Resources
ISRO's Role
The RAC-S is funded, primarily by ISRO, which provides necessary annual grant, as recommended by the JPMC and for the conduct of projects, promotional activities and administrative expenses of the RAC-S. Sanction and utilisation of the annual grants shall be in accordance with the applicable financial rules of Government of India and release of funds shall be governed by the terms and conditions specified in the sanction orders.
ISRO shall permit/ authorize, as per the prevailing rules of ISRO, the visits of the regular and the visiting staff of the RAC-S to ISRO establishments, in connection with the research work/projects pursued by the RAC-S.
ISRO Scientists/Engineers deputed/sponsored to the RAC-S for limited periods for works related to research activities of the RAC-S, shall continue to be ISRO employees and their remunerations shall be paid by ISRO.
GU's Role
GU will coordinate the research activities and act as the lead institute of RAC-S. GU will also engage other institutes of excellence in the area of Science and Technology in the north eastern region, as stated earlier to take part in the research and development activities of the centre. GU, Guwahati shall be responsible for:
Overall management of the RAC-S.
GU will identify academic institutes of repute in the northeaster region to collaborate in the RAC-S activities. These institutes may take up joint research projects with GU. For long term research projects, the Principal Investigator can be from the associating institutes and the CoPI can be from GU or vice versa.
Getting suitable project proposals from the faculty and other associated research including their research associates, initial evaluation by RCC and forwarding the same for expert’s comments/recommendations from ISRO, making arrangements for the presentation of the recommended proposals for approval of JPMC.
Projects shall be of three types. Short term projects for B Sc/B.Tech. Students, One year duration projects for M.Sc./M.Tech. Students and R & D projects preferably leading to Ph.D.
Short Term Projects: 3rd Year B.Sc or 3rd or 4th year B.Tech. students shall take up short term research projects of less than one-year duration in this category as part of their curriculum. 20-30 students from GU and associate institutes shall take up this assignment every year. Projects can be taken up individually or as a team of two students. The proposals to be submitted by the faculty of the respective institute and shall be responsible for budget management. The selection of the students for the projects shall be done by the respective institute. The required facility for carrying out the project, travel support (field work, attending conferences etc, 2nd AC fare) shall be provided under the scheme but no fellowship shall be provided to the students. Initial evaluation of these projects shall be carried out by RCC and put up for JPMC’s approval.
Projects for M.Sc./ M. Tech Students: In such projects the Principal Investigator shall be a faculty of the respective institute. 10-20 students of 1st or 2nd year M. Sc./M.Tech. from GU and associated institutes shall join in these projects every year. The proposals shall be submitted by the faculty of the respective institute and shall be responsible for budget management. The required facility for carrying out the project, travel support (field work, attending conferences etc., and 2nd AC fare) shall be provided under the scheme. The selection of the students for the projects shall be done by the respective institute. The students, who have cleared SLET/NET/GATE or equivalent qualification shall be eligible for Research Fellowship as per RESPOND JRF/ SRF Scheme. If the student is already getting any stipend, then the total emoluments should not exceed the RESPOND JRF/SRF eligibility. Students who have not cleared SLET/NET/GATE and selected for the projects shall not be eligible for fellowship. Initial evaluation of these projects shall be carried out by RCC and put up for JPMC’s approval.
R & D Projects, preferably leading to Ph.D Programme: GU and other associated Institutes shall also identify R & D projects of relevance to space programme of one to three years duration. In such projects, the principal investigator of the project shall be from the associating institutes and the CoPI can be from GU or vice versa. The PI shall be responsible for the budget management of the project. There will be provision for JRF and SRF in these projects as per RESPOND norms. Candidates, who have cleared NET/GATE or equivalent qualification from all over the country are eligible for RESPOND JRF /SRF and carry out their Ph.D programme. If the student is already getting any stipend, then the total emoluments should not exceed the JRF/SRF eligibility. Initial evaluation of these projects shall be carried out by RCC and the selected projects to be forwarded for expert’s comments/recommendations from ISRO, before projecting it before JPMC for its approval.
GU will provide required infrastructure (civil, electrical etc.,) and the technical and administrative support, water, electricity supply and other support to RAC-S.
GU will also make available its technical and administrative machinery for work related to the technical and administrative functioning of the RAC-S4.10
The utilisation of fund will be as per GU rules for Sponsored Research Projects, the grants, received from ISRO, for approved projects and activities under RAC-S.
All research personnel of the RAC-S including its scientists as equivalent to GU project staff for the purpose of allowing them for the use of libraries, computer centre, and other technical facilities as and when necessary.
As per GU rules, hostel/residential/guest house accommodation and other welfare amenities of GU to the staff and visiting scientists of the RAC-S.