SATHI: Why Proposals and Bookings Get Rejected and How to Fix It

SATHI: Why Proposals and Bookings Get Rejected and How to Fix It

SATHI has no individual application and no personal grant, so there is nothing for a person to be "rejected" for, but there are two things that do get refused: an institution's proposal to host a SATHI centre, and a user's instrument booking on I-STEM. The SATHI pillar guide explains the scheme in full. This troubleshooting article covers only why those two fail and how to fix each.

One-line reminder: SATHI (Sophisticated Analytical and Technical Help Institutes) funds shared analytical centres on a 75:25 basis; institutions host them, and researchers, startups and MSMEs book instrument time at nominal charges.

Part A: Why host proposals are rejected

Reason 1: An individual submitted the proposal

Only institutions and consortia can host a SATHI centre. A proposal from an individual researcher, student, startup founder or MSME is not eligible.

Fix: Route the proposal through an eligible host, a government or non-government academic institution, or a DSIR-recognised R&D centre or organisation. From financial year 2022-23 DST has favoured consortium proposals, so building a regional consortium is stronger than a single-institution bid.

Reason 2: Submitted outside an open call

DST accepts SATHI proposals only during an open call for proposals. A proposal sent when no call is live is not considered.

Fix: Watch the DST website (dst.gov.in) and the India Science, Technology and Innovation portal, and submit only through the route named in a live call.

Reason 3: No credible commitment to the 25 percent share

SATHI is funded 75:25. A proposal that does not carry a written commitment from the host to meet its 25 percent share, and to reserve 80 percent of instrument time for external users, will fail.

Fix: Attach a signed commitment letter for the 25 percent contribution and an explicit undertaking on the 80 percent external-access rule.

Reason 4: Equipment duplicates existing capacity

Proposals that seek instruments already provided by an existing SATHI or other national facility in the same region are weak, because SATHI exists to cut duplicate purchases, not multiply them.

Fix: Justify each instrument against genuine regional demand and show it is not already available nearby. Include usage projections for external and internal users.

Reason 5: Cannot guarantee professional management

The scheme funds professionally managed shared facilities. A proposal that cannot show a credible staffing and management plan is unlikely to clear the DST expert committee.

Fix: Set out the staffing, technician training and maintenance plan, and the training programmes the centre will run.

Part B: Why user bookings fail on I-STEM

Reason 1: No I-STEM registration

You cannot book instrument time at a SATHI centre without an I-STEM account.

Fix: Register on the I-STEM portal at istem.gov.in before searching for an instrument.

Reason 2: Booking an instrument the centre does not hold

Each SATHI centre, at IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, BHU Varanasi, IIT Hyderabad or BITS Pilani — holds a specific set of instruments. A request for a test the chosen centre does not offer cannot be fulfilled.

Fix: On I-STEM, search by the instrument or test you need, confirm which centre holds it, and raise the booking with that centre.

Reason 3: Incomplete sample details or unpaid charges

A booking with missing sample details, or with the nominal published charge unpaid, stalls and is not processed.

Fix: Submit complete sample details and pay the centre's published charge for the instrument and test. Rates and turnaround times are set by each facility, so check its I-STEM listing or contact the facility head directly.

What you cannot fix, because it is not offered

• There is no cash grant, stipend or scholarship for individuals under SATHI, so no such claim can be made or "won" on appeal.
• No individual can host a facility, and no host proposal can be submitted outside a call.

Where to get help

• DST R&D Infrastructure Division: 011-26590452
• Scheme page: dst.gov.in; search for "SATHI"
• Booking portal: istem.gov.in

Using a SATHI centre needs no agent or intermediary. Bookings are made directly on I-STEM or with the facility, and charges are paid to the host institution against a receipt: anyone offering to secure access for a side fee is not part of the scheme.