The Science and Technology Ministry on October 1 denied that a cash shortage caused the Technology Development Board’s RDI funding-call pause. It attributed the closure to a large assessment workload and said applications would reopen after reviewing proposals received by September 30.
Business Standard had reported on September 30, citing a departmental source, that demand exceeded the capital available to TDB. It also reported additional allocations and earlier statements from the board’s secretary about funding requirements. The ministry’s new response disputes that explanation; it is not independent verification of every earlier financial claim.
The September notice cited administrative reasons, according to Moneycontrol’s contemporary report. The present pause concerns new applications to this TDB call. It should not be read as cancellation of the entire research-funding scheme or rejection of all pending proposals.