In a significant move to boost its research and development initiatives, the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar has got funding exceeding Rs. 1 crore from three prominent agencies of the country like JKST&IC, SERB and NBHM.
The Jammu and Kashmir Science, Technology, and Innovation Council (JKST&IC), the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), and the National Board for Higher Mathematics (NBHM) have collectively granted financial support to NIT Srinagar, marking a significant milestone for the institute’s commitment to advancing research and development in the region.
The Institute has received approval for 49 Research and Development projects from the JKST&IC, 2 projects from the SERB, Department of Science and Technology, and one project from NBHM-DAE India.
JKST&IC recently sanctioned 49 R&D projects from NIT Srinagar, as recommended by the Technical Committee, for sponsorship during the fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25.
The initial installment for these 49 projects, amounting to Rs. 67,68,800, approximately 40% of the sanctioned grant for the first year, will be disbursed to NIT Srinagar for further distribution among the respective Principal Investigators (PIs) of these projects.
In addition to this accomplishment, three faculty members, namely Dr. Amit Kumar, from the Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) department, Dr. Sandeep Samantaray from the Civil Engineering Department, have secured prestigious SIRE (SERB International Research Experience) fellowships for a three-year duration.
Furthermore, Dr. Mehraj Ahmad Lone from the Department of Mathematics has obtained a prestigious project from the National Board for Higher Mathematics (NBHM) under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
Dr. Amit’s project, titled ‘Design and Implementation of 5G MIMO/Array Antenna with Spatial Diversity and Beam-forming,’ will be funded by SERB DST, Government of India, under the ‘Empowerment and Equity Opportunities for Excellence in Science (EMEQ)’ for three years.
The project, with a total budget of approximately 30 lakhs, aims to enhance the performance of existing 5G MIMO antennas by implementing parameters.
Dr. Samantaray’s project, titled ‘Assessing the Impact of Sediment Load on Riverbank Erosion and Predictive Analysis of Suspended Sediment Load in the Jhelum River Basin,’ will be funded by SERB DST, with a total budget ranging from 30 to 35 lakhs over the next three years.
Similarly, Dr. Mehraj Ahmad Lone’s project, titled ‘Minimal Surfaces and Their Construction by Different Techniques,’ has received approval from NBHM-DAE India. The total funding for the project is Rs. 1597,400 for a three-year duration.
Director NIT Srinagar extended his heartfelt congratulations to the faculty members who secured prestigious projects for the Institute.
The director highlighted their role in providing a crucial platform for young faculty to delve into cutting-edge research conducted in universities and institutions across the globe.
“This funding injection is poised to propel NIT Srinagar’s R&D endeavors, allowing the institute to further enhance its academic and research capabilities,” the director said.
The director said the support from these esteemed agencies underscores the recognition of NIT Srinagar as a hub for innovative and impactful research initiatives.
“The faculty members will also meet the expectations of the agencies and deliver quality outputs from the research that will be beneficial to society, particularly for J&K,” the director added.
He encouraged the faculty members to actively engage in research endeavors abroad, considering it a pivotal aspect of the institute’s evolving academic journey.
“I am confident that we will witness a growing number of faculty members receiving such commendable opportunities in the days ahead,” he said.
