- (v) Reviewer/Committee Member is a Head of an Organization from where the applicant is (v) Reviewer/Committee Member is a Head of an Organization from where the applicant is employed.
- (vi) Reviewer /Committee Member is or was, associated in the professional career of the applicant (vi) Reviewer /Committee Member is or was, associated in the professional career of the applicant (such as Ph.D. supervisor, Mentor, present Collaborator etc.)
- (vii) Reviewer/Committee Member is involved in the preparation of the research proposal (vii) Reviewer/Committee Member is involved in the preparation of the research proposal submitted by the applicant.
- (viii) applicant has joint research publications with the Reviewer/Committee Member in the last (viii) applicant has joint research publications with the Reviewer/Committee Member in the last three years.
- (ix) applicant/Reviewer/Committee Member, in contravention to the accepted norms and ethics (ix) applicant/Reviewer/Committee Member, in contravention to the accepted norms and ethics followed in scientific research has a direct/indirect financial interest in the outcomes of the proposal.
- (x) Reviewer/Committee Member stands to gain personally should the submitted proposal be (x) Reviewer/Committee Member stands to gain personally should the submitted proposal be accepted or rejected.

# The Term 'Relative' for this purpose would be referred in section 6 of Companies Act , 1956.

- 3. Regulation :

The DST shall strive to avoid conflict of interest in its funding mechanisms to the maximum extent possible. Self-regulatory mode is however recommended for stake holders involved in scientific research and research management, on issues pertaining to Conflict of Interest and scientific ethics. Any disclosure pertaining to the same must be made voluntarily by the applicant/Reviewer/Committee Member.

- 4. Confidentiality :

The Reviewers and the Members of the Committee shall safeguard the confidentiality of all discussions and decisions taken during the process and shall refrain from discussing the same with any applicant or a third party, unless the Committee recommends otherwise and records for doing so.

- 5. Code of Conduct

5.2 To be followed by the Applicant to the Grant/Award:

- (a) applicant must refrain from suggesting referees with potential Conflict of Interest that may (a) applicant must refrain from suggesting referees with potential Conflict of Interest that may arise due to the factors mentioned in the specifications described above in Point No. 2.
- (b) applicant may mention the names of individuals to whomthe submitted proposal should not be (b) applicant may mention the names of individuals to whomthe submitted proposal should not be sent for refereeing, clearly indicating the reasons for the same.
- 6. Sanction for violation
- 6.1 For a) Reviewers / Committee Members and b) Applicant

Any breach of the code of conduct will invite action as decided by the Committee.

- 7. Final Appellate authority :

Secretary, DST shall be the appellate authority in issues pertaining to conflict of interest and issues concerning the decision making process. The decision of Secretary, DST in these issues shall be final and binding.

- 8. Declaration

########## I have read the above 'Policy on Conflict of Interest' of the DST applicable to the Applicant and agree to abide by provisions thereof.