- (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 Memberisinvolved in the preparation of the research proposal submitted (vii) Reviewer/Committee Memberisinvolved in the preparation of the research proposal submitted by the applicant.
- (viii) has joint research publications with the Reviewer/Committee Memberinthelast three (viii) has joint research publications with the Reviewer/Committee Memberinthelast 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 outcomesof 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 recommendedfor stake holders involved in scientific research andresearchmanagement, onissues pertaining to Conflict of Interest andscientific ethics. Anydisclosure 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

5.1 To be followed by Reviewers/Committee Members :

- (a) reviewers shall submit a conflict of interest statement, declaring the presence or absence of any (a) reviewers shall submit a conflict of interest statement, declaring the presence or absence of any form of conflict of interest.
- (b) reviewers shall refrain from evaluating the proposals if the conflict of interest is established or (b) reviewers shall refrain from evaluating the proposals if the conflict of interest is established or if it is apparent.
- (c) discussions and decisions pertaining to conflict of interest shall be recorded in the minutes of the (c) discussions and decisions pertaining to conflict of interest shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
- (d) Chairman of the Committee shall decide on all aspects pertaining to conflict of interests. (d) Chairman of the Committee shall decide on all aspects pertaining to conflict of interests.
- (e) Chairman of the Committee shall request that all members disclose if they have any conflict of (e) Chairman of the Committee shall request that all members disclose if they have any conflict of interest in the items of the agenda scheduled for discussion.
- (f) Committee Members shall refrain from participating in the decision making process and leave (f) Committee Members shall refrain from participating in the decision making process and leave the room with respect to the specific item where the conflict of interest is established or is apparent.
- (g) the Chairman himself/herself has conflict of interest, the Committee may choose a Chairman from (g) the Chairman himself/herself has conflict of interest, the Committee may choose a Chairman from among the remaining members, and the decision shall be made in consultation with Member Secretary of the Committee.
- (h) is expected that a Committee member including the Chair-person will not seek funding from a (h) is expected that a Committee member including the Chair-person will not seek funding from a Committee in which he/she is a member. If any member applies for grant, such proposals will be evaluated separately outside the Committee in which he/she is a member.

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 mayarise (a) applicant must refrain from suggesting referees with potential Conflict of Interest that mayarise 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.

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