Srinagar,: The Department of Science and Technology, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, convened a two-day meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the J&K Science, Technology & Innovation Council (JKST&IC) on 14–15 October 2025 at the SKICC, Srinagar. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Secretary, Science & Technology, who also serves as the Chairperson of the Committee.
The TAC met to evaluate and finalise research proposals under the Sponsored Research and Extension Programme (SREP)—a flagship initiative aimed at promoting indigenous research and supporting scientists in developing innovative solutions to region-specific socio-economic and environmental challenges.
This year, the Department received 525 project proposals—306 from Kashmir and 219 from Jammu—covering submissions from universities, medical and technical institutions, and research laboratories across the Union Territory. The proposals were assessed across 20 thematic areas, including climate change, glacier studies, water and energy security, food sufficiency, environmental protection, public health, and disaster management.
The Committee included eminent scientists and academicians such as Dr. Anish Yadav (SKUAST-Jammu), Dr. Parvinder Pal Singh (CSIR-IIIM Jammu), Dr. Mudasir Andrabi (SKUAST-Kashmir), Dr. Aabid Hussain Shalla (IUST-Kashmir), Dr. Meena Sharma (University of Jammu), Dr. Kumud Ranjan Jha (SMVDU), Dr. Ambika Prasad (IIT Jammu), and Dr. Anil Bhat (SKUAST-Jammu). Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, Additional Director, JKST&IC, served as the Member Secretary.
In his address, Dr. Shahid Choudhary stressed that novelty, sound methodology, and societal relevance must remain central to the evaluation of proposals. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to fostering a robust ecosystem for research, innovation, and technology-driven growth in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The R&D funding policy aims to nurture early-stage research by providing critical support for innovative ideas, helping researchers convert them into scalable and sustainable solutions,” he said.
He further highlighted the pivotal role of the Science & Technology and Biotechnology Departments in financing and facilitating research across diverse disciplines. Dr. Choudhary urged researchers to uphold ethical standards, ensure efficient use of public funds, and align their work with societal and developmental priorities while maintaining scientific excellence.
The Chairperson also directed the Council to develop an online portal for submission, evaluation, and monitoring of research proposals to promote transparency and merit-based funding. He suggested that universities and research institutions establish internal expert panels to screen proposals before forwarding them to the Department.
The meeting concluded with the finalisation of high-impact, regionally relevant research projects, which will be submitted to the Government for approval. The selected projects are expected to make significant contributions to scientific advancement, policy innovation, and sustainable development in Jammu and Kashmir.
