Scheme for Action Research and Studies on Judicial Reforms

Description
Launched in 26th September 2013, the "Scheme for Action Research and Studies on Judicial Reforms" by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, Govt. of India, aims to promote research and studies on issues related to the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms being implemented by the Department of Justice. The scheme provides financial assistance for undertaking action research, evaluation studies, monitoring studies, capacity building, publishing reports, and promoting innovative programmes in the areas of Justice Delivery, Legal Research, and Judicial Reforms. Financial assistance is limited to a maximum ceiling of ₹25,00,000/- Rupees Twenty-Five Lakhs , although the Project Sanctioning Committee may relax this ceiling in exceptional cases involving large scope, sample size, or project duration.

Benefits
• Financial Assistance: Financial assistance shall be extended for undertaking action research, evaluation studies, and monitoring studies.
• Support for Events: Financial assistance shall be extended for organizing seminars, conferences, and workshops.
• Capacity Building: Financial assistance shall be extended for undertaking capacity building activity for research and monitoring activities.
• Publication Support: Financial assistance shall be extended for undertaking publication of reports or material.
• Programme Promotion: Financial assistance shall be extended for undertaking promotion of innovative programmes or activities in the areas of Justice Delivery, Legal Research, and Judicial Reforms.
• Project Limit: The financial assistance is subject to an overall ceiling of ₹25,00,000/- (Rupees Twenty-Five Lakhs).
• *The financial assistance shall be given on agreed terms and conditions based on the Project Proposal submitted by the eligible implementing agency.
• *The assistance would be limited strictly to the actual expenditure incurred by the grantee institution.
• *The financial assistance may be given in instalments.
• *At least 10% of the project cost may be kept for payment as the final instalment.
• *The final instalment is paid upon acceptance of the final project report by the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms, Department of Justice.
• *Each instalment shall be released upon the approval of the Integrated Finance Division of the Ministry of Law and Justice.

Eligibility Criteria
1. The institution must be one of the following:
2. - Indian Institute of Public Administration.
3. - Administrative Staff College of India.
4. - Indian Institute/s of Management.
5. - Indian Law Institute.
6. - National Law University.
7. - National Council of Applied Economic Research.
8. - National Judicial Academy.
9. - State Judicial Academy.
10. The institution must be working in one of the following fields:
11. - Justice Delivery.
12. - Legal Education and Research.
13. - Judicial Reforms.
14. > ***Relaxation and Inclusion***
15. - The applicant may be a Government Institute or Organisation if allowed by the Project Sanctioning Committee.
16. - The applicant may be a Government aided Institute or Organisation if allowed by the Project Sanctioning Committee.
17. - The applicant, if a Government or Government aided Institute/Organisation, must be found suitable for undertaking the project or activity permissible under the scheme by the Project Sanctioning Committee.
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Application Process
Step 1: Step 1: Invitation for Project Proposals
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The National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms, Department of Justice, selects and invites implementing agencies to submit project proposals for subjects that have been identified by the Department.
This scheme does not follow an open application system but rather focuses on proposals from pre-selected or identified institutes and organisations.

Step 2: Step 2: Preparation and Submission of the Project Proposal
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The selected implementing agency is required to prepare a comprehensive Project Proposal detailing the terms and conditions of the project, including the objectives, methodology, detailed duration with specific timelines, and a full breakdown of the estimated project cost.
This complete Project Proposal must be submitted to the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms, Department of Justice.

Step 3: Step 3: Consideration and Final Decision by the Project Sanctioning Committee
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All Project Proposals received from the selected institutes and organisations on the identified subjects are systematically placed before the Project Sanctioning Committee for detailed consideration and subsequent approval.
It is mandated that when the Project Sanctioning Committee deliberates on proposals from the Indian Law Institute or the National Judicial Academy, the Directors of those respective entities shall recuse themselves from the committee's discussions.
The decision reached by the Project Sanctioning Committee regarding the proposal shall be considered final and binding on all parties.

Step 4: Step 4: Financial Approval and Release of Instalments
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Following the approval by the Project Sanctioning Committee, the Project Proposals are then submitted to the Integrated Finance Division of the Ministry of Law and Justice for final approval of the project and authorization to release the necessary funds.
Subsequent financial assistance, which may be given in instalments, shall only be released upon obtaining the explicit approval of the Integrated Finance Division for each specific payment.

Step 5: Step 5: Project Execution and Compliance
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The implementing agency executes the project activity, utilizing the financial assistance received, which is strictly limited to covering the actual expenditure incurred by the grantee institution.
Throughout the project, the implementing agency is required to adhere to the duration and specific timelines laid out in the approved Project Proposal for activities such as submitting an interim progress report and making presentations before the submission of the final report.

Step 6: Step 6: Submission of Documentation and Final Payment
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Upon completion of the project, the implementing agency is required to submit a Utilisation Certificate for the funds received, following the format prescribed by the Department of Justice.
The final payment, which constitutes at least 10% of the total project cost, will be released only upon the official acceptance of the final project report by the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms, Department of Justice.

Required Documents
• Project Proposal Indicating Project Cost (As terms and conditions of the project)
• Title Of The Project
• Name Of The Implementing Agency
• Details Of Principal Coordinator (Including Name, Designation, And Research Experience)
• Objectives Of The Project
• Methodology For The Project
• Duration Details (With Specific Timelines For Initiation Of Project, Submission Of Interim Progress Report, Presentation Before Submission Of Final Report, And Submission Of Final Report)
• Project Cost With Detailed Break Up
• Final Project Report (Required for the release of the final instalment)
• Utilisation Certificate (As prescribed by the Department of Justice, for funds received)

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is an institution categorized as a Government aided Institute or Organisation potentially eligible to submit a project proposal for financial support?
A: Yes, a Government aided Institute or Organisation may be allowed as an eligible implementing agency if the Project Sanctioning Committee finds the organization suitable for the permissible project or activity.
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Q: What specific criteria must a Government or Government aided entity meet, beyond its institutional classification, to undertake a permissible activity?
A: Such an entity must be found suitable for undertaking the specific project or activity permissible under the scheme by the Project Sanctioning Committee.
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Q: Are academic bodies specializing in legal studies, specifically those designated as National Law Universities, permitted to apply for this type of research assistance?
A: Yes, the guidelines explicitly list National Law Universities among the eligible implementing agencies that can receive financial assistance.
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Q: Is the Indian Law Institute, which focuses specifically on advanced legal research, considered one of the designated bodies eligible for this funding scheme?
A: Yes, the Indian Law Institute is explicitly named in the guidelines as an eligible implementing agency.
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Q: If my institution specializes in delivering justice-related services or research, does that expertise qualify us to become an implementing agency for the project?
A: Yes, any other reputed institution working in the specific field of justice delivery is considered an eligible implementing agency.
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Q: Must institutions working in the relevant fields wait for an official communication before they can submit their detailed project proposals for consideration?
A: Yes, Project Proposals must be invited by the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms, Department of Justice, from selected implementing agencies for identified subjects.
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Q: Which specific institutions focused on policy and administration research are identified in the guidelines as eligible implementing agencies for this funding?
A: The Indian Institute of Public Administration is explicitly named as an eligible implementing agency authorized to receive financial assistance.
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Q: Are institutions that focus on applied economic research, such as the National Council of Applied Economic Research, considered suitable for funding opportunities?
A: Yes, the National Council of Applied Economic Research is named in the guidelines as an eligible implementing agency.
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Q: Can institutions that are widely recognized for their efforts in judicial reforms submit applications to become eligible implementing agencies for this scheme?
A: Yes, other reputed institutions working directly in the field of judicial reforms are eligible implementing agencies under the scheme.
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Q: If an institution is renowned for its contributions to legal education and general research, does that qualify it to submit a proposal for financial assistance?
A: Yes, other reputed institutions working in the specific field of legal education and research are considered eligible implementing agencies.
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Q: Can certain Government Institutes or Organisations be considered eligible entities for undertaking projects under the scope of this particular scheme?
A: Yes, the Project Sanctioning Committee is empowered to allow any Government Institute or Organisation to be an eligible implementing agency if they are deemed suitable for the permissible project or activity.
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Q: Are prestigious management schools, specifically Indian Institute/s of Management, included among the institutions that can apply for project funding?
A: Yes, Indian Institute/s of Management are specifically listed as eligible implementing agencies under the scheme guidelines.
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