MANU/DCAF/0041/2022

Ministry : Ministry of Corporate Affairs

Notice From File No. : 02/1/2022/CDM-R&A

Date : 25.04.2022

Notice for Research Proposals, Workshops and Conferences

Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is pleased to invite research proposals under the scheme "Funding Research and Studies, Workshops and Conferences etc." with the objective of extracting knowledge from the extensive data available with MCA. This will eventually enable to form policy and facilitate decision making in a market-driven economy in areas related, inter alia, to corporate growth and corporate functioning in the overall macro-economic perspective.

The detailed guidelines for funding "Research and Studies, Workshops and Conferences etc." can be accessed at

https://www.mca.gov.in/Ministry/pdf/GuidelinesCDM 09042021.pdf

The research proposals should be submitted in the prescribed format as in Annexure-A. Research Proposals received on or before 31st May, 2022 will be considered for approval. The illustrative list of Themes and additional Sub-Themes for Research Studies, Workshop and Conferences etc. are provided in Annexure-B. Proposals, queries, clarifications etc. may be mailed at cdm.research@mca.gov.in or alam.ansari44@gov.in

Annexure-A

Format of the Research Proposal

The expected length of the research proposal should not exceed more than 5 pages and shall be in the format as stated below:

I. Title

The title of the planned research project should be brief, it should be accurate, descriptive and comprehensive, clearly indicating research area. A realistic time frame in which it is planned to complete the project may also be given.

II. Objective/Background to the Problem

This section should precisely cater to the questions such as "What problem do I want to address or what question(s) do I want to answer?" Also elaborate on the variables and their relationships. Elaborate on the question "why this problem or question is important?"

III. Literature Review

In this section give a literature review covering "Who else has worked on this or similar problems?'/ "What were the results or conclusions of previous research?" etc. Also show the relevance of your research vis-a vis other research that have been done.

IV. Research Design and Methodology

This section should explain in detail how it is intended to approach and proceed with the study. This is a very important part of the research outline and should receive a lot of attention. It may well be the longest section of your proposal. Give detailed information about how you intend to answer your research questions. Give answers to questions such as "How will I limit my study?"/ "what data do I need to collect?"/ "What statistical methods/ techniques will I use to collect the data and how will I justify them?'/ "How will I analyse my data?' / "The controls you will introduce"/ "Ethical issues" etc.

V. Expected Results and output of the study

This section should highlight the expected findings from your study and what results do you expect from your research? Also, in this section, elaborate on how data will be used to answer your research question(s), to make generalizations, to defend assertions, to examine possible alternative outcomes to construct a plausible argument.

VI. Costing and Timelines

This section indicates the costing/ financial implications for your study. The timelines of the project should be aligned with the schedule of disbursal of grants indicated in the prescribed guidelines.

Annexure-B

Illustrative list of Themes for Research Proposals, Workshops and Conferences

A. Investor Protection and Investor Education;

B. Performance of corporates (contribution to GDP, investment, revenue, profitability etc.);

C. Competition law and practice;

D. Corporate Debt Structure and leveraging;

E. Corporate Frauds, Early Warning System;

F. Corporate Governance;

G. Corporate Social Responsibility;

H. Analysis of utilisation of funds mobilized by Corporates through IPOs etc.

I. Ease of Doing Business;

J. Bankruptcy and Insolvency issues; and

K. Issues relating to emergence of Producer Companies in India.

Sub-Themes in addition to the existing Themes listed in the Guidelines

a) Non-Bank Financial Companies (NBFCs)

b) Interim Finance under IBC

c) Causes and Concern with reference to approval of Resolution Plan by Adjudicating Authority under IBC

d) Competition issues in Concession Agreements under the Competition Law

e) Group Insolvency especially for concentrating on the definition of group - comparative study

f) Cross Border Insolvency especially focusing on the concept of "Centre of main Interest (COMI)"

g) Reverse CIRP in the Real Estate Sector

The above list of themes for Research Studies, Workshops and Conferences etc. is of indicative in nature. Therefore, research proposals in related subjects may also be preferred.