RTI Act

Page updated on September 30, 2022

At National Innovation Foundation (NIF), we believe in the power of transparency and openness in the decision-making process. Hence, the provisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005 (click to download the act in English, in Hindi) have been implemented in its full spirit. In our best efforts to disseminate information to the applicants of RTI, following officers have been designated as Public Information Officer (PIO) and Assistant Public Information Officer (APIO) under Section 5 of the RTI Act.

If you require any information, please write to us with the details sought, along with a prescribed fee of ₹ 10 by way of an Indian Postal Order/Banker's Cheque/Demand Draft in favour of National Innovation Foundation. You also have the option of depositing this amount in cash in the Account's Office of NIF. One can also apply online, for information under the act, through https://rtionline.gov.in/. The manual for guiding the same can be downloaded following weblink (http://nif.org.in/dwn_files/rti/manual-of-rti-online.pdf)

Public Information Officer: Mr Tushar Garg
Assistant Public Information Officer: Mr Rajiv Mili
Address: National Innovation Foundation (NIF), India
Grambharti, Amrapur,
Gandhinagar - Mahudi Road,
Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Pin: 382650
Tel: 02764-261134/35/36/37/38
Email: rti.nif@nifindia.org

The Appellate Authority to deal with appeals preferred under Section 19 of the RTI Act 2005 is

Director
Address: National Innovation Foundation (NIF), India
Grambharti, Amrapur,
Gandhinagar - Mahudi Road,
Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Pin: 382650
Tel: 02764-261134/35/36/37/38
Email: director@nifindia.org

Information under RTI Act 2005

 

  •  
    Particulars of its organization, functions and duties, Administrative Setup, Organizational and Functional Structure

    Name and Address of the organization :
    National Innovation Foundation (NIF), India
    Grambharti, Amrapur,
    Gandhinagar - Mahudi Road,
    Gandhinagar, Gujarat
    Pin: 382650

    Head of the organization
    Dr. Arvind C Ranade, Director

    Comprehensive details about National Innovation Foundation can be found at the following links:

    Brochure of NIF can be downloaded following the weblink:

  •  
    Rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records, held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions

    Transfer policy : NIF follows the Govt of India norms.

  •  
    Names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers, Assistant Public Information Officer, Appellate Authority, Nodal Officer

    Public Information Officer: Mr Tushar Garg, Innovation Officer /Scientist D
    Assistant Public Information Officer: Mr Rajiv Mili, Sr. Innovation Fellow
    Appellate Authority : Dr. Arvind C Ranade, Director
    Nodal Officer : Mr Tushar Garg, Innovation Officer /Scientist D

  •  
    Powers and duties of its officers and employees
    Technical staff

    To do elaborate technical, marketing and patent prior art search to ascertain the novelty of claims as mentioned by the innovator/herbal healer/farmer
    To coordinate with different stake holders to scout, document, add value, validate, and protect IPR
    To facilitate diffusion and dissemination of grassroots technologies through commercial/non-commercial means.

    Departmental Heads

    To coordinate with the team for undertaking activities related to their domain for scouting and documentation, value addition, research & development, intellectual property rights, social and commercial diffusion, etc.

    Director

    To work as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Organization and supervise the administrative as well as scientific work undertaken by the organization.
    To carry out financial and administration tasks as per the rules of the organization.
    To undertake and implement the instructions/decisions of the Chairperson and the Governing Board.

    The delegation of financial powers as approved by the Governing board is as given below

    • Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO): Upto Rs 100,000
    • Director : Upto Rs 25 Lacs
    • Chairperson : 25 Lacs to 50 Lacs
    • Finance Committee: 50 Lacs to 5 Crore
    • Governing board : Above 5 Crore

  •  
    Procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability

    As per the organizational chart given above

    Time limit for taking a decisions are mentioned in the citizen charter
    citizen charter

  •  
    Norms set by it for the discharge of its functions

    The NIF follows the rules/guidelines as approved by the Governing Board in consultation with DST.

    Citizens charter can be referred for more details following the link given above

    Process of redress of grievances:

    Public Grievance (PG) Cell of NIF is entrusted with the responsibility of redressal of public grievances. PG Cell receives the grievances/representations from two sources i.e electronically on pgportal.gov.in and through post.

    Link to public grievances page

  •  
    Statement of the categories of documents that are held by it or under its control

    a) Ideas/Innovations/Traditional knowledge practices documented from different parts of the country, these cannot be shared with a third party without informed consent of the knowledge provider unless the same is already in public domain.
    b) Annual reports
    c) Budget documents
    d) Scientific Papers/articles relevant to grassroots innovations and their valorization
    e) Publications- books, compendiums, manuals, etc.
    f) Technology transfer agreements (confidential), Memorandum of Understandings
    g) Project reports

    Custodian of documents: Relevant departmental heads

  •  
    Statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public

    Governing Body:

    a) Governing body of NIF re-constituted on 28.05.2018

    1

    Chairperson

    Dr. P. S. Goel
    Former Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)

    2

    Vice Chairperson-Member

    Shri. N.P. Rajive
    Executive Director, VibhaVani, Delhi

    3-9

    Members

    Prof. Anil K. Gupta
    Former Professor, IIM-Ahmedabad

    Prof. Anil D. Sahasrabudhe
    Chairman, AICTE, New Delhi

    Prof.SatyajitMajumdar
    TISS, Mumbai

    Dr. C. Shambu Prasad
    CSEE, Institute of Rural Management, Anand

    Dr. K. Vijaya Lakshmi
    Vice President, Development Alternatives, New Delhi

    Ms.AnuradhaBhavnani
    Regional Head, Shell Foundation, Gurgaon

    Ms. Lakshmi N.
    Trustee, Good Karma Foundation, Kochi

    10-19

    Members ex officio or his/her nominee

    Secretary, DST, Government of India

    Secretary, DBT, Government of India

    Secretary, D/O School Education & Literacy, MHRD, Government of India

    Secretary, MSME, Government of India

    Secretary, AYUSH, Government of India

    DG-ICMR, Government of India

    DG-CSIR, Government of India

    Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat

    Financial Advisor, DST, Government of India

    20

    Member - Secretary, ex officio

    Dr. Arvind C Ranade, Director


    b) Previous Governing board of NIF

    1

    Chairperson

    Dr. R A Mashelkar
    National Research Professor and President, Global research Alliance, Pune

    2

    Executive Vice Chairperson

    Prof Anil K Gupta 
    Visiting Faculty, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad

    3-12

    Members

    Ms.Elaben Bhatt 
    Founder, Self-Employed Women Association, Ahmedabad

    Dr. V L Kelkar
    DST Nominee, Pune

    Shri H K Mittal 
    Scientist G, Adviser & Head, NSTEDB, New Delhi

    Dr.GirishSahni
    Director General, CSIR, New Delhi

     

    Dr.TrilochanMohapatra 
    Director General, ICAR, New Delhi

    Prof.DevangKhakhar
    Director-Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

    Shri Pradyumna Vyas  
    Director National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad

    Prof Pankaj Chandra
    Chairman, Board of Management, Ahmedabad University and Former Director, IIM Bangalore

    Ms Riya Sinha
    Honey Bee Network Nominee, New Delhi

    13-18

    Members ex officio

    Secretary, AYUSH, New Delhi

    Chairman, SIDBI, Lucknow

    Secretary, MSME, New Delhi

    Financial Advisor - DST, New Delhi

    Chief Secretary,  Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar

    Director,
    National Innovation Foundation-India, Gandhinagar

    Finance Committee

    a.) Finance committee of NIF reconstituted on 28.05.2018
       i) Dr. P. S. Goel, Chairperson of the Governing Body (Chairperson)
       ii) Director (Member-Secretary)
       iii) Financial Adviser, DST, GOI, Ex Officio (Member)
       iv) Three members of Governing Body (Members) to be approved by the Chairperson

    b) Previous Finance committee of NIF


    1.

    Dr. R A Mashelkar - Chairperson 
    National Research Professor and President, Global research Alliance, Pune

    2.

    Prof Anil K Gupta - Secretary 
    Visiting Faculty, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad

    3.

    Prof Pankaj Chandra - Member
    Chairman, Board of Management, Ahmedabad University and Former Director, IIM Bangalore

    4.

    Ms.Elaben Bhatt - Member
    Founder, Self-Employed Women Association (SEWA), Ahmedabad

    5.

    Financial Advisor - Member
    Department of Science & Technology, New Delhi

    6.

    Director - Member
    National Innovation Foundation-India, Gandhinagar


    Research Advisory Committee of Formal experts constituting eminent scientists, researchers to advice on grassroots technologies.

    Research Advisory Committee of Informal experts constituting seasoned innovators, farmer breeders, traditional knowledge holders to advice on grassroots technologies.

    Project Review Committee to assess, recommend and/or evaluate projects in different departments.
    The meetings of these Committees/Board are not open to public and minutes of the meetings are not accessible to the public.

  •  
    Directory of its officers and employees
    S. No. Name Email Designation Phone No.
    1 Dr. Arvind C Ranade director@nifindia.org Director 02764-261134/35/36/37/38
    2 Dr Vipin Kumar vipin@nifindia.org Chief Scientist 02764-261134/35/36/37/38
    3 Mr. Mahesh Patel mahesh@nifindia.org National Innovation Coordinator / Scientist G 02764-261134/35/36/37/38
    4 Dr Vivek Kumar vivekkumar@nifindia.org Senior Innovation Officer / Scientist E 09937395992
    5 Dr Ravikumar R. K. ravikumar@nifindia.org Senior Innovation Officer / Scientist E 02764-261134/35/36/37/38
    6 Dr Nitin Maurya nitin@nifindia.org Senior Innovation Officer / Scientist E -
    7 Er. Rakesh Maheshwari rakesh@nifindia.org Senior Innovation Officer /Scientist E 02764-261134/35/36/37/38
    8 Mr. Hardev Choudhary hardev@nifindia.org Senior Innovation Officer /Scientist D 02764-261134/35/36/37/38
    9 Mr. Tushar Garg tusharg@nifindia.org Innovation Officer /Scientist D 02764-261134/35/36/37/38
  •  
    Monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensation as provided in its regulations

    S. No.

    Name

    Designation

    Level

    Pay

    1 Dr. Arvind C Ranade Director 14 2,93,412/-
    2 Dr. Vipin Kumar Chief Scientist 14 2,93,412/-
    3 Mr. Mahesh Patel Scientist G 14 2,68,569/-
    4 Dr. Vivek Kumar Scientist E 13 2,21,028/-
    5 Dr. Ravikumar RK Scientist E 13 2,02,683/-
    6 Dr. Nitin Maurya Scientist E 13 1,97,004/-
    7 Er. Rakesh Maheshwari Scientist E 13 1,80,957/-
    8 Mr. Hardev Choudhary Scientist D 12 1,35,357/-
    9 Mr. Tushar Garg Scientist D 12 1,15,836/-

    System of compensation:As per Government of India Norms.

  •  
    No. of employees against whom Disciplinary action has been proposed/ taken

    None from NIF team was observed having doubtful integrity.

  •  
    Receipt and Disposal of RTI applications and appeals taken
    Sl No Year RTI applications RTI appeals
    Received Disposed Received Disposed
    1 2021-22 5 5 1 1
    2 2020-21 11 11 1 1
    3 2019-20 7 7 1 2
    4 2018-19 12 12 2 1
    5 2017-18 17 17 1 1
    6 2016-17 12 12 1 1
    7 2015-16 16 16 0 0
    8 2014-15 7 7 1 1
    9 2013-14 12 12 1 1
    10 2012-13 3 3 0 0
    11 2011-12 3 3 0 0
  •  
    Budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made

    The details are available under specific functional heads at the following link:

    function

    Foreign Tours by Head of Institution

    Sl No. Places visited The period of visit The number of members in the official delegation Expenditure on the visit
    1 Pretoria, S.A 3 Days (17-06-15 to 19-06-15) Along with delegation from DST Expenditure met by DST
    2 Dubai 3 Days (8-02-16 to 10-02-16) Along with delegation from DST Expenditure met by DST
    3 Washington, Buffalo, Boston 7 days (14-04-16 to 20-04-16) Along with delegation from DST Expenditure met by DST
    4 Pretoria, S.A 7 days (04-07-16 to 10-07-16) Along with delegation from DST Expenditure met by DST
    5 Vancouver and Cranbrook 12 Days (03-06-17 to 14-06-17) Along with delegation from DST Expenditure met by DST
    6 South Africa 6 Days (03-10-17 to 08-10-17) Along with delegation from DST Expenditure met by DST
    7 Jakarta, Indonesia 7 Days (11-12-17 to 17-12-17) Along with delegation from DST Expenditure met by DST
    8 Jakarta, Indonesia 6 Days (25-09-18 to 30-09-18) Along with delegation from DST Expenditure met by DST
    9 Bangkok, Thailand 2 Days (18-02-19 to 19-02-19) Along with delegation from DST Expenditure met by DST
    10 Bangkok, Thailand 3 Days (18-06-19 to 20-06-19) Along with delegation from DST Expenditure met by DST

    Information related to procurements

    NIF follows rules of procurement laid down by government of India. Purchase are made through GEM or through the process mentioned in GFR. Detail related to procurements /services availed through tendering process can be accessed by visiting weblink http://nif.org.in/tenders

  •  
    Details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form

    Along with all its publications/reports mentioned NIF maintains databases of ideas/innovations and traditional knowledge electronically. The database of innovations is accessible at https://innovation.nif.org.in/ . Before sharing any information (idea/innovation/traditional knowledge) to any third party, explicit written consent of the knowledge provider (innovator/traditional knowledge provider) as mentioned by him / her in the Prior Informed Consent form is considered.

  •  
    Particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use

    Citizens can visit National Innovation Foundation - India from 9:30 am to 6 pm on working days of the week and can meet Public Information Officer and/or, Assistant Public Information Officer.

  •  
    Other information as may be prescribed and thereafter update these publications every year
    • Guidelines for eligibility/other information for the Biennial National Competition of Unaided Green Grassroots Innovations and Outstanding Traditional Knowledge are available here : announcement

    • Details about Awardees of NIF's different National Competition are available here : innovation_db

    • Other documents like PIC forms, IPR related forms, Annual reports, Award Books, State Innovation Books etc., are available for download from the following locations : download and publications