What you get
Duration: One-Year | Limit of Funding: ₹ 1,00,000 only (one-time grant to one institute) | Disbursement of the Funds: ₹ 1,00,000 as advance | Programs/ Activities targeted in the Clubs: Evolution of Interests/Hobbies, Creativity/ Imagination/ Innovation, and Ethics/ Value through a range of student activities.
Who can apply
Required Paperwork
- Aadhaar Card
- PAN Card
- Income Certificate
- Residence Proof (Domicile)
Common Questions
Q.1 What Is AICTE Expecting From The Institution?
A. AICTE expects institutions to fund its other clubs in a similar fashion and intensify their activities. Vibrant clubs will attract the attention of other institutions and inspire the latter to emulate. Thus there will be an intensification of club activities across the country.
Q.2 What Are The Strong Points Which Enhance The Possibility Of Support From AICTE?
A. Past achievements of the club, its interface with industry/professional body, achievements of the Faculty Coordinator, and Credentials of the institute.
Q.3 Are Student Chapters/Societies Also Eligible To Apply?
A. Yes.
Q.4 How Many Proposals Can Be Submitted By The Institute?
A. Institute can seek support for one club only, for which it must be willing to support financially also.
Q.5 Will My Institute Be Eligible To Apply Again If The Project Is Granted Once?
A. No. Institute will be eligible to receive the grant under the SPICES scheme only once. AICTE expects the institute to support other clubs in a similar fashion.
Q.6 Can Non-Technical/ Non-Engineering Clubs Apply Under This Scheme?
A. Yes, the club from any discipline/ theme/ stream in an AICTE-approved institution can be proposed under this Scheme, provided it fulfills other eligibility conditions.
Q.7 What Is The Total Duration To Complete The SPICES Project?
A. It's a one-year project which starts from the date of the Offer Letter/Sanction Letter.
Q.8 When Does The One-Year Project Duration Start?
A. For the 2020-2021 batch, the date of receipt of funds is reckoned as the date of start of the project which must be intimated to AICTE. However, for those sanctioned in 2021- 2022, the date of the Offer Letter is the date of the start of the project.
Q.9 If Both Coordinator & Co-Coordinator Are Transferred/ Changed, Then How To Update The Details Of Another Coordinator?
A. The institute must appoint another faculty as a coordinator whose qualifications and experience must be matching with the previous one and take approval from AICTE. One needs to go to "Request for Change of Coordinator/Co-coordinator" on the SPICES Review Portal, attach the requisite documents on the SPICES review portal, duly signed by the Head of Institution, and Coordinator, and submit.
Q.10 Do We Need To Submit Any Report To AICTE After The Completion Of The Project?
A. Yes, at the end of the project duration, the institute must submit a soft copy and hard copy of the project report and original bills for the closure of the project.
Q.11 Is There Any Requirement On The Minimum Number Of Activities To Be Conducted Under This Scheme? Can We Conduct One Single Event/Activity?
A. Club must conduct as many activities as possible, spread throughout the year. Club members may be encouraged to raise funds from other sponsors.
Q.12 Can We Conduct The Event/Activities In The Club Online Mode Or Hybrid Mode?
A. AICTE recommends club activities to be held offline to enhance student interaction between peers and experts invited.
Q.13 Can We Collaborate With Other Councils/Clubs In Our College To Conduct An Activity?
A. We encourage collaborative activities with not just clubs in your institutions but also with those focussed in your area, in nearby institutions (for example if your club is on Robotics, try collaborating with the Robotics club in a nearby institution). We expect these clubs with whom you shake hands also to reciprocate your gesture. This is equally important. By supporting and focussing on one club under the Scheme, our larger intention is to see other clubs also get energized, that's why your club has been selected to be transformed as a model club. Please document and share the success stories emerging out of such collaborations, with all the beneficiaries under SPICES.
Q.14 Can We Upload The Details Of The Events/Activity Which Were Conducted Before Receiving The Offer Letter From The Institute?
A. Any activity which was conducted before receiving the Offer Letter will not be acceptable.
Q.15 Can We Consider Taking Our Students For A One-Day Outdoor Experiential Learning Activity
A. Yes, but the expenditures on account of travel cannot exceed 40%. Additional expenditures, (if any) should be borne by the institute.
Q.16 We Have Been Sanctioned Project In 2021-2022. When Will The Fund Of Rs. 1 Lakh Will Be Released?
A. Your institute will be reimbursed Rs. 1 lakh once the project is completed, but not before one year. Subject to all other conditions being fulfilled.
Q.17 What Is The Proportion Of Contribution From The Institute And Support From AICTE Over 100% Of Expenses Incurred On The Student's Club Activities?
A. The total project cost is a minimum of Rs. 2 Lakh with Rs. 1 Lakh from AICTE and the rest coming from the institute (minimum Rs. 1 Lakh). If the expenditure within the project duration is less than Rs. 2 Lakh then a grant from AICTE will be reduced to 50% of actual expenses accrued for the club activities.
Q.18 Can I Get The Payment In Favor Of The Coordinator’s Account Name?
A. No. The grant can only be released in favor of the Director/ Principal/ Registrar of the institution. Applicant must provide duly-filled mandate form having the seal and signature of the bank authority.
Q.19 Can The Grant Be Utilized By The Institute On The Expenditures Pertaining To The Faculty Coordinator/ Co-Coordinator Or Any Other Faculty Member?
A. No. The grant can be utilized only for expenditures pertaining to student members of the club.
Q.20 Can We Buy Hardware/Software From AICTE's Contribution To The Club's Activities
A. No. The funds cannot be used for Hardware/Software. If required, the same must be bought from institute funds.
Q.21 Can We Allow Registration Fees To Be Collected From Students For The Event(S)/ Activities?
A. It is up to the institute to decide whether to collect the registration fee or not.
Q.22 Can We Use The Grant For Publishing Books?
A. The grant can be utilized for the publication/printing of promotional material for events/activities organized by the club.
Q.23 Visiting Industrial/Technical Hubs Can Be Taken As An Event And Submit The Bills For Consideration.
A. No. The industrial/technical hubs visit is part of academic/departmental activities, and the grant cannot be utilized for this purpose.
Q.24 Are We Allowed To Spend Institute-Committed Funds On Hospitality To Experts, And Participants From Outside Apart From Expenses On Remuneration To Experts, And Prizes To Participants?
A. The funds pooled (AICTE and college) can be used for events and activities organized by the student club to which the project is offered but not for any other club. Not more than 40% of the pooled amount can be used on travel. It can be used to meet the expenses related to experts/ resource persons invited to the events organized by the club.
Q.25 Our Club Is Selected For The Grant Of Rs. 1 Lakh, And In The Letter, It Is Mentioned That We Can Utilize Its 40% For The Event Registration And Organizing Event, How We Can Utilize 60% Part Of The Grant?
A. Club can utilize 60% amount in event organization expenses viz. publicity, prize money, club merchandise (such as T-Shirts, Cups, etc.)
Q.26 Can The Institute Use The Fund Amount For Two More Clubs?
A. Funds under the project granted to your institute (contributed by your institute and AICTE) have to be spent on the Club mentioned in the Offer Letter; and NOT on the other clubs. The funded club will serve as a model to other clubs in the institute, the experience gained and good practices of which can be applied to at least two more student clubs that are to be proposed to us.
Q.27 What Is The Process Of Refunding The Unspent AICTE Grant? (Valid For 2020-2021 Project Batch)
A. Any unspent amount with the institute must be immediately returned through NEFT/ crossed Demand Draft drawn in favor of "Member Secretary, AICTE" payable at New Delhi, within 30 days of approved project completion date.
Q.28 If We Purchased Some Products Related To The Events Activity Online, Will Online Bills Be Acceptable?
A. Yes, but the product should not be Hardware/Software & bills should bear a GST number.
Q.29 Is There Any Format Given For Bills Of The Events Conducted, For Uploading On The SPICES Review Portal?
A. No format is prescribed. Institute needs to upload the bills as received.
Q.30 Is It Mandatory To Submit The GST Bills?
A. Yes, it is mandatory to submit bills with GST numbers.
Q.31 Can We Promote Activities/Events Being Conducted Under The Club On Social Media?
A. Yes, we recommended promoting activities/events being conducted under the funded club on social media using the #aictespices and #aicte.
Q.32 Can We Use The AICTE Logo?
A. All publicity materials/ advertisements/ brochures/ invitation cards/ any other collaterals/ event backdrop etc. related to the event(s), must carry the AICTE logo and the name SPICES. Likewise, the venue/the stage backdrop/ podium must prominently display the AICTE logo and the name SPICES.
Q.33 Is It Mandatory To Upload The Acceptance Letter (Available On The SPICES Review Portal) Within 7 Days And Also Need To Send A Hard Copy Of The Acceptance Letter To The AICTE?
A. Yes, you need to upload the Acceptance Letter on the SPICES review portal within 7 days after releasing the Offer Letter to your Institute and also need to send a hard copy of the same.
Q.34 Do We Need To Click On The Review Submit Button Every Time After Uploading The Single Event Detail On The SPICES Review Portal?
A. No. You do not need to click on the Review Submit button every time after uploading the single event detail on the SPICES Review portal because once you click on the button, you will not be able to upload anything on your SPICES Review portal. You need to click on that button once you complete your SPICES project.