This document provides guidance on writing effective research proposals. It begins by defining a research proposal as a detailed plan to systematically answer a research question. It notes that research papers explain results, while proposals "sell" an idea to obtain funding. The document outlines the typical sections of a research proposal and important tips, such as having it reviewed before submitting. It emphasizes that a proposal must clearly show the significance, approach, and innovation of the research, and be tailored to the intended audience and funding agency guidelines. Several major Indian funding agencies are also listed.

1. Writing Effective Research Proposals
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Mrs. Nimrita Koul
Assistant Professor
School of Computing & IT
REVA UNIVERSITY

2. Session Outline
1. What is a research proposal?
2. Format of a research proposal
3. Why should we write research proposals?
4. What makes a proposal win a grant?
5. Funding Agencies in India
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3. What is a Research Proposal?
A research proposal is a document that contains a detailed
plan for scientific, systematic, measurable work to be done
over a period of time, in order to answer a research
question or hypothesis.
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4. Difference Between a Research Paper
and a Proposal
• In a research paper, you explain the results of your work/
experiment to readers/reviewers.
• In a grant proposal, you are selling an idea to the reader/
reviewer from a funding agency therefore the language
should be easy to understand and relatable.
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5. Types of Research Proposals
PhD research proposals and Research proposals for funding/ grant
application. Each must adhere to guidelines of the body to which it is
addressed.
A PhD research proposal is read by experts in the university therefore
you can include specific technical terminology and advanced concepts.
A grant proposal is reviewed by experts as well as by other members
therefore it should be so written that reviewers who might not be as
familiar with your technological domain can easily understand the
relevance of research problem for receiving the funding.
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6. What Makes A Proposal Win A Grant?
• Significance: The proposed work must help in advancing
the work and purpose of funding agency.
• Approach: Methodology must be clearly specified, it
should be shown to be feasible within the budget and
timeline.
• Innovation: The proposed approach must have some
novelty.
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7. Format Of A Typical Research Proposal
A research proposal typically consists of following sections:
1.Introduction
2.Abstract
3.Literature Review
4.Research Gaps
5.Objectives
6.Statement of the problem
7.Methodology
8.Expected Outcomes
9.Milestones
10.Budget
11.References
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8. Important Tips:
• Title must be catchy of reader’s attention and adhere to
guidelines of funding agency.
• Proposal must be written keeping the audience in mind
in the prescribed format only.
• Get your proposal reviewed by peers or someone else ,
rework based on suggestions before sending to funding
agency.
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9. A Sample DST Grant Proposal Applica
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10. Why We Write Research Proposals?
• To let our PhD expert committee know of our readiness,
clarity and commitment to undertake a feasible scientific
investigation towards a significant research question.
• To obtain grants from various funding agencies, such
grants can be used to set up required labs, purchase
high end equipment, pay for your conference
registrations and travel.
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11. Some of the Funding Agencies in India
• Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology
(KSCST)
• Vision Group on Science and Technology (VGST)
• Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India
(DST)
• Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB)
• Department of Biotechnology ( DBT)
• Science and Engineering Research Council(SERC)
• Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO)
• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
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12. Queries?
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