16/02/2026
Prof. Deepankar Choudhury from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, delivered a special lecture yesterday on 13 February 2026, navigating India's competitive research funding landscape. The session, titled "Indian R&D Funding from DST-FIST, ANRF, PMRF: Pathways Towards a Successful Proposal," was held at the Bipin Chandra Pal Auditorium, Assam University, Silchar.
The lecture was a key highlight of the one-week Workshop and Faculty Development Programme (FDP) titled "A Roadmap on Building a Strong Faculty R&D Profile," organised by the Assam University Teachers’ Association (AUTA), being held from 9-14 February 2026, aiming to equip educators and research scholars with the skills to enhance their research output and successfully secure grants .
Prof. Choudhury, a renowned expert in geotechnical engineering, provided attendees with a comprehensive overview of the financial avenues available to researchers in India. He delved into the nuances of preparing winning proposals for prestigious schemes, including the Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure (FIST) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the newly structured Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), and the Prime Minister's Research Fellowship (PMRF).
His address was particularly timely, coming just months after the launch of the central government's massive Rs. One Lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund in November 2025. The RDI Fund, anchored by the DST and operationalised through the ANRF, is designed to boost private sector participation in research and bridge the gap between academic discovery and market-ready products by supporting projects at higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRL). Prof. Choudhury's insights helped faculty members understand how to align their proposals with these new national priorities.
The workshop, organised by AUTA, has been specifically curated to benefit its members by focusing on project development and strengthening the university's research profile. The lecture provided young faculty and researchers at Assam University with a direct line of sight into the expectations of major funding bodies, demystifying the process of translating academic ideas into funded projects.
Dr. Somnath Mukhopadhay is the programme coordinator and Dr. Amit Kumar Das is the Joint Coordinator of this AUTA initiative, supported by the IQAC, Assam University, and sponsored by Anusandhan National Research Foundation - ANRF and Assam University Silchar.
PMO India
Ministry of Education
Anusandhan National Research Foundation - ANRF
Assam University Silchar
Assam University, Diphu Campus
