3. Constitution and incorporation of Board.—(1) The Central Government shall, by notification in
the Official Gazette, constitute, for the purposes of this Act, a Board to be called the Science and
Engineering Research Board.
(2) The Board shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid having perpetual succession and a
common seal with power, subject to the provisions of this Act, to contract and shall, by the said name, sue
and be sued.
(3) The Board shall consist of the following persons, namely:—
(a) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Science and Technology,
ex officio—Chairperson;
(b) Member-Secretary, Planning Commission, ex officio—Member;
(c) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Biotechnology,
ex officio—Member;
(d) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research,
ex officio—Member;
(e) Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Earth Sciences, ex officio—Member;
3
(f) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
or his nominee, ex officio—Member;
(g) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Health Research,
ex officio—Member;
(h) not more than three members to be appointed by the Central Government from amongst
persons having experience in scientific research in different disciplines in academic institutions;
(i) not more than three members to be appointed by the Central Government from amongst
persons having experience in scientific research in different disciplines in Government research
laboratories;
(j) not more than four members to be appointed by the Central Government from amongst
persons having experience in scientific research in different disciplines in the industry, international
projects on science and technology, socio-economic sectors and other Government research
laboratories.
(4) The Head Office of the Board shall be at Delhi or in the National Capital Region.
(5) The qualifications and experience, term of office and allowances of the members specified in
clauses (h) to (j) of sub-section (3) shall be such as may be prescribed.
(6) The Chairperson shall, in addition to presiding over the meetings of the Board, exercise and
discharge such powers and duties, as may be prescribed or delegated to him by the Board.
(7) No act or proceeding of the Board shall be invalidated merely by reason of—
(a) any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of, the Board;
(b) any defect in the appointment of a person acting as a member of the Board;
(c) any irregularity in the procedure of the Board not affecting the merits of the case.
4. Secretary and other officers and employees of Board.—(1) The Board may appoint an eminent
Scientist not below the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India as the Secretary of the
Board, in consultation with the Central Government.
(2) The Board may appoint such other officers and employees as it considers necessary for the
efficient discharge of its functions under this Act.
(3) The qualifications and experience, terms and conditions of service including salary and
allowances of the Secretary and other officers and employees of the Board shall be such as may be
specified in the regulations made by the Board.
(4) The Board may engage the services of personnel, both from within and outside the country as
consultants, visiting scientists on such terms and conditions and remunerations as may be specified in the
regulations made by the Board and shall facilitate their operations within the country.
5. Oversight Committee of Experts.—(1) Subject to the rules made in this behalf, the Board shall
constitute an Oversight Committee of Experts consisting of experts, eminent scientists and academics to
advise and assist the Board.
(2) The Oversight Committee shall consist of the following persons, namely:—
(i) a scientist of eminence and international repute—Chairperson;
(ii) Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Science and Technology,
ex officio—Vice-Chairperson;
(iii) Presidents of Indian National Science Academy, Indian Academy of Sciences and Indian
National Academy of Engineering, ex officio—Members;
(iv) not more than three members to be appointed by the Central Government from amongst
distinguished experts in different areas of science and technology; and
4
(v) Secretary to the Board, ex officio—Member.
6. Committees of Board.—(1) Subject to the rules made in this behalf, the Board may appoint such
committees as may be necessary for the efficient discharge of its duties and performance of its functions
under this Act.
(2) The Board shall have the power to co-opt as members of any committee appointed under
sub-section (1), such number of persons who are not members of the Board as it may think fit, and the
person so co-opted shall have the right to attend the meetings of the committee, and take part in the
proceedings of the committee.
7. Powers and functions of Board.—(1) The Board shall serve as a premier multi-disciplinary
research funding agency for planning, promoting and funding basic research in the emerging areas of
science and engineering.
(2) The powers and functions of the Board shall, inter alia, include—
(i) serving as a premier multi-disciplinary research agency for planning, promoting and funding
of internationally competitive research in emerging areas;
(ii) considering and taking decisions on the recommendations and suggestions made by the
Oversight Committee;
(iii) identifying major inter-disciplinary research areas, and individuals, groups or institutions and
funding them for undertaking research;
(iv) evolving nationally coordinated programmes in various identified areas involving institutions
that will have a multiplier effect in promoting research;
(v) assisting in setting up infrastructure and environment for scientific pursuit;
(vi) achieving synergy between academic institutions, research and development laboratories and
industry for promoting basic research in science and engineering;
(vii) evolving a management system to speedily provide for funding research, including
monitoring and evaluation, by adopting modern management practices;
(viii) evolving participation in international collaborative projects, wherever necessary or
desirable; and
(ix) taking over and continuance of the basic research projects and programmes undertaken or
funded by the Central Government under the existing Science and Engineering Research Council
scheme.
(3) The Board may provide financial assistance for the purposes specified in sub-section (2), in the
form of grants and loans to individuals, academic institutions, research and development laboratories,
industries and other organisations.