Code of Conduct

For the sake of this Code of Conduct, CC stands for Core Committee members and GM for general INYAS members. The CC also includes the Chair. The codes defined here for the CC are over and above those defined for GM — that is, the CC members have additional codes to follow. In general, the codes defined for INSA fellows are also applicable to INYAS members; what follows are codes defined over and above the INSA codes and specific to INYAS members. Wherever a reference is made to anyone other than a GM, the CC or INSA, the phrases "outer body" or "outsider" are used.

General codes for GM (without punitive action)

A General Member should:

1. Conduct all assignments of INYAS with professionalism and respect.
2. Accept professional responsibility for work/tasks given by the INYAS Chair / Core Committee.
3. Encourage and foster networking among fellow members for research and the promotion of science.
4. Not demonstrate any action or express any view that disrespects an individual's freedom and character, or that discriminates against individuals based on gender, race, status, caste, ideology, religion or beliefs.
5. Contribute towards highlighting the issues in present-day science and future recourses through active participation in meetings such as FoS, and by formulating white papers, survey-based articles, etc.
6. Actively promote the image of INYAS and its activities through interaction with other scientific professionals during conferences or other meetings.
7. Inform the Chair, preferably by e-mail, if any GM contacts or plans to contact the media on any INYAS-related issue.
8. Engage in any financial transaction to or from an outsider only with prior information to the Chair, if and only if the engagement concerns INYAS.
9. Articulate any issues pertaining to INYAS or its activities to the CC and the Chair. It is incumbent on the CC/Chair to address the issue without compromising the dignity of INYAS, the CC members, the Chair, or the member who raised the complaint.
10. Having raised an issue (as in point 9) to the CC/Chair, abstain from canvassing about the concern with other INYAS members or the public at large before hearing back from the CC/Chair. (This does not imply that the member may canvass after the CC/Chair has given their inputs.)

Codes for GM with punitive action

11. All INYAS members should take active part in INYAS events such as the AGM, Mid-Year meeting, science camps and remote area lectures. If any member does not attend two consecutive INYAS meetings (AGM / Mid-Year meeting) — other than their very first AGM, at which they were inducted — their membership will be proposed for termination. Prior to termination, the member will be asked to adequately justify their absence; the final decision rests with the Chair.
12. The Convener of a committee (a task-force committee that the CC may form) has the discretion to propose to the CC the removal of member(s) found unresponsive, unproductive and/or counter-productive in the role for which they were appointed. In such cases the member must be given a fair chance to justify their actions, or lack thereof, to the CC. The words of the Chair are final in this regard.

Codes for the Core Committee & Chair

13. CC members should meet (in person where possible, or via virtual platforms). Minutes are first circulated to the CC for inputs; once vetted by all CC members, they are circulated to the GM.
14. When an issue is under consideration among the CC (through a meeting or e-mail), CC members must abstain from discussing it with the GM. A violation attracts admonishment from the Chair; two such violations are adequate grounds for the CC member to be removed from the CC. Any such removal, decided by the Chair in consultation with the CC, must be communicated to the member to solicit justification before the final decision, and circulated among members while ensuring the member's dignity is not compromised nor the member ostracized.
15. Although the CC is part of INYAS, certain issues require confidentiality (those voted confidential by a majority of CC members — e.g. complaints by a GM about others) and must remain within the CC. No CC member may breach such confidentiality, failing which the consequences noted above apply.
16. If a GM or CC member has an issue with the Chair's behaviour, action or decision, the concern should be brought to the CC and addressed suitably. Removing the Chair automatically terminates their CC position as well. An interim Chair may be elected among the CC by voting; a resulting vacancy is filled by selecting any INYAS member as interim CC member if the gap to the AGM is under three months, or by online polling if more than three months. At the following AGM, conventional elections are held for both the Chair and the vacant CC position, and the interim CC member is eligible to contest.
17. For any disparity or difference of opinion among the CC, the Chair is the ultimate arbiter.
18. CC members must be impartial towards members in their sub-discipline while addressing concerns and forming sub-committees for assignments.
19. CC members must motivate members in their disciplines to participate in the GBM, FoS meetings and other INYAS activities, and should conduct one or more technical sessions related to their discipline in each FoS meeting.
20. CC members must discuss any relevant concern raised by a member in their discipline without suppressing it.

Additional responsibilities of the Chair

21. The Chair must be impartial to any CC member, or any other INYAS member, while negotiating conflicting opinions.
22. The Chair must regularly update the CC and/or INYAS members about any information received from INSA related to the functioning of, or responsibilities towards, INYAS.
23. The Chair must convene a CC meeting at least once every three months and the GBM once a year without fail; additional CC meetings may be convened as needed.
24. The Chair must compile and prepare the annual report of INYAS with inputs from CC members.
25. The Chair must assume a completely unbiased and impartial role while finalizing the names of new members, ensuring equal representation across all disciplines and a balance of gender, geographic location and type of institute (academic, R&D, and industry).

Professional misconduct & ethics

The following are construed as professional misconduct:

• Not living up to the initial commitment/undertaking regarding the use of INYAS' paraphernalia. (One-year suspension of membership.)
• Communicating to other bodies about an INYAS event in the capacity of an INYAS member without routing it through the Chair–INYAS. (One-year suspension of membership.)
• Slandering any INYAS member, CC member or the Chair. (Termination of membership.)
• Using INYAS for personal financial gain, or as an office of profit. (Termination of membership.)
• Canvassing in any form for a potential member, or exerting unsolicited influence on the selection committee for or against a potential member. (One-year suspension of membership.)

The following are construed as unethical behaviour (one-year suspension of membership):

• Spreading unsubstantiated news and/or mongering rumours, particularly about INYAS activities or concerning any individual member, within or outside INYAS.
• Deceiving INYAS and thereby jeopardizing its prospects or affecting it negatively.
• Not disclosing conflicts of interest where appropriate (for example, serving on the selection committee while knowing that a colleague's, friend's or acquaintance's application is in the list).

When such misconduct or unethical behaviour is reported, or if the CC takes suo moto cognizance, the CC may communicate the issue to the member and seek a written response. If the charges are proved and the member is found guilty, the CC may decide the punitive action appropriate to the charges.

Event & video-conferencing guidelines

When is a member's event an INYAS event?

• Declaring affiliation to INYAS in a presentation or activity is encouraged, as it improves INYAS' visibility — but it is not an INYAS activity unless validated by the CC.
• When the INYAS logo is used in promotion and/or throughout the presentation (not merely the intro slide) and is digitally archived in any form for reporting.
• In any case, the proposer must be clear about INYAS' involvement and expectations at the very beginning of the event — not during or after it.

Using the INYAS VC account and broadcasting:

• Anyone needing the INYAS VC account must approach the CC at least two working days before the event by filling in the form (Appendix 1).
• It is generally on a first-come-first-serve basis.
• For two simultaneous requests, preference goes to the one with larger reach and impact; for equal reach, the CC decides.
• If the proposed event coincides with any INSA-INYAS event, the request is declined without further consideration.
• Whoever uses the INYAS VC account must agree to broadcast on the INYAS channel wherever possible. For a joint organization, broadcasting plans and credit-sharing must be clarified at the outset; broadcasting on a personal account is not allowed.
• On the matter of broadcast, the CC's decision is final and binding.

Appendix 1 — VC software request form

1. Name:
2. INYAS membership number:
3. Whether an INYAS event (refer to the INYAS VC usage guideline) — Yes / No:
   • What is the role of INYAS in this event?
   • What other organizations are involved in this event?
4. Date and timing of the event:
5. Subject / topic of the event:
6. Expected number and type of audience:
7. Do you give an undertaking that this event will be broadcast through the INYAS channel?

"I have read and understood all the clauses and subclauses of the INYAS Code of Conduct. I hereby confirm that I will follow the laid-down guidelines, failing which punitive action may be taken against me."

Event guidelines and the Code of Conduct revision were drafted by an INYAS committee: Drs. Mithun Palit, Sriparna Chatterjee, Paramdeep Singh, Riffat John and V. Ramanathan (Convener).