STRIDE Scheme

The University Grants Commission (UGC) approved the Scheme for Trans-Disciplinary Research for India’s Developing Economy (STRIDE), a new initiative to promote quality research by students and faculty. It promotes an innovative culture for trans-disciplinary research, especially in colleges and universities. It supports the creation of new knowledge, improves the quality of doctoral research and inculcates innovative and cognitive thinking.

STRIDE supports the below innovative research projects: 

• Socially relevant.
• Locally need-based.
• Nationally important.
• Globally significant.

Objectives of STRIDE Scheme

• To strengthen research culture, identify young talent, promote innovation, build capacity, support trans-disciplinary research relevant to national development, and enhance society’s overall well-being.
• To fund impactful national network projects in the identified thrust areas in human sciences, humanities and Indian knowledge systems.

Features of STRIDE Scheme

• STRIDE envisages trans-disciplinary researchers amongst post-graduate, graduate and doctoral and post-doctoral student populations in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
• The PG and UG students will be encouraged to investigate socio-economic issues relating to a selected community. They will be selected based on merit through a robust selection process involving eminent faculties.
• The HEIs can design specific research programmes and announce research fellowships specifying their objectives.
• The newly recruited faculties will be encouraged with minor research projects or start-up grants support and enable them to research emerging thrust topics of trans-disciplinary nature for developing new knowledge areas. 
• STRIDE is a 100 % government-funded scheme.

STRIDE Scheme Components

STRIDE scheme has the following components:

Component-1

Component-1 of STRIDE is for all disciplines in human resource development and research capacity building focused on universities and colleges with grants up to Rs.1 crore. The duration of this component is up to three years. It endeavours to identify motivated young talents with innovation and research aptitude in colleges and universities. It provides research capacity-building opportunities in various disciplines by nurturing, mentoring and supporting young talents.

Component-2

Component-2 of STRIDE is open for all disciplines in inclusive innovation and trans-disciplinary research for national development with grants of Rs.50 lakhs to Rs.1 crore. The duration of this component is up to three years. It mainly focuses on enhancing problem-solving skills with the help of innovation and action research to innovate pragmatic solutions for regional, local and national priorities contributing to India’s developing economy.

Component-3:

Component-3 of STRIDE comprises high-impact trans-disciplinary research in human sciences and humanities through a multi-institutional network. This component includes research in the identified thrust areas in the following subjects:

• Philosophy
• History, anthropology and archaeology
• Psychology
• Liberal arts
• Linguistics
• Indian languages and culture 
• Indian knowledge systems
• Law
• Education
• Journalism and mass communication 
• Commerce 
• Management
• Environment and sustainable development

The duration of this component is up to five years. UGC proposes granting Rs.2 lakhs to develop proposals under this component.

STRIDE Scheme Eligibility

The STRIDE scheme eligibility for each component is as follows:

Component-1

All universities in the consolidation or formative stage and colleges can submit their proposal for funding to strengthen and develop research capacity building of scholars and teachers of all disciplines. The universities and colleges must be qualified under Sections 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act, 1956. However, private institutions are not entitled to funding, but they can apply for recognition in a self-finance mode as a UGC STRIDE Centre for Research Capacity Building.

Component-2 

This component is primarily meant for young or mid-career faculty. UGC will support a regular assistant or associate professor in a university or institution that qualifies under Sections 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act, 1956.

Component-3 

A researcher working in an institute, college or university qualifying under Sections 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act, 1956, with a track record of undertaking trans-disciplinary research in the humanities and human sciences field, can submit proposals for funding. The researcher can submit proposals with a national network of co-investigators from a minimum of 2-4 organisations or institutions. The principal investigator should have expertise and support systems like financial, administrative and research to carry out the trans-disciplinary research in the thrust areas. In addition to the research network of Indian HEIs, reputed international institutions can also be involved if justified with the approval of the UGC.

STRIDE Scheme Application Process

The eligible applicants should submit their research proposals for funding by following the below process:

• Applications should visit the UGC-STRIDE online application portal. 
• Click on the ‘Register’ button and register by entering the details.
• An activation mail will be sent to the applicant.
• Applicants should activate the account as per instructions.
• Login to the UGC-STRIDE portal and access the dashboard.
• Fill out the scientific proposal in the prescribed format and submit it.

The relevant details of proposals called by UGC are updated on the UGC-STRIDE portal. The selection of research proposals is based on merit and critically evaluated with the help of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), expert peer review, Project Monitoring Committee (PMC) and Search-cum-Selection Committee (SSC) appointed by the UGC.

Documents Required for STRIDE Scheme

The documents required for each component are different. However, the following are the general documents required for all components of the STRIDE scheme:

• Education qualification documents.
• Aadhaar card.
• College identity proof.
• Detail of interested field.