Petrochemicals Research and Innovation Commendation

Petrochemicals Research and Innovation Commendation is a central award scheme run by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. It honors outstanding individuals, institutions, industries, and startups for meaningful work and new ideas in the petrochemical field. Selected awardees receive a citation, a memento, and travel support to attend the official ceremony.

The scheme has been in place since 2010-11 and is now the renamed and improved version of the earlier National Petrochemicals Awards. Commendations are conferred every year to encourage research and sustain high-quality innovation in the Indian petrochemical and downstream plastic processing industry.

Petrochemicals Research and Innovation Commendation - Introduction

The department presents this commendation to recognize meritorious inventions and innovations in products, processes, and technologies that carry national and social importance. In earlier editions, winners received prize money of ₹3 lakh and runners-up received ₹1 lakh each. Under the new commendation format, awardees are honored with a citation and a memento, and the scheme is implemented by the department with the help of its PSU or autonomous bodies like CIPET.

Applications are first screened and evaluated by a Screening Committee headed by Joint Secretary (Petrochemicals), with representation from national academic institutions, research laboratories, and industry associations. The evaluation report then goes to the Commendation Approval Committee (CAC) chaired by Secretary (Chemicals and Petrochemicals), whose recommendations go for final approval of Minister (Chemicals and Fertilizers).

Key Information

Benefits

Awardees get several kinds of support and appreciation under the scheme. The details are given below.

• Awardees receive an official citation and a memento in recognition of their work.
• Travel Allowance (TA) and Dearness Allowance (DA) are provided to winners for attending the award ceremony.
• Recognized innovations gain national appreciation, which can improve market acceptance and product performance.
• The awards encourage long-term growth and technical improvements in the polymer and petrochemical industries.

Eligibility

The scheme is open to a wide range of applicants, but some clear rules decide who can apply. Check these points before submitting the application.

• Applicants must be Indian citizens, institutions, industries, or startups registered in India.
• Government entities of Central, State, or Union Territory are eligible to apply.
• Teams or groups are limited to a maximum of five members.
• The innovation must be an original product, process, or a clear improvement to an existing one.
• The innovation must improve consumer benefits, safety, reliability, or product life.
• Theoretical hypotheses, simple ideas, or perpetual motion machines are not eligible.
• The innovation must not be older than three years.
• Previous winners from the preceding three years cannot apply.

Application Process

Application Steps

STEP 1 - Visit the official scheme page of the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals at chemicals.gov.in or the CIPET notice page to review the guidelines and checking process.

STEP 2 - Read the Petrochemicals Research and Innovation Commendation guidelines document and the sample application format to understand what is required.

STEP 3 - Select the correct form for the category, such as Individual, Industry, Academic, or Research Institution.

STEP 4 - Complete the form with personal, academic, or organizational details and upload the technical descriptions, test reports, and supporting documents.

STEP 5 - Submit the application online along with the signed Certificate of Undertaking for evaluation.

Award Categories

The awards cover two main areas of work.

Research and Innovation in Polymers: This includes materials, green products, packaging design, processing machinery, robotics, waste management, and startup ventures.

Application of Polymers: This includes uses in agriculture, water conservation, medicine, and other industrial fields.

Documents

Applicants should keep the following documents and details ready before applying. Complete paperwork makes the checking process faster and simpler.

• Technical write-up detailing the innovation mechanism and originality.
• User reports and field trial results.
• Status of patents or publications in India and abroad.
• Test reports from reputed government institutes or NABL-accredited laboratories.
• Details of previous awards and commercialization status.
• Action plan for implementation over the next three years.
• Signed Certificate of Undertaking.
• Aadhaar card details of the applicant.

References

The official award guidelines are available for download in the guidelines PDF shared by the department.

Award Guidelines

The official invitation for applications is also available on the department website.

Official Invitation for Applications

FAQ's

Can I submit an innovation that is currently in the idea stage?

No, theoretical hypotheses are not eligible. You must submit a workable, tangible product, process, or improvement.

Is there a limit on the number of team members?

Yes, any group or team application is limited to a maximum of five members.

Can I submit an established innovation from four years ago?

No, submissions are restricted to innovations that are not older than three years from the application date.

How do I make sure my company receives the recognition rather than an individual?

You must list the official legal name of the organization in the primary applicant field.

Can I apply if I won an award in the last two years?

No, individuals or entities who have received an award in the preceding three years cannot apply.

Do I need internal testing data for my submission?

Internal data alone is not enough. You must provide formal test reports from government-recognized or NABL-accredited laboratories.