Centre eases rules for buying scientific equipment, consumables by R&D institutes

New Delhi: Bringing much needed relief to government funded research outfits, the Centre has modified a set of financial rules permitting the heads of S&T institutions to procure equipment and consumables from vendors who are not a part of the Government e-Marketplace, and doubled the financial authority of directors and Vice Chancellors.

The new rules would be applicable to nine central scientific departments including Department of Science and Technology and Department of Space besides other educational and research institutes conducting post-graduate and doctoral level research under any ministry.

The heads of institutions will now be able to purchase scientific equipment and consumables for research purposes up to Rs 2 lakh without seeking any quotations, as against the earlier limit of Rs 1 lakh.

The financial limit for procuring goods by the Purchase Committee has been enhanced to Rs 25 lakh from the existing Rs 10 lakh whereas the limits for procuring goods using the limited tender enquiry and advertised tender enquiry is now Rs 1 crore from the existing ceiling of Rs 50 lakh.

Vice Chancellors and directors have been designated as competent authorities to approve the issuance of a global tender enquiry up to Rs 200 crore for the procurement of scientific equipment and consumables required only for research purposes.

"This is a welcome step, in that it allows for greater financial autonomy for research-related expenditure and thus increased flexibility and responsiveness. Research at the frontiers is fast-moving. These changes will help Indian research be more competitive,” senior scientist Gautam Menon, dean of research and professor of physics and biology at Ashoka University told DH.

Department of Biotechnology, Departments of Scientific and Industrial Research, Department of Atomic Energy, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Indian Council of Agriculture Research and Indian Council of Medical Research will be other beneficiaries.

Previous rules, introduced last year, became contentious after scientists flagged the problems in the Government e-Marketplace and how such rules led to R&D delays by adding more procedures within a complicated procurement policy.

“These changes will help in local decision making and accelerate the pace of R&D. In future, we can look for a significant jump in the financial authority of the directors and Vice Chancellors,” said a scientist.