AICTE – Scheme For Promoting Interests, Creativity And Ethics Among Students
AICTE – Scheme for Promoting Interests, Creativity and Ethics among Students (SPICES)
The AICTE SPICES initiative aims to foster the holistic development of students across India by providing financial aid for establishing student clubs. These clubs are designed to cultivate interests, unleash creativity, and instill ethical values among students, thereby serving as exemplary models for other institutions.
Overview of the Scheme
Launched by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) under the Department of Higher Education (DoHE), the SPICES scheme is dedicated to enhancing student engagement through club activities. The goal is to create an environment where students can explore their interests, demonstrate their creativity, and learn ethical practices. Each club formed under this scheme is expected to set a benchmark for similar clubs within the institution and beyond.
Objectives
- To empower clubs, chapters, and societies to facilitate student interests and creative endeavors.
- To provide opportunities for showcasing talent, networking, teamwork, and social experiences.
- To enhance organizational and management skills while promoting adherence to professional ethics.
Benefits of the Scheme
| Duration | One Year |
|---|---|
| Funding Limit | ₹ 1,00,000 (one-time grant per institution) |
| Fund Disbursement | Advance payment of ₹ 1,00,000 |
The funds can be utilized for various student activities that focus on:
- Developing interests and hobbies.
- Fostering creativity, imagination, and innovation.
- Promoting ethical values through a variety of student engagements.
Eligibility Criteria
- Institutions must be AICTE-approved and operational for at least five years.
- Only one proposal per institution for a club with a minimum of 50 student members is acceptable.
- The institution must pledge a minimum contribution of ₹ 1,00,000 to the club, with additional contributions favorably considered.
- A full-time faculty member with a minimum of 10 years of experience in teaching or industry must serve as the coordinator.
- A co-coordinator, also a faculty member with at least five years of experience, must be designated by the institution.
- Experience and a penchant for organizing events or co-curricular activities are preferred for both coordinator and co-coordinator roles.
Terms and Conditions
- All current students enrolled at the institution should be members of the club.
- Grant funds can be used exclusively for the activities specified and may cover registration and travel costs for outstation events (up to 40% of the total grant).
- Once disbursed, funds cannot be redirected to other programs.
- Former students, faculty, and institutional officials are prohibited from club membership.
- Clubs are encouraged to collaborate with alumni and industries for fundraising opportunities.
- The academic background of the coordinator should align with the club’s theme.
- Institutions are eligible to receive the grant under the SPICES scheme only once.
Exclusions
Members of the club cannot include ex-students, ex-faculty members, or any other officials affiliated with the institution.
Application Procedure
Applications for the SPICES scheme are accepted annually at the beginning of the academic session (July/August). Institutions must submit their applications through their designated login at aicte-india.org.
AICTE Portal Login Steps
- Visit the AICTE website.
- Select the “Web Portal Login” button.
- Log in using the credentials issued by AICTE.
- The home page of the institution will appear upon successful login.
AQIS Application Steps
- After logging in, access the AQIS application screen by clicking on the “AICTE Quality Improvement Schemes (Financial Funding Schemes)” icon.
- The AQIS application page will open.
- Click on “AQIS Application – Institute Details.”
- Institute and Bank Details will automatically populate; verify and update if necessary.
- Ensure the bank account is a savings account, and the account holder’s name is not a personal name.
- Confirm the bank details and save them.
- Download the Mandate Form and Declaration Certificate.
- Attach the Mandate Form in scanned PDF format (max size 10 MB) on the AQIS Document Attachment section.
Initiating Application for SPICES
- After uploading the mandate form, access “All AQIS Application Information.”
- Click on the new record button.
- Select “SPICES – Scheme for Promoting Interests, Creativity and Ethics among Students” from the AQIS Schemes dropdown.
- Save the selection and proceed with filling out the Coordinator/PI/Applicant Details.
For a comprehensive application process and further details, institutions are encouraged to refer to the official AICTE portal.
Eligibility Criteria
(a) AICTE-approved institutes with a minimum of 5 years of existence.
(b) Only one proposal per institute for a club (with a minimum of student members 50) will be
admissible. Institute may choose its best performing club for applying under the scheme for the grant.
(c) The institute must commit a contribution of a minimum ₹ 1,00,000 to the club. Contributions over
and above ₹ 1,00,000 from institution to club will get weightage for consideration.
(d) Coordinator must be full-time regular faculty with at least 10-year experience in teaching/
industry.
(e) Institute should also identify a Co-coordinator who must be a faculty with at least 5 years of
experience in teaching/industry.
(f) Experience and inclination of organizing events/ co-curriculum activities are desirable for the coordinator and co-coordinator.
Terms and Conditions
(a) Students on a roll to the institute shall be members of the club.
(b) The grant can be utilized for activities mentioned at Point No. 8 and meeting the cost of registration and travel (up to 40% of the total grant) of students participating in outstation activities.
(c) Funds once released/sanctioned for supporting the particular students club cannot be utilized for any other program.
(d) Ex-students and ex-faculty members and other officials of the institute shall not be members of the club.
(e) The Clubs must be encouraged to reach out to alumni and industries for fund-raising in their
events.
(f) The academic background of the coordinator must be in conformity with the theme of the club.
(g) Institute will be eligible to receive the grant under the SPICES scheme only once.
Benefits
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.
Application Process
Apply OnlineApply Now →(a) Applications are invited every year at the beginning of the academic session (July/ August).
(b) Institute must apply through its login ID at aicte-india.org
AICTE Portal Login
Step 1: Visit the AICTE website https://www.aicte-india.org
Step 2: Click on the “Web Portal Login” button.
Step 3: Login to the AICTE portal with the credentials provided by the AICTE.
Step 4: After successful logging, the home page of the institute appears.
AQIS Application
Step 1: After login, navigate to the AQIS application screen please click on the “AICTE quality Improvement Schemes (Financial Funding Schemes)” icon.
Step 2: The AQIS application page of the institute is open.
Step 3: Click on the “AQIS Application- Institute details”
Step 4: Institute and Bank Details will auto-populate in “AQIS Application – Institute Details” Please check and update according to changes.
Note:
1) Bank Account should be Saving Account.
2) Account holder's name should not be a personal name.
Step 5: Check the declaration flag, then click on the “Save Bank Details” button.
Step 6: To confirm the bank details entered, kindly click on the “Confirm Bank Details” button.
Step 7: If the bank details are incorrect, click on the Cancel button to edit the bank details again otherwise click on OK to confirm the details.
Note: Once the ‘OK’ button is clicked. The Institute details and Bank details will become read-only mode.
Step 8: Click on the “All AQIS Application Information”
Step 9: Click on the “Download Mandate Form” and “Download Declaration Certificate”.
Step 10: Click on the “AQIS Document Attachment”
Step 11: Click on the new record ( ) button.
Step 12: After attaching the Mandate form, click on the save ( ) button.
Note: Please attach the Verified Bank Mandate Form in scanned PDF format (Maximum Size10 MB).
Application for ‘SPICES’
Initiating New application
Step 1: After uploading the attachment of the mandate form, Click on “All AQIS Application Information”
Step 2: Click on the new record ( )button.
Step 3: Select the “SPICES- Scheme for Promoting Interests, Creativity and Ethics among Students” in AQIS Schemes dropdown.
Step 4: After selecting the scheme, click on the ( ) Save button.
Step 5: Click on AQIS Application ID
Step 6: AQIS Detail Application for SPICES.
Section A: Coordinator/PI/Applicant Details
Step 1: Click on the Coordinator/PI/Applicant Details
Step 2: Click on the selection menu icon( ) in the Faculty ID field to add details of the scheme coordinator. Select the faculty ID from the Faculty ID list and click on the OK button.
Step 3: Fill in all the fields of the Details of the Coordinator section.
Step 4: Click on the selection menu icon( ) in the Co-coordinator Faculty ID field to add details of the scheme Co-coordinator. Select the faculty ID from the Faculty ID list and click on the OK button.
Step 5: Fill in all the fields of Details of the Co-coordinator section.
Step 6: Fill in all the fields of the “Details of the Club” section.
Step 7: Confirm the declaration
Section B: Academic Credentials of Coordinator /PI/Applicant
Step 1: Click on the Academic Credentials of Coordinator/ PI/Applicant
Step 2: Click on the new record ( ) button to add the Record and select the parameter Criteria.
Step 3: Select “YES/NO” according to the parameter, fill in the Count/Number, and fill in the Area of Specialisation. Click on the save ( ) button.
Note: Further repeat the above Steps 2 and 3 for the following Parameters/Criteria
• Whether the Coordinator has Ph.D.
• Whether Coordinator has PG
• Teaching/Industry Experience in years
• Relevant experience in conducting/coordinating students activities/programs in the last three years
• Any achievement received at the state level
• Any achievement received at the national level
• Any achievement received at the international level
Step 4: After filling in all the required details in the fields, click on the Save ( ) button.
Section C: Credentials of Institution / Department
Step 1: Click on the Credentials of Institution / Department
Step 2: Click on the new record ( ) button to add the Record and select the parameter Criteria.
Step 3: Select “YES/NO” according to the parameter, fill in the Count/Number, and fill in the Details. Click on the save ( ) button.
Note: Further repeat the above Steps 2 and 3 for the following Parameters/Criteria
• No. of Awards and recognitions received in Department /institute in the last 3 years
• No. of functional students clubs/students societies/students chapters
• Number of courses Accredited in the institute
• Skill/Social Development initiatives taken by institute/department in last 3 years
• Student, Faculty Ratio
Step 4: After filling in all the required details in the fields, click on the Save ( ) button.
Section D: Justification of proposal
Step 1: Click on the Justification of proposal
Step 2: Click on the new record ( ) button to add the Record and select the parameter Criteria.
Step 3: Select the parameter/criteria and fill in the Details. Click on the save ( ) button.
Note: Further repeat the above Steps 2 and 3 for the following Parameters/Criteria
• Action Plan of the Club for one year
• Collaboration/ Interfacing of Club with industry/ Association/ Professional Body
• Details of regional/state-level events organized by the Club in the last 3 years
• Expected outcomes and benefits to students/institute
• Details of international-level events organized by the Club in the last 3 years
• Details of national-level events organized by the Club in the last 3 years
• Fund Raising Strategies
• No. of Awards/ Prize won by Club at the International level and their details
• No. of Awards/Prize won by Club at the National level and their details
• Vision of the Club
Step 4: After filling in all the required details in the fields, click on the Save ( ) button.
Section E: Credentials of the Club
Step 1: Click on the Credentials of the Club
Step 2: Click on the new record ( ) button to add the Record and select the parameter Criteria.
Step 3: Select “YES/NO” according to the parameter, fill in the Count/Number, and fill the Details. Click on the save ( ) button.
Note: Further repeat the above Steps 2 and 3 for the following Parameters/Criteria
• Commitment of contribution by the institute to the club
• No. of Awards/ Prize won by Club at the state level
• Whether club have a bank account?
• Whether the club is having its Bye-laws
• No. of Students associated with the Club
• No. of years of establishment of the club
Step 4: After filling in all the required details in the fields, click on the Save ( ) button.
Validate and Submit the Application
Step 1: Click on the Coordinator/PI/Applicant Details
Step 2: Click on the Validate application button.
Step 3: After clicking on the Validation button the message will be populated and stated as “Validation for Scheme: SPICES Scheme for Promoting Interests, Creativity and Ethics among Students ' is completed Successfully” Click on the OK button.
Step 4: Click on the Submit button.
References & Official Links
Scheme Details
| Full Name | AICTE – Scheme For Promoting Interests, Creativity And Ethics Among Students |
| Short Title | AICTE - SPICES |
| Level | Central |
| Scheme For | Infra |
| Ministry | Ministry of Education |
| Categories | Education & Learning |
| States | All India |
| Gender | All |
| Age Range | 10 — 40 years |
| Area | Both |
| Source | www.myscheme.gov.in ↗ |