SATYAM — Science and Technology of Yoga and Meditation
SATYAM is a Department of Science & Technology research programme, started in 2015 under the Cognitive Science Research Initiative, that funds scientific studies on how yoga and meditation affect physical health, mental health and cognition. Projects run for up to 3 years and are proposed by scientists in regular positions, not by individuals seeking a personal benefit.
| Ministry | Department of Science & Technology |
|---|---|
| Benefit | Research project funding for up to 3 years for studies on yoga and meditation |
| Maximum benefit | Not published as a fixed ceiling; budget is approved project by project |
| Application mode | Online project proposal by a scientist through an institution, when DST issues a call |
| Helpline | 011-26590000 (DST board number, Technology Bhavan, New Delhi) |
| Official website | https://dst.gov.in/scientific-programmes/scientific-engineering-research |
What is SATYAM?
SATYAM (Science and Technology of Yoga and Meditation) is a research programme of the Department of Science & Technology, conceptualised in 2015 under DST's Cognitive Science Research Initiative (CSRI). According to the DST programme page, SATYAM was created to foster scientific research on the effects of yoga and meditation on physical and mental health and on cognitive functioning, both in healthy people and in patients with disorders.
SATYAM is a research funding programme, not a citizen benefit. It does not pay individuals to practise yoga, does not fund yoga centres as a welfare measure, and does not offer scholarships to yoga students. What it funds is a time-bound research project, hosted by an institution, with a named Principal Investigator.
The two research themes DST lists for SATYAM
- Investigations into the effect of yoga and meditation on physical and mental health and well-being.
- Investigations into the effect of yoga and meditation on the body, brain and mind in terms of basic processes and mechanisms.
Between these two themes, SATYAM has supported work ranging from clinical trials of yoga as an adjunct therapy to neuroimaging studies of meditative states. DST lists sanctioned project sets from the 2015-16 and 2016-17 cycles onward, and the programme has continued to issue calls for proposals since.
Who is eligible for SATYAM?
You can submit a proposal if:
- You are a scientist or academician with a research background in yoga and meditation, or in a discipline directly relevant to studying it, physiology, psychology, neuroscience, medicine or cognitive science.
- You hold a regular position in a recognised academic or research institution in India, for at least the duration of the project.
- Your institution is willing to issue an endorsement certificate and administer the grant.
Yoga and meditation practitioners who are not in academic positions are encouraged by DST to take part, but only in collaboration with an academic or research institution of repute. A practitioner cannot be the sole applicant.
You are not eligible if:
- You are a private individual seeking money for personal yoga practice, training or treatment. SATYAM has no personal-benefit component at all.
- You are a yoga studio, gym or wellness business applying for a subsidy. This is not a business incentive scheme.
- You hold only a temporary, contractual or guest position with no institutional commitment covering the project period.
- Your proposal falls outside the two SATYAM themes, for example a purely philosophical or textual study with no scientific investigation.
What documents are required for a SATYAM proposal?
| Document | Mandatory | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Proposal in the DST SATYAM format | Yes | Use the format published for the current call |
| Endorsement from Head of Institution | Yes | Institution hosts the project and administers funds |
| Bio-data of PI and all Co-PIs | Yes | Must evidence relevant research background |
| Proof of regular position | Yes | Must cover the full project duration |
| Ethics committee clearance | No | Required whenever human participants are involved |
How to apply for SATYAM funding
- Check the Call for Proposals section on dst.gov.in for an open SATYAM call. Proposals are accepted only against an open call.
- Download the SATYAM proposal format attached to that call and prepare the proposal in exactly that format.
- Assemble the team; identify the Principal Investigator, the Co-PIs, and any collaborating yoga or medical institution. Multi-centric and interdisciplinary teams are explicitly encouraged.
- Build the budget against the heads allowed in the format — manpower, equipment, consumables, travel and contingency, with justification for each item.
- Obtain the Endorsement Certificate from the Head of the Institution and attach detailed bio-data for the PI and each Co-PI.
- Obtain institutional ethics clearance if the study involves human participants.
- Submit the complete proposal through the route stated in the call, before the closing date.
Proposals then go through DST's peer-review and expert-committee process. The project is tenable for a maximum of 3 years.
What SATYAM will not fund
Reading the SATYAM call carefully saves wasted effort. SATYAM is not a source of funds for building a yoga centre, running yoga classes, publishing yoga literature, or organising events and conferences on yoga. It is also not a substitute for a fellowship, a research scholar cannot apply for personal support under SATYAM. Individual research support of that kind sits with ANRF and SERB grant schemes instead.
Where to get help
- Portal: dst.gov.in, the SATYAM programme page and the Call for Proposals page carry the current format and closing dates.
- DST, Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi 110016. The programme officer's contact for the current call is printed on the call advertisement itself; use the contact named there rather than a general address.
Other DST research and infrastructure programmes covered on this site include FIST, PURSE, SATHI and INSPIRE.
Documents required
Frequently asked questions
Can an individual apply to SATYAM for money to learn or teach yoga?
No. SATYAM funds scientific research projects, not personal training, practice or teaching. There is no cash benefit for a citizen, a yoga teacher or a yoga studio. Only scientists and academicians holding a regular position in a recognised institution can submit a proposal.
Who can apply for SATYAM funding?
Scientists and academicians with a research background in yoga and meditation who hold a regular position in a recognised academic or research institution can apply. According to the DST SATYAM page, practitioners actively involved in yoga and meditation are also encouraged to participate, but only in collaboration with such an institution.
How long does a SATYAM project run?
A SATYAM project is tenable for a maximum of 3 years. Extensions are not part of the published design; a fresh proposal is needed for follow-on work.
What kind of research does SATYAM fund?
SATYAM funds two broad themes — the effect of yoga and meditation on physical and mental health and well-being, including in patients with disorders, and the effect of yoga and meditation on the body, brain and mind in terms of basic processes and mechanisms.
How much money does a SATYAM project get?
DST does not publish a fixed ceiling for SATYAM. The budget is approved project by project against the heads allowed in the SATYAM proposal format, so applicants should build the budget from actual manpower, equipment, consumables and travel needs rather than assume a standard figure.
Is SATYAM open all year?
No. SATYAM operates through calls for proposals announced by DST on dst.gov.in. Proposals submitted outside an open call are not considered, so the call page should be checked before preparing a submission.
Are multi-institution proposals allowed under SATYAM?
Yes. DST explicitly encourages multi-centric and interdisciplinary proposals, which is why a yoga institution and a medical or neuroscience department often apply together with one PI and one or more Co-PIs.
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