AI SummaryScheme for Action Research and Studies on Judicial Reforms gives financial support to reputed institutions for action research, evaluation, monitoring studies, capacity building and new projects in justice delivery, legal research and judicial reforms. Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India has invited fresh research proposals in 2026 under this scheme, with the last date fixed as 31st August 2026.
Launched on 26th September 2013 by the department of justice, this scheme is run through the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms. It helps academic and research bodies strengthen the Indian legal system with policy-driven findings. Since the financial year 2021-22, the scheme has been part of the non-scheme component of the department of justice.
Scheme for Action Research and Studies on Judicial Reforms - Introduction
Scheme for Action Research and Studies on Judicial Reforms offers money for action research, evaluation studies, monitoring studies, capacity building, publishing reports and promoting new programs within the scope of justice delivery, legal research and judicial reforms. The standard funding is limited, but the project sanctioning committee may relax the limit in special circumstances.
For 2026, the department has issued a fresh request for proposals for a study on the comparative assessment of judicial performance in district courts across India. This study looks at what decides court efficiency and how to reduce pending cases. The selected agency gets twelve months to finish the study, and the interim report is due within six weeks of starting.
| Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard Funding Ceiling | ₹25,00,000 |
| Exceptional Cases | subject to committee approval |
Key Information
| Scheme Name | Scheme for Action Research and Studies on Judicial Reforms |
| Level | Central |
| Scheme For | Individual |
| Beneficiary States | All |
| Category | Public Safety, Law and Justice, Skills and Employment |
| Target Beneficiaries | Individual |
| Benefit Type | Composite |
| DBT Scheme | No |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Law and Justice |
| Nodal Department | Department of Legal Affairs |
| Tags | Research, Judicial, Financial, Academy, Evaluation, Monitoring |
Benefits
This scheme gives complete support to help institutions drive judicial excellence through the following:
Financial Support: Provides funds for action research, evaluation and monitoring studies. For example, a research body like the Indian Law Institute may get support to study pending cases in lower courts.
Event Support: Covers the cost of organizing seminars, conferences and workshops.
Training: Helps improve research skills and monitoring activities.
Publication Support: Funds the printing and distribution of important reports and legal material.
Programme Promotion: Encourages new activities in justice delivery.
Project Limit: The total support is generally capped at ₹25,00,000.
Disbursal Conditions
Funds are released in installments after approval from the department of justice and the integrated finance division. Under the 2026 request for proposals, the payment is released in four parts: 20% after the signed agreement and work plan, 40% after the interim progress report, 30% after the final report is received, and the last 10% after the department accepts the final report. The agency must keep at least 10% of the project cost for the final installment.
Eligibility
The department invites proposals from eligible institutions working in the field of justice delivery, legal education, legal research and judicial reforms. For the 2026 call, the list of eligible institutions has been widened to include the following:
- National Law Universities and other recognized universities.
- Judicial academies, including state judicial academies.
- Indian Institutes of Management and Indian Institutes of Technology.
- Reputed research institutions, think tanks and organizations working in justice delivery, legal research, public policy and judicial reforms.
An institution must also meet a few minimum requirements. It should have completed at least three research studies or projects in the last five years for any central or state government, court, tribunal or similar body. It should also have published at least five research reports, policy papers or books in law, governance, public policy or related fields in the last five years. The project director should hold a postgraduate degree in a relevant subject and have at least ten years of professional experience.
Application Process
This is an invitation-based process rather than an open application system. The department of justice identifies subjects and invites selected institutions to submit proposals. For 2026, the last date for submission is 31st August 2026.
STEP 1 - Prepare the project proposal in the prescribed format given in the request for proposals. The technical proposal should cover the title of the study, institutional profile, details of the principal investigator, understanding of the subject, objectives, methodology, sampling design, work plan and team composition.
STEP 2 - Prepare the financial proposal with a detailed budget under heads such as research personnel, field visits, data collection, travel, data entry and analysis, workshops, report writing and printing.
STEP 3 - Submit the completed proposal to the department of justice before the last date. The project sanctioning committee evaluates each proposal on institutional capability, understanding of the research problem, quality of methodology, team expertise and value for money.
STEP 4 - After approval, the proposal goes to the integrated finance division for final authorization of funds. The selected agency signs a memorandum of agreement with the department.
STEP 5 - Execute the project according to the approved timeline. Submit the interim report within six weeks and the final report within twelve months as per the schedule.
STEP 6 - Upon completion, submit the utilization certificate and statement of expenditure. The final installment of at least 10% is released only after the department of justice accepts the final report.
Documents
Institutions should organize the following documents to make sure the proposal and fund release are processed smoothly.
During the application stage, the proposal should include the official title of the project, name of the implementing agency, details of the principal coordinator, clear objectives and methodology, a detailed timeline and a full cost breakdown. A signed undertaking stating that all information is true, the institution is legally competent and has no conflict of interest is also required.
During the fund accounting and final payment stage, the institution must submit the final research report, the utilization certificate and the statement of expenditure as prescribed by the department of justice.
References
Official Scheme Page and Guidelines
2026 Request for Proposals PDF
FAQ's
Is an institution categorized as a Government aided Institute or Organisation potentially eligible to submit a project proposal for financial support?
Yes, if the project sanctioning committee finds the organization suitable for the project activities, it may be allowed to participate.
What specific criteria must a Government or Government aided entity meet to undertake a permissible activity?
The entity must satisfy the project sanctioning committee about its suitability and capability for the proposed activity, including the minimum research and publication record.
Are academic bodies like National Law Universities permitted to apply for this type of research assistance?
Yes, national law universities are explicitly listed as eligible implementing agencies under the scheme.
Is the Indian Law Institute considered one of the designated bodies eligible for this funding scheme?
Yes, the Indian Law Institute is a named eligible agency in the guidelines.
Are Indian Institutes of Technology now eligible to apply?
Yes, the 2026 request for proposals has added Indian Institutes of Technology to the list of eligible institutions.
What is the last date to submit a proposal in 2026?
The department of justice has fixed 31st August 2026 as the last date for submission of proposals.
Must institutions wait for an official communication before they can submit their proposals?
Yes, the department of justice invites proposals for identified subjects, so institutions should wait for such an invitation.
How is the financial assistance released under the 2026 call?
The funds are released in four installments: 20% after the agreement, 40% after the interim report, 30% after the final report and the last 10% after the final report is accepted.
Which institutions focused on policy and administration research are identified in the guidelines?
The Indian Institute of Public Administration is named as an eligible agency.
Are institutions like the National Council of Applied Economic Research considered suitable for funding?
Yes, they are recognized under the scheme guidelines as reputed research institutions.
Does research in legal education qualify an institution for proposal submission?
Yes, institutions focused on legal education and research are eligible.
Are management schools like Indian Institute/s of Management included?
Yes, they are explicitly listed as eligible agencies.