SUPREME — Support for Up-gradation, Preventive Repair & Maintenance of Equipment
SUPREME is a Department of Science & Technology scheme launched in 2023 that gives institutions up to Rs 4 crore to repair, upgrade, retrofit or maintain existing DST-supported research instruments that are not more than 8 years old and are listed on the I-STEM portal. Institutions apply online at onlinedst.gov.in when a call opens.
| Ministry | Department of Science & Technology |
|---|---|
| Benefit | Up to Rs 4 crore per organisation for repair, upgradation, retrofitting and maintenance of existing research equipment |
| Maximum benefit | Rs 4 crore per organisation |
| Application mode | Online only, by an institution through onlinedst.gov.in against an open call |
| Helpline | 011-26590452 (R&D Infrastructure Division, DST) |
| Official website | https://dst.gov.in/scientific-programmes/support-gradation-preventive-repair-maintenance-equipment-supreme |
What is SUPREME?
SUPREME (Support for Up-gradation, Preventive Repair & Maintenance of Equipment) is a scheme of the Department of Science & Technology's R&D Infrastructure Division, launched in 2023. According to the DST scheme page, SUPREME provides financial support for the repair, upgradation, maintenance, retrofitting or acquiring of additional attachments that increase the functional capability of existing instrumentation facilities already supported by DST.
SUPREME exists because of a specific problem in Indian research infrastructure. A sophisticated analytical instrument bought under a DST project stops working after a few years, the original project has closed, and no budget head exists to repair it. The instrument sits idle, and the research it supported stops. SUPREME creates the missing budget line.
What SUPREME support looks like
- Maximum Rs 4 crore per organisation.
- Non-recurring capital support, plus an optional Annual Maintenance Contract component.
- Duration of support not exceeding 3 years.
- One application per institution per advertisement period.
Who is eligible for SUPREME?
SUPREME is an institutional scheme. The applicant is the organisation that owns the equipment.
Institutions that can apply:
- Central, State, Deemed and Private Universities
- IITs, NITs, IISERs and AIIMS
- Colleges
Conditions the equipment must meet; all four together:
- The facility was created under a DST-supported project that is already completed.
- The equipment is registered on the I-STEM portal (the Indian Science Technology and Engineering facilities Map).
- The initial purchase cost of the equipment was at least Rs 25 lakh.
- The facility is not more than 8 years old.
Who is not eligible:
- Individual scientists and research scholars cannot apply. SUPREME carries no personal benefit, fellowship or stipend. A researcher whose instrument is broken must route the request through their institution.
- Agency-based institutes and organisations functioning under ministries other than DST.
- Self-sustaining infrastructure: facilities that already generate enough revenue to fund their own maintenance.
- Facilities older than 8 years, equipment costing under Rs 25 lakh at purchase, and any instrument not registered on I-STEM.
What documents are required for SUPREME?
| Document | Mandatory | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Proposal in the SUPREME format | Yes | Format is published with each call on dst.gov.in |
| Proof of the completed DST project | Yes | Establishes that the facility was DST-supported |
| I-STEM registration proof | Yes | Every instrument in the proposal must be listed |
| Original purchase cost details | Yes | Must be at least Rs 25 lakh |
| Age and installation record | Yes | Facility must be 8 years old or less |
| Vendor quotations | Yes | Itemised, supporting each cost head |
| Endorsement from Head of Institution | Yes | Commitment to keep the facility open-access |
How to apply for SUPREME
- Register your equipment on the I-STEM portal if it is not already listed. A proposal covering unregistered equipment will not qualify.
- Check the Call for Proposals page on dst.gov.in for an open SUPREME advertisement from the R&D Infrastructure Division.
- Download the SUPREME proposal format attached to that call.
- Verify the four eligibility conditions for each instrument: completed DST project, I-STEM registration, Rs 25 lakh minimum purchase cost, and facility age of 8 years or less.
- Obtain itemised vendor quotations for the repair, upgradation, retrofitting or AMC being sought, and build the budget from them.
- Consolidate a single institutional proposal — only one application per institution per advertisement is allowed.
- Get the endorsement of the Head of the Institution.
- Submit the proposal online at onlinedst.gov.in before the closing date.
Proposals are then peer-reviewed, and a site visit may follow before a decision.
How are SUPREME proposals judged?
According to DST, assessment considers the academic merit of the work the facility supports, the benefit the revived facility will bring to the wider community, including scientists from other institutions, MSMEs and startups. The publications and patents already generated using the equipment, and the facility's involvement in industrial R&D. A proposal that shows the instrument serving many external users is stronger than one serving a single department.
This is also why I-STEM registration is non-negotiable: it is the mechanism through which outside researchers discover and book the facility.
Where to get help
- R&D Infrastructure Division, DST: 011-26590452
- Programme officer: Dr. Pratishtha Pandey, Scientist G
- Proposal submission: onlinedst.gov.in
- Scheme page: dst.gov.in
SUPREME works on facilities created by DST's other infrastructure schemes. See FIST, PURSE and SATHI for how those facilities are funded in the first place, and STUTI for training researchers to use them.
Documents required
Frequently asked questions
Can an individual scientist apply for SUPREME funding?
No. SUPREME is an institutional scheme — the applicant is the university, institute or college that owns the equipment, not an individual researcher. There is no personal grant, fellowship or stipend of any kind under SUPREME.
How much money can an institution get under SUPREME?
An institution can get up to Rs 4 crore under SUPREME. The support is non-recurring capital assistance for repair, upgradation, retrofitting or additional attachments, and may include an Annual Maintenance Contract component.
What equipment qualifies for SUPREME support?
Equipment qualifies if it was created under a completed DST-supported project, costs at least Rs 25 lakh at initial purchase, is registered on the I-STEM portal, and the facility is not more than 8 years old. All four conditions must hold together.
Which institutions are not eligible for SUPREME?
Agency-based institutes, organisations under ministries other than the Department of Science & Technology, and self-sustaining infrastructure are excluded. Facilities older than 8 years and equipment not registered on I-STEM are also not eligible.
How many proposals can one institution submit?
One application per institution per advertisement period is allowed under SUPREME. A second proposal in the same call will not be considered, so departments within a university must agree on a single consolidated submission.
How long does SUPREME support last?
SUPREME support is for a period not exceeding 3 years, which allows the repair or upgradation work and any associated maintenance contract to be completed within the sanction.
How are SUPREME proposals selected?
Proposals are peer-reviewed and may include a site visit. Assessment looks at academic merit, the benefit to the wider community of scientists, MSMEs and startups, publication and patent records generated by the facility, and involvement in industrial R&D.
Related schemes in Science, Tech & Research
- Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellowship (AKTINF)
- ASEAN-India Research Training Fellowship (AI-RTF)
- Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS)
- Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana (Philately Scholarship)
- E-YUVA Scheme: BIRAC's Innovation Fellows (for post graduates and above)
- High Risk - High Reward Research Scheme
More from the Department of Science & Technology
- STUTI — Synergistic Training Program Utilizing the Scientific and Technological Infrastructure
- National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS)
- FIST — Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure
- INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research)
- National Programme on Nano Science and Technology (Nano Mission)
- NIDHI-PRAYAS
Didn't find what you needed?
Browse every central scheme by category, or search by name.