Srinagar, Dec 29: The University of Kashmir( KU) has achieved a major milestone in strengthening its research and innovation ecosystem by securing research grants worth ₹8.5 crore under the Advanced Research Grant (ARG) Scheme of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
The grants have been awarded in the broad domains of Biological, Medical, and Earth Sciences, and are expected to significantly enhance cutting-edge research at the University in critical areas such as climate change and permafrost studies, cancer biology, ecosystem restoration, development of cold-resistant high-yield maize, microbiology, and genomics.
In response to the recent national call for proposals under the ARG scheme, research proposals submitted by Prof. Ghulam Jeelani, Prof. Anzar Khuroo, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Dar, Prof. Rabia Hamid, Prof. Fouzia Rashid, Dr. Irfan Rashid, Dr. Rifat, and Dr. Gulzar Ahmad were selected for funding after a rigorous evaluation process. The cumulative sanctioned amount of these prestigious projects stands at ₹8.5 crore.
A significant component of the grants includes the procurement of state-of-the-art scientific equipment, aimed at strengthening advanced research capabilities across various departments. These include Gel Documentation Systems, Conviron Growth Chambers, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Automatic Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and Automatic Weather Stations, among others.
Congratulating the awardees, Prof. Nilofer Khan, Vice-Chancellor KU said that the achievement reflects the University’s growing research excellence and national standing.
“Securing these highly competitive ANRF grants is a matter of pride for the University of Kashmir. It underscores the dedication, scientific rigor, and innovative spirit of our faculty members. I congratulate the awardees and hope that the outcomes of these projects will contribute significantly to addressing pressing regional, national, and global challenges,” she remarked.
Prof. Mohammad Sultan Bhat, Dean Research KU also extended his congratulations to the faculty members and acknowledged their sustained research efforts.
“The success of our faculty in obtaining these prestigious grants highlights the strength of our research ecosystem. The advanced infrastructure being created through these projects will further enable high-impact research and interdisciplinary collaborations at the University,” he said.
The University administration reiterated its commitment to fostering a vibrant and enabling research environment, supporting high-quality scientific inquiry, and contributing meaningfully to national priorities and global knowledge system.
