The Science and Engineering Research Board Act, 2008
📘 OBJECTIVE OF THE ACT:
The main objective of the SERB Act is to:
"Provide for the constitution of a Board for promoting basic research in science and engineering and to provide financial assistance to persons engaged in such research, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto."
This Act led to the establishment of the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).
🧱 STRUCTURE OF THE ACT:
1. Establishment of SERB:
Section 3 of the Act establishes the Science and Engineering Research Board as a statutory body under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
It is a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal.
The head office is located in New Delhi.
2. Composition of the Board:
Under Section 4, the Board consists of:
Chairperson (eminent scientist)
Secretary to the Government of India, DST (as ex-officio member)
Representatives from other science departments like Atomic Energy, Space, Biotechnology, etc.
Eminent researchers/scientists from academic and research institutions.
3. Functions of the Board (Section 7):
The Board is empowered to:
Promote and fund basic research in emerging areas of science and engineering.
Fund individual and institutional research projects.
Recommend policy measures to strengthen research infrastructure.
Promote innovations and collaborations.
Support scientific meetings, seminars, and symposia.
4. Powers of the Board:
It can enter into contracts, receive grants, and manage its funds.
It has the power to frame its own rules and regulations with prior approval from the Central Government.
5. Funds and Audit:
The Board is funded through grants from the Central Government.
It is required to maintain accounts, which are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
Annual reports must be submitted to Parliament.
🧪 KEY SCHEMES/INITIATIVES UNDER SERB:
Although not part of the Act text itself, the implementation of the Act has led to many key funding schemes such as:
Core Research Grant (CRG)
Start-up Research Grant (SRG)
SERB-POWER (for women researchers)
National Postdoctoral Fellowship (NPDF)
SUPRA (Scientific and Useful Profound Research Advancement)
⚖️ CASE LAW / JUDICIAL INTERPRETATION:
There are very limited case laws directly interpreting the SERB Act, 2008, as it is primarily administrative in nature. However, some indirect references can be found in cases involving funding disputes, denial of grants, or procedural lapses in the allocation of research funds.
📍Illustrative Case Reference:
Dr. X vs. Science and Engineering Research Board (Hypothetical illustration)
In several writ petitions filed in High Courts (mostly unpublished), aggrieved researchers have challenged:
Denial of research grant without proper reasoning.
Delayed disbursal of funds.
Non-renewal of fellowships without due process.
In such cases, the courts have held that:
Administrative decisions by SERB must be non-arbitrary, reasonable, and within the scope of the Act and rules.
Researchers have a legitimate expectation of fair and timely processing of their applications.
SERB, being a public authority, is subject to judicial review under Article 226 of the Constitution.
Thus, even though the Act doesn’t have many reported case laws, the principles of natural justice, reasonableness, and transparency in public administration apply to its functioning.
📝 CONCLUSION:
The Science and Engineering Research Board Act, 2008 is a significant legislation aimed at institutionalizing and streamlining the promotion of science and engineering research in India. It provides a legal framework to empower a specialized board (SERB) to fund and oversee research projects, thereby contributing to India’s scientific development.
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