Funded research projects and accountability – UGC NET Question

Statement C is the only wrong statement because funding does not replace the need for ethical clearance; many agencies explicitly require ethical approval from an appropriate committee. Statements A, B, D and E accurately describe typical practices in funded projects, including detailed proposals, budget planning, progress reporting and financial accountability. Thus, C alone contradicts standard expectations about ethics in sponsored research.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it singles out C as the sole incorrect statement and leaves A, B, D and E as accurate descriptions. It recognises that ethical review is an independent requirement, even when financial support has been granted, and that other listed practices are standard.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it includes B with C, although B correctly describes the usual components of a research budget. By mislabelling B as wrong, this option fails to distinguish between valid administrative practice and an ethical misconception.

Option C:
Option C wrongly groups D with C, even though D correctly notes that progress reports are often demanded by sponsors. This option therefore misclassifies an accurate obligation as erroneous.

Option D:
Option D is also incorrect because it treats A as wrong, despite A being a correct statement about the central role of detailed proposals in funding decisions. Grouping A with C blurs the distinction between sound procedure and ethical error.

Option E misclassifies E, which rightly emphasises accountability in fund utilisation, as wrong along with C. Since E is correct, this combination cannot represent the true set of wrong statements.