The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities had launched a new Central sector scheme on “Research on disability related technology, products and issues‟ in January, 2015. The main objectives of this scheme are to  promote research in prevention and prevalence of disability and the application of science & technology for the development of indigenous, appropriate aids and appliances. Until 2017-18 the scheme was implemented as a standalone scheme of the Department. From the year 2019-20, it has become a part of the “Scheme for Implementation of Rights of Persons’ with Disabilities Act (SIPDA)”.

2. Under the R&D Scheme, the revised Guidelines and the prescribed format  for submitting the proposal are given below . PIAs/NGOs/Govt. Organizations may submit their proposal directly to the Department.