Adoption and Implementation of the ICMR Conflict of Interest (CoI) Policy
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has adopted a new Conflict of Interest (CoI) Policy. This policy establishes a framework for declaring, disclosing, and managing actual, potential, and perceived conflicts of interest in ICMR's research grants and stakeholder engagements.
Important Details
Department: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
Order Number: OM No.16/27/2026-Admn II.
Date: September 2026.
Subject: Adoption and Implementation of the ICMR Conflict of Interest (CoI) Policy - reg.
Applicable To: All ICMR employees (including Programme Officers), applicants for funding, reviewers, committee members, consultants, and other stakeholders.
Main Provisions and What Has Changed
- The policy defines Conflict of Interest (CoI) as conditions where professional judgment is unduly influenced by a secondary financial or non-financial interest.
- Financial CoI includes receiving funding, owning stocks, paid consulting, or sponsored travel from related organizations.
- Non-financial CoI includes personal relationships (like nepotism), professional rivalries, and intellectual biases.
- Experts and programme officers must disclose any interests that could give the appearance of not acting in ICMR's best interests.
- Primary responsibility for identifying and disclosing a conflict rests with the individual concerned.
Important Points Employees Should Know
- Programme Officers dealing with grants must declare in advance if they are handling applications from near relatives, present or former collaborators, or if they stand to benefit financially.
- If a Programme Officer declares a conflict, ICMR will allocate the grant applications to an alternate officer.
- All reviewers and committee members must submit a CoI statement declaring the presence or absence of any conflict when evaluating proposals.
- Reviewers and committee members must safeguard the confidentiality of all discussions and decisions.
- In the event of a suspected breach of the code of conduct by ICMR officers, an inquiry committee will be constituted. Appropriate punitive or disciplinary measures will be taken in accordance with the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964.
- Breaches by applicants or reviewers can result in a warning, a ban, or a three-year debarment from receiving grants or participating in ICMR committees.
- The Director General (DG), ICMR, acts as the final appellate authority in issues pertaining to CoI and decision-making processes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What happens if I have a conflict of interest?
You must promptly disclose the conflict to the appropriate person or authority. Disclosure allows ICMR to implement mitigation measures, such as deputing an alternate officer to handle the specific case.
Who exactly must follow this policy?
The policy applies to all individuals applying for or receiving funding, external reviewers, committee members, consultants, and all ICMR employees, including Programme Officers.
Is confidentiality required under this policy?
Yes, reviewers, committee members, and Programme Officers must safeguard the confidentiality of all discussions and refrain from sharing information with applicants or third parties.
Educational Purpose Only: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only.
Accuracy & Mistakes: While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, human errors or omissions may occur.
No Liability: Under no circumstances shall the author or this website be held liable for any loss arising from the use of this information.
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