Steps for the proposal approval, monitoring and completion
Step 1: Call for Proposals:
- Call for proposal is advertised on the CPRI website, MANTHAN platform and also sometimes in newspapers.
Step 2: Screening of the proposals:
- The proposals are screened for completeness and whether the theme of the proposal is in line with the Thrust Areas of Research identified in the National Electricity Plan.
- The proposals must have clear and quantitative deliverables
- Application oriented research proposals are only supported and basic/fundamental research proposals are not entertained under the scheme.
- If the proposals are not in line with the scope of the scheme, the same is brought to the notice of the Project Investigators and asked for modification.
Step 3: Expert Review Process:
- The proposals are then sent to Two external subject matter experts for review
- The external experts generally are from prestigious institutions (IITs, IISc, NITs) and Govt. Organizations (CSIR labs, CPSEs etc).
- The list of reviewers are identified and approval for sending to the reviewers is obtained from Director General CPRI
- A double blind process is being followed during the review and the identity of the proposers are masked. If both reviewers reject the proposal, it is denied. If reviewers disagree, a third reviewer makes the final decision. If a reviewer suggests changes, the project investigator will be notified. If both reviewers approve, the proposal goes to the Technical Committee.
Step 4: Review by the Technical Committees:
- The proposals are presented to the Technical Committees constituted by the Ministry of Power. The Committee consists of IIT Professors as Chairman and representation from CEA, CPRI, IEEMA, PSUs, DISCOMS etc.
- There are four technical committees, each focusing on different sectors like transmission, thermal generation, hydro generation, and grid/distribution.
- The Project Investigators have to defended their proposal in front of the Technical Committee.
- Technical Committee meets only 2-3 times in a year for techno-economic evaluation and recommendation of projects to the Competent Authority for according approval.
- Recommendations of the Technical Committee will be communicated to the Principal Investigator through e-mail.
Step 5: Review by the Standing Committee on R&D (SCRD):
- The proposals recommended by the Technical Committees are put up to the SCRD for ratification/ approval.
- The PI’s with projects above 50 lakhs, defend their proposals to in front of the SCRD
- The SCRD is chaired by Chairperson CEA and has representation from CEA, MoP,MNRE, DPIIT, DSIR, POWERGRID, NTPC, NHPC etc
- The SCRD meets only 2-3 times in a year for evaluation of the projects and review of the progress of the schemes.
Step 6: Project Approval and Start:
- Proposals recommended by the Technical Committee are approved by the Director General, CPRI for project outlay Rs 50 lakhs and below, and SCRD chaired by Chairperson CEA for proposals above Rs 50 Lakhs.
- After approval of the project CPRI enters into MoU with the project implementing organizations where the signatories from Project Implementing Organization includes Registrar/ Dean R&D/ HoD of the PI’s division etc.
Step 7: Project monitoring:
- Quarterly Reports:
The principal investigator must report both technical and financial progress every quarter.
- Utilization of Funds:
The principal investigator must submit a Fund Utilization Certificate duly signed by the Accounts department of the Project Implementing Organization. Successful submission of these certificates and progress reports are required to release additional funding.
Step 8: Project Completion:
At the end of the project, results are presented to the Technical Committee, which then approves the completion based on the project's achievements compared to the original goals.