Are you interested in bird research and evidence-based conservation of birds in India? If you

are excited about studying natural history, ecology, or behaviour of India’s birds to generate key

evidence for conservation action, read on...

Despite the wide interest in birds and birdwatching in India, several of our bird species are in

need of research attention and lacking basic information. The State of India’s Birds 2023 report

has highlighted the importance of further research on birds across the country to understand

their conservation requirements. For example, we know that the veterinary drug diclofenac had

a significant role in vulture declines and a complete ban was necessary for vultures to survive.

However, Indian Courser is declining rapidly even within grasslands but we do not know why.

Reasons for the decline of many species are still poorly known, and therefore what interventions

are needed to halt those declines are unclear.

This small grant for bird research is directed towards supporting work species with conservation

importance and those lacking in natural history information.

We especially encourage proposals on the following species:

- Black-breasted Parrotbill

- Grey-crowned Prinia

- Jerdon’s Babbler

- Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush

- Bank Myna

- Stoliczka's Bushchat

- White-throated Bushchat

- Indian Roller

- Andaman Pale-footed Bush Warbler

- Excellent Grey Shrike

- Malabar Grey Hornbill

Although proposals are encouraged on the above species, they need not be restricted to this

list. While these are our priority species for this year’s grant, we welcome proposals based on

other species that broadly meet the criteria of being of high conservation priority and /or with

insufficient data.

The list we propose covers species from different regions and habitats from across the country





that will benefit from focused research efforts. More research on their habitat requirements, diet,

breeding biology as well as aspects like its sensitivity to disturbances are particularly

encouraged.

Duration of project: 1-2 years

Grant amount: 1-3 Lakhs

Who can apply:

This grant is specifically targeted at amateur ornithologists - birdwatchers who have a passion

towards ornithology. Applications from backgrounds other than life sciences or ecology would

be given priority. This is a competitive grant and each year, only two of the top research

proposals will be awarded up to ₹ 3,00,000 each.

Requirements:

1. A proposal (in the format provided below), highlighting the importance of the species,

specific research idea and the justification, study area, a research plan, tentative timeline

and budget (all details provided in the format).

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uPvvnEAhdhWmYrzf2qHEO0alYiO2eDbIrEVbUzq

C61Q/edit>

2. Please include your CV with some details demonstrating your prior interest in ornithology

- e.g. online certificate courses, published papers or notes, popular media articles, links

to recordings of webinars you presented, etc - anything that will help us assess your

inclination and commitment towards ornithology research.

Email your application package (CV and proposal) to: [email protected]

Deadline for application: 31st July 2026

After the initial screening of proposals, there will be an extended timeframe when the proposal

will be developed by the applicants with support from mentors from the grants team. This will

happen over emails and several rounds of online discussions. Selected applicants should be

willing to work on this proposal with their mentor(s). The final proposals will be submitted to the

grant selection team for consideration. Only the proposals that get selected at this final stage

will qualify for the grant.

📌 Reasearcher (Delhi)
🏢 Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology
📍 Delhi