India's science-funding agencies defended the Research, Development and Innovation Fund's conflict-of-interest arrangements at an August 7, 2026 briefing. Officials from DST, TDB and ANRF said their procedures had been followed.
The described system separates three controls. Disclosure identifies an expert's interests; recusal removes that person from discussion and voting on a conflicting proposal; a supermajority requirement sets the level of support needed among eligible committee members.
These controls address different risks. A declaration makes an interest visible but does not remove influence by itself. Recusal changes who participates, while collective approval prevents one eligible member from deciding alone.
TDB also described a stricter restriction on proposals from enterprises owned by investment-committee members during their tenure. Officials said assistance supported defined technology projects through soft loans and was released against eligible matching investment mobilised after approval.
The financing sequence also distinguishes money invested before approval from the eligible matching contribution raised afterwards. That timing determines which private funds can support a release of public assistance.
