Frequently Asked Questions

1. When do the STS registrations begin?

The STS registration period is for about one month beginning from 10th December to 10th
January.
2. How do I choose the topic for my research?
Students are free to choose any topic related to medical research depending on their interest.
The topic should be relevant and should lead to creation of new knowledge or help in gaining
new knowledge or skills by the student. Research should not be carried out on well
established/ known facts.
3. I want to apply for STS, is there any nationality criteria?
Indian National students who are studying in recognised medical or dental colleges of India
can apply. Students who are holding OCI cards/ PIO cards/ NRIs studying in Indian Medical
College can also apply. Students from foreign institutes are not eligible for this program.
4. How do I apply ONLINE for STS?
Please visit ICMR website (www.icmr.nic.in) and go to through all the information/
instructions under STS link, register your email address and then apply ONLINE.
5. I dont have my email id, may I use my friends/parents/other relatives email id for
registration?
Students should use their email id and in case they do not have an email they may create a
new e-mail id before registration. They should remember their email id and its password and
be able to access their account.
6. What is the eligibility criteria to apply for STS?
STS program is open only to undergraduate medical and dental students (MBBS/BDS) who
have not yet appeared in their final exams. Paramedical/ non medical students are not eligible.
7. I am a final year MBBS/BDS student and going to begin my internship? Am I eligible for
applying?
No, you will not be eligible.
8. What is the last date for registration/ proposal/ report submission?
Information regarding last date for registration and proposal/report submission is provided on
ICMR website. Kindly note that there will be no extension of the last date.
9. I was not selected for STS this year. Can I apply again?
A student can apply each year till he/ she appears in the final year exams. However interns are
not eligible.

10. What information is needed at the time of registration?

Registration form is divided into three sections

Login Details: Students active email id and mobile number.

Course Details: Student name, course, college name and address.
Personal Details: Students date of birth and residence address.

Kindly note that Guides details or projects details are not required at the time of registration.
11. I am trying to open ICMR website but its not working. What should I do?
This may happen if your internet browser is not updated. Kindly update your internet browser
or try to access STS link from another location/ computer system.
12. During the registration process/ proposal/ report submission, I got a message that web page
has expired/ session time out. What does it mean?
You would get a time limit of 20 min to fill up and submit the online form. Kindly have
everything ready for submission and complete the process in the given time.
13. How do I know that my on-line registration is successful? Do I get any acknowledgement
upon submission of on-line form?
Yes, you will get a confirmation message on your computer screen and an automated email
will also sent into your registered e-mail id.
14. I have successfully registered for STS. How can I change my registered details?
You will get an opportunity to make a change in your registered details at the time of proposal
submission. After proposal has been submitted you may send an email request to
[email protected] for changing previously registered details.
15. I have successfully registered for STS, how can I submit my proposal/ when will the proposal
submission start?
The submission will begin after the registration period is over. For more details please read
Application Instructions on the website.
16. Can one guide take two students or can submit two projects for STS?
Please note that one student should register once and submit only one proposal. Similarly one
guide can take one student under him/ her each year. In case duplicate names of student or
guide are found all applications will be automatically rejected.
17. My registered email id has been blocked/ lost/ forgotten/ incorrect. Can I register again with a
new email id?
The program automatically searches for duplicate registration and all duplicate entries will be
deleted. In case you need to register again you must send an email to [email protected] and
request for cancellation of the incorrect previous registration.
In case the registration period is over you may send an email to [email protected] for
changing previously registered email-id.

18. What identifying details should be removed from the proposal/ report?
Name and Contact details of student/guide should not be present in the proposal/ report
(including name, address, email-id, telephone number). Name of medical college may be
present if relevant to the objectives of the study.
19. I want to know that Part B (Guide details) should be filled up by Guide or self?
Part B (Guide details) may be filled up by the student or the guide.
20. What are the types of attestation forms?
Application Attestation Form (AAF) is to be submitted with the research proposal and Report
Attestation Form (RAF) is to be submitted along with the report.
21. Should my photograph on the Application/Report attestation form be attested?
Attestation of photograph is not required.
22. I am trying to submit proposal/ report from hostel but whenever I am clicking on STS link its
not working. Please suggest what should I do?
It is possible that STS online link IP is blocked in your institution or in your locality due to
some security reasons. In such case you should request your network administrator to unblock
IP address or try to submit from another place/location.
23. At the time of uploading proposal/ report, I pressed refresh button, and after that I got an error
message. How do I know if the submission has been done?
On successful completion you will get an automated message as well as an email will be sent
to your email address. Kindly do not press refresh button while uploading or submission
process is going
24. When proposal/ report result will come out?
Result for proposals will be announced around March end or early April and for the report
around February. For more details please read the instructions on the ICMR website.
25. My proposal has been selected. Can I make some changes to aims/ objectives or
methodology?
Minor changes may be acceptable. You may however need to take permission from the ethics
committee for any changes. Major changes will not be permitted. You must inform (with
appropriate justification) regarding the changes at the time of report submission. These will
be reviewed and may or may not be accepted.
26. Ethics committee has not held any meeting yet? Can I submit the ethical clearance later?
Ethics committee approval should obtained any time between January-April before beginning
your research work. Submission of ethical clearance at the time of submission of application/
proposal is optional. However before beginning research the ethics committee approval is
mandatory and should be obtained. A copy of the same must be submitted along with the
report. No research should be done if ethics committee has not given the clearance. Report on
research carried out without ethical approvals shall not be accepted under any circumstances.

27. Due to some reasons I am unable to work in my college. Can I now change site of study and
complete my work in another Institution?
You may do so however you will need to take a number of extra approvals (For your guide,
college, ethics committee, Co-Guide from the other Institution, Institutional Head and ethics
committee from the other Institution).
28. I would like to work with another institute/ outside my medical college. How do I do that?
The student is required to take the Guide from the same medical college and is free to work in
collaboration with the another Institute with a co-guide after obtaining due approval from his
college. Kindly note that in such cases ethics committee approval may be required from both
the Institutions.
29. Can a parent if working as a faculty in the same college, become a guide of his or her child?
Preferably the parent should not be the guide of his or her child, however permission of
college authorities may be taken for exceptional reasons.
30. Do I need to submit all the raw data in excel sheet?
No, it is not required. You may extract the relevant data and present it in the tabular form in
the report.
31. Do I need to submit completed case record forms and signed informed concent forms from all
the participants?
No, you need to only submit one blank unsigned consent form/ case report form. Confidential
information about participants should not be submitted.
32. My guide has left/moved/transferred from medical college. May I change my guide?
Yes, the student may approach another faculty member from the same department and take
permission of college authorities regarding the change. You do not need the permission of
ICMR for this change. However you need to inform ICMR regarding this at the time of report
submission.
33. How to make/ reduce the size of the pdf file?
Student can make use of internet or available softwares/ tools for making/ reduce the size of
pdf file. In case you have a difficulty, kindly take help from computer personnel.
34. How to insert image file into word document?

Open the Microsoft Word.

Choose the Insert tab and from that menu ribbon select "Picture" option.
Browse your graphic file.
Choose your image, and then click Insert.

35. I have forgotten my password to login for STS, what should I do?
Please clink on I forgot my password? link on STS login page. Enter your registered email
id and press Recover Password button. An automated email will be sent to your registered
email account with your password.

36. What should be the name of the files which I want to upload?
There is no specific requirement, you are free to choose any file name.
37. I have attached the documents online, do I have to send the hard copy as well?
No, since STS is an online paperless program, there is no need to submit hard copies of the
documents.
38. I do not have a bank account, may I use my parents/ Guides or /others account?
Payment will be made either online or via cheque in the name of student. Therefore a student
should have a bank account (single or joint) to receive the stipend.
39. Can I deposit / encash my cheque at any bank in any part of country?
Yes you can deposit your cheque in any bank where you have an account.
40. Can I publish the results of my study?
You are free to publish paper/ present your work in conferences without seeking permission
from ICMR. However you must acknowledge the support received from ICMR under STS
program for your research and send a reprint of your paper to ICMR for records.
41. My report has been accepted. Will it be published by ICMR in its journal/ bulletin?
Kindly note that there is no procedure for automatic publication of STS reports in ICMR
journal/ bulletin. In case you want to publish, you may consult your guide and identify a
suitable journal and with up a paper for submission as per journal requirements.
42. My research paper has been selected for presentation in conference abroad, can I get travel
fellowship from ICMR?
Several Government agencies including ICMR offer travel scholarships, however these
fellowships are not linked to STS program. You may visit the website to obtain further
details.
43. When will I receive my certificate and at which address?
Certificates will be posted to Principals office 6-8 months after declaration of report results
and an email will be sent to students informing about the same. The students will be requested
to collect the certificates from their college office.
44. When will I receive my stipend and at which address?
About 3 months after report results are declared stipend cheque will be posted to the student
on the address provided in the online submission form. An email will also to sent to inform
the students at that time.
45. My address has recently changed. How do I inform ICMR regarding this?
You will have the opportunity to edit/ update your address in the online form at the time of
report submission or if the change is after report submission you may send your address by
email to [email protected]

46. Whom do I contact in case of any queries?

Contact information is provided on ICMR website. You may either call or send an email to
[email protected]. For queries related to stipend and certificate call on 011-26589569 and
for scientific queries or any other matters call on 26588984.
47. Will the efforts of my guide recognised?
To recognise the efforts of the guide, his/her name is printed in the Certificate.