Preamble

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), since its inception, has been pursuing basic research as well as technology development with equal rigour.  Over the years, a robust institutional framework has been put in place.  Today, apart from industrial units, DAE runs 4 major research centres and 7 grant-in-aid institutions. These are listed below:  

R&D Centres

1.    Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)

2.    Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR)

3.    Centre for Advanced Research (CAT) and

4.    Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC)  

Grant-in-aid Institutions

1.    Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)

2.    Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP)

3.    Institute of Plasma Research (IPR)

4.    Institute of Physics (IOP)

5.    Harish-Chandra Research Institute (HRI)

6.    Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) and

7.    Institute of Mathematical Science (IMSc) 

While in the research centres the focus is more sharply on technology and product development, the grant-in-aid institutions concentrate relatively more on basic research.  In the process, the research centres and the grant-in-aid institutions have together provided high calibre technologists as well as scientists to the Department but for which India’s spectacular strides in the field of nuclear sciences and their applications would not have been possible. A key element of the success achieved in the manpower development is the visionary initiative of Dr. Homi Bhabha who set up the prestigious BARC training school in the year 1956.  In addition to the training school at Trombay, training schools have been set up at other places as affiliates of BARC training school.  The BARC training school and its affiliates have been running a remarkably successful Orientation Course for Engineering graduates and Science post-graduates (OCES).  The grant-in-aid institutions, apart from carrying out research, have been running pre-doctoral and doctoral programmes, which have helped in producing high quality scientific research personnel. It is in this respect of an in-house human resource development programme that the DAE has been unique.   

The DAE has not only trained manpower for running its own programmes, it has also made significant contributions to the national scene.  It has strengthened the research programmes at universities by providing grants for well defined projects.  All grants are channelised through the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS), which has the distinction of being the first agency in the country for funding extra-mural research.  In the recent years, funding through BRNS has been significantly stepped up and the Department is planning to further expand its activities.   

Yet another visionary and uniquely DAE centred initiative is the institutional arrangement whereby advanced and major research facilities such as research reactors and accelerators of the Department are made available to the academic institutions.  This is the strongest link, which the University Grants Commission and the DAE have established and nurtured for over a decade.  There is no parallel for such an arrangement in the country.  This successful arrangement hitherto called the Inter-University Consortium for DAE facilities (IUC-DAEF), is being refashioned and expanded under a new MoU signed on December 10, 2003 and has been renamed as ‘UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research’.  

Research Centres and grant-in-aid institutions of Department of Atomic Energy have also established and nurtured direct linkages with several universities, for example, BARC has an agreement with the Pune University under which 12 students are admitted every year to pursue doctoral programme under the joint guidance of the faculty from Pune University and scientists from BARC.  

A new scheme called DAE Graduate Fellowship Scheme for Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) with the twin objectives of human resource development and collaborative research through the medium of M.Tech. students was launched by the BRNS in the year 2002.  The scheme envisages selection of M. Tech. students admitted to one of the 6 select IITs for working on a project of interest to DAE under the guidance of faculty from IITs and DAE.  Such students receive enhanced financial support from the DAE while pursuing M. Tech. and on completion of which are ensured employment within the DAE system.

Students from universities come to the research centers of the Department for training and for their thesis work in significant numbers.  BARC also conducts year-long training courses for equipping science post-graduates to work as medical physicists and radiological safety officers, doctors to practice nuclear medicine and science graduates to work as technologists in nuclear medicine centres.  

Along with massive in-house basic research and technology development programme as well as support to such programmes in academic institutions and other national laboratories, the Department has thus been exceptional in having variously contributed to human resource development.  Self-reliance of our atomic energy programme and world-class excellence realized in commercial performance of our indigenously built nuclear plants testify to the soundness of the approach.  However, the demands for self-reliance on the DAE have been rendered even more arduous to fulfill because the Department is the target for technology control regimes imposed by some of the technologically advanced nations.  In this scenario, the country and, in particular, the DAE have to necessarily take innovative steps to consolidate the gains achieved so far and take fresh initiatives for enhancing the capabilities to meet the imminent and future challenges.  

It has, therefore, become imperative that DAE conceives of novel ways through which in-depth capabilities in nuclear science and nuclear engineering are unabatedly nurtured within our institutions.  It is in this context that the idea of establishing the Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI) with a deemed to be university status has been proposed.  However, even after setting up of HBNI, research centres and grant-in-aid institutions of DAE will continue to autonomously collaborate with the university system in India as at present.   

The concept underlying the HBNI is to promote advanced degrees, viz., Masters and Ph.D degrees, largely with the help of the research centres and grant-in-aid institutions of the DAE.  At present, the research centres and the grant-in-aid institutions of DAE, with the exception of TIFR, have to seek recognition for their researchers to be awarded degrees by one or the other Indian universities.  Instead, the HBNI would offer a uniform scheme for such activities in education and research.  It is envisaged that such a scheme will concomitantly result in strengthening linkages between the grant-in-aid institutions and the research centres for the benefit of advancing the pace of research in nuclear sciences on the one hand and, on the other, accelerate the process of translating R&D into technology products and their applications.  Internationally, initiatives are being taken by enlightened organizations and academic institutes to promote interdisciplinary research in challenging areas of technological significance, with varied successes.  HBNI, in view of the available excellence in the Constituent Institutions and of the inherent interdisciplinary nature of nuclear science and technology, offers a unique opportunity to succeed.  

It is well recognised that there is no greater motivation to a bright young student than the prospect of a higher degree, especially when it is achieved through work in an advanced subject of relevance to technology.  The DAE offers an excellent environment of challenging projects and world class facilities.  Furthermore, the attractiveness of the advanced degree is accentuated by the good prospect of an assured employment and career in one of the finest scientific agencies in the country.  

The proposal for HBNI to be set up as a deemed to be University aims, therefore, to provide a platform for accelerated pace of research and development. While the advanced degree for those already employed or a promise of such employment while obtaining an advanced degree, provide the attraction to those who would enroll, the gains for the department are envisaged in terms of strong links between the research centres and the grant-in-aid institutions through the medium of the new generation of researchers and research problems.  Moreover, it is expected that the volume, quality and relevance of research and development will all simultaneously see an upward and more rapid growth.  It is only through accelerated  research that India can hope to achieve a leadership position in some of the emerging areas of science and technology.

 1.   Name

The name of the institute is Homi Bhabha National Institute, hereinafter referred to as “the Institute”.  

2. Office

The registered office of the Institute will be situated in the premises of one of the DAE facilities in Mumbai.

 3. Objectives

i.          The Institute is dedicated to encourage pursuit of excellence in sciences (including engineering sciences) and mathematics in a manner that has major significance for the progress of indigenous nuclear technological capability.

ii.         The Institute provides an academic framework for integrating basic research being done at the grant-in-aid institutions and the research centres of DAE with technology development at the research centres. The institutions of DAE participating in the programmes of HBNI will be its Constituent Institutions.

iii.        The Institute encourages inter-disciplinary research carried out within an institution or inter-institutionally, which has been the hallmark of the research & development programmes of the Constituent Institutions.

iv.        The Institute nurtures an environment for attracting high quality manpower in the sciences including engineering sciences for taking up a career in nuclear science and technology and related areas in the Department of Atomic Energy or elsewhere. The institute also provides a framework for enabling the employees of the DAE for sharpening and updating their knowledge base while in service.  

4. Powers and Functions of the Institute

To carry out the above objectives, the Institute shall have the following powers and functions.

i.      To establish and recognise courses of study and research at the research centres and grant-in-aid institutions under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy and to provide instructions as the Institute deems appropriate.

ii.     To confer degrees and to grant diplomas and/or certificates on the advice of an academic council, duly constituted by the Council of Management of the Institute, to persons who have satisfactorily completed the approved courses of study and/or research as may be prescribed, and have passed the prescribed examinations.

iii.    To institute and award fellowships, visitorships, professorships, prizes and medals.

iv.    To carry out all management functions in accordance with the rules as approved and amended from time to time by the Department of Atomic Energy.  

5. Interpretation of the Objectives

The Institute is established for public benefit and accordingly the objectives of the Institute, as set forth above, will be interpreted and restricted to mean such objectives and purposes as are regarded in law to be of public good through nurturing excellence.  

6. Institute Open to All

i.      The Institute shall be open to all persons irrespective of race, religion, creed, caste, class, gender and geographical area.  No test or condition shall be imposed as to religious belief, origin, or occupation in admitting or appointing members, students, teachers, workers or in any other connection whatsoever.

ii.     No capitation fee shall be charged in any form in consideration for admission.

iii.    No benefaction that involves conditions and obligations opposed to the spirit and objects of the institution shall be accepted by the Institute.  

7. Admissions

Admission of students and scholars shall be made on an all-India basis, involving tests and interviews conducted by the Institute as per rules and regulations prescribed by the Academic Council.  The Academic Council may recognize tests conducted by other agencies for the purpose of admissions.  

8. Income and Property of the Institute to be applied for the objectives only.  

The income and property of the Institute, howsoever derived, shall be applied towards the promotion of the objectives as set forth in this Memorandum of Association.  

9.  Income and property of the Institute not to be paid or transferred by way of profit.  

No portion of the income and property of the Institute shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of profit, to the persons, who are, or at any time have been, members of the Institute, provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment in good faith or remuneration to any member thereof or other person in return for any service rendered to the Institute or for traveling, halting and other similar charges.  

10.  Management of the Institute

The Institute will be managed by a Council of Management whose composition is as follows.

i.    Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission (Ex-officio)           Chairman

ii.   Member (Finance), Atomic Energy Commission (Ex-Officio)

iii.  Director, BARC (Ex-officio)

iv.  One of the following, to be nominated by Chairman, AEC

a.   Director, IGCAR

b.   Director, CAT

c.   Director, VECC

v.   Directors of two of the constituent grant-in-aid institutions under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy to be nominated by Chairman, AEC,

vi. Up to two persons from amongst scientists, mathematicians and engineers/technologists of high repute in the fields related to the activities of the Institute and who are not in the service of the Institute or its Constituent Institutions to be nominated by Chairman AEC,

vii. Chairman UGC or his/her nominee from amongst scientists, mathematicians and engineers/technologists of high repute in the fields related to the activities of the Institute,

viii.      Director of the Institute (Ex-Officio).

ix.  Dean of the Institute (Ex-officio).

The names and addresses of persons now in position are given in Annex 1.  (To be prepared after the approval of UGC/MHRD).  The Dean of the Institute will act as the Member-Secretary of the Council of Management.  

Director of the Institute will be appointed by Chairman, AEC and would have a senior adjunct position in a research centre or a grant-in-aid institution.  

There will be an Academic council constituted in accordance with rules and procedures of the Institute.  The Academic Council shall oversee and make recommendations to the Council of Management on all matters pertaining to academic activities of the Institute.  

11. Review and Inspection

The activities of the Institute are subject to review as follows.

i.    By the Government of India through the Secretary DAE,

ii.   By the Institute’s Council of Management on an ongoing basis,

iii. By peer groups specially appointed by the Council of Management for academic review.

In addition, University Grants Commission (UGC) shall have the right to cause an inspection to be made of the Institute and the organizations affiliated to it regarding its examinations, research facilities used for conducting research leading to conferment of degrees and the teaching conducted by the Institute and affiliate organizations.