Memorial Research Awards
Prof. Manubhai M. Shah Memorial Award for Excellence in Commerce & Business Management (MMSMA)
Prof. Manubhai M. Shah
Instituted by the Indian Commerce Association (ICA) in honour of the late Prof. Manubhai M. Shah, the Prof. Manubhai M. Shah Memorial Award for Excellence in Commerce & Business Management (MMSMA) is the Association's most prestigious award. It is given each year to recognise outstanding research — fundamental or applied, of a creative nature — in the discipline and profession of Commerce & Business Management.
The award carries a cash prize of ₹2,00,000 along with a Certificate and a Trophy, funded from the interest income of a dedicated Corpus Fund endowed by the donor, Mr. Anil M. Shah. Operational with effect from 2012, it honours an Indian researcher whose work in India over the preceding ten years has made conspicuously important and outstanding contributions to knowledge in the field.
The Award
Cash Prize
₹2,00,000
Recognition
Certificate
Honour
Trophy
Eligibility Criteria
Any citizen of India engaged in research in any field of Commerce & Business Management, up to the age of 60 years (reckoned on 31st December of the year preceding the year of the award).
Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) working in India — or in collaboration with an Indian citizen if residing outside India — are also eligible.
The candidate must hold a Doctoral Degree from a recognized University established in India, or a degree from abroad considered equivalent by the Association of Indian Universities.
The award recognises conspicuously important and outstanding contributions to knowledge, based on work done in India during the ten (10) years preceding the year of the award.
Nomination Process
The award is conferred through nomination only — applications sponsoring one's own name (or another's) are not accepted.
Names may be proposed by Vice-Chancellors of Indian Universities, Directors of Private Universities, Chairpersons of Institutions of National Importance, and Directors of the IIMs.
University faculty nominations must be routed through their Vice-Chancellor; IIM faculty nominations through their Director.
Each nomination must use the prescribed pro-forma and include a detailed statement of the nominee's work along with a critical assessment report (not more than 500 words) of contributions over the preceding ten years.
A non-refundable processing fee of ₹1,000 must be paid by demand draft drawn in favour of “M M Shah Memorial Award – ICA A/c”.
A nominee, once nominated, is considered for a total period of three (3) years, subject to remaining age-eligible.
Selection Process
The award is decided by a six-member Advisory / Jury Committee constituted by ICA, comprising (on rotation) a representative of CII / FICCI / ASSOCHAM, a Director of an IIM, a Judge of the Supreme Court (serving or retired), an IAS officer of Secretary rank or above, a senior academician, and a head of UPSC / CAG / ICAI / ICWA / ICSI.
Each published work is assessed on the quality of the journal (ISSN, refereed, indexed, impact factor) and on five criteria — originality of idea, research-methodology rigour, discussion and interpretation, linguistic presentation, and socio-economic impact — each carrying 100 marks (500 marks in total).
The Jury's recommendation should preferably be unanimous, or supported by at least two-thirds of the members present and voting; the decision of the Jury is final and binding.
The award may be withheld in any year if no sufficiently meritorious candidate is found; where it is shared by a team, the cash prize is divided equally among the members.
The names of recipients are announced at least one month before the ICA Annual Conference, and the award is presented during the conference.
Important Rules
MMSMA is the most prestigious award of the Indian Commerce Association and has been operational with effect from the year 2012.
The award is funded from the interest income of a dedicated Corpus Fund, with an initial endowment of ₹25 lakh contributed by the donor, Mr. Anil M. Shah.
The amount of the cash prize may be increased in future at the sole discretion of the donor, Mr. Anil M. Shah, or his legal heirs.
The recipient is responsible for all individual expenses, including any applicable taxes.
No changes may be made to these Rules & Regulations without the written consent of the donor, Mr. Anil M. Shah, or his legal heirs.
In all matters relating to the award, the decision of the Indian Commerce Association shall be final.