participate in a Training and Skill Internship?

Ans: The eligible students shall apply for the Internships through Event Organizers (EOs) only, against the call for applications. These calls will be advertised by the EOs through different mechanisms as deemed fit, but importantly these will be posted at “Accelerate Vigyan” web portal under the section “Upcoming Events”. The students however will apply directly to the EOs after the calls for applications are given by the latter.

Q5: What’s the purpose of ‘Register as Student’ on the AV portal?

Ans: The students have been invited by the Accelerate Vigyan to get registered themselves through the ‘Register as Student’ option provided on login page of AV portal, to facilitate their participation in “Vigyan Varta” section of the Accelerate Vigyan Portal for seeking valuable inputs, suggestions and constructive feedback about the events, programs and scheme itself, with an aim to continue improve upon its existing systems, processes and structures. As the Accelerate Vigyan scheme evolves further over a period of time, students will witness greater participation, involvement and facilitation of funding itself through the portal.

Q6: Can I apply for a Training and Skill Internship which is scheduled to be organized in the institute where I am currently doing Master’s in Science?

Ans: No, as a matter of principle, one cannot apply for an approved Training and Skill Internship in the same institute where he/she is studying. The exceptions could be decided based on the merits of the case.

Q7: Can a student organize a Training and Skill Internship?

Ans: No, only faculty/scientist is on regular employment is eligible to apply for financial assistance to organize a Training and Skill Internship.

Q8: I am currently engaged as a Ph.D. scholar in the final year and take lectures/classes time to time in the department. Can I apply for funding to organize a Training and Skill Internship event?

Ans: No, only faculty/scientist working on regular basis in institutes is eligible to apply for financial assistance to organize a Training and Skill Internship.

• Regular Indian PG students pursuing their degree in the fields of Science and Engineering and having interest in scientific research are eligible to apply for        Accelerate Vigyan Research internship through premier Indian research institutions.
• Daily expenses of the interns such as accommodation, food etc. will be borne by the host institute through SERB funding support.
• Travel expenses (II AC train fare as per GOI norms) may also be reimbursed to the interns for their journey to the host institute from the home town/home        institute, both ways. TA is admissible for the shortest route only.
• Report on training and work undertaken should be submitted to SERB separately by the host and the candidate, within one month after the completion of        internship period.
• The internship will be offered to an individual only once in their career.