How the Society is run

CNSI is governed by its Memorandum and Bye-laws under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960. Members elect an Executive Committee, meet each year as a General Body, and work together in Core Interest Groups.

Executive Committee and office bearers

The Society has a President, a General Secretary, a Treasurer, a Journal Editor, a Website Editor and an Editorial Board. The Primary Members elect them, together with the Executive Committee, once in two years.

Powers: Day-to-day administration, new policies approved by a majority of the committee, the income and expenditure budget for the coming year, staff, sub-committees and task forces, and disciplinary action where needed.
Meetings: At least twice a year, chaired by the President or the General Secretary. No business is transacted without at least two officers and two ordinary members present.
Decisions: By a majority of the members present. When votes are equal, the President of the meeting has the casting vote.
Responsibilities: The duties of the President, General Secretary and Treasurer are set out on the Committee page.

General Body and the Annual General Meeting

Annual General Meeting: Held once each calendar year at a place and time fixed by the Executive Committee, with 14 days’ notice to members from the Secretary. The President, or in their absence a member of the Executive Committee, takes the chair, and at least 20 members must be present for business.
Business: Approving the previous year’s accounts, receiving the officers’ reports, presenting the budget for the coming year and, in election years, the list of elected office bearers.
Quorum: One third of the members for a General Body meeting. If there is no quorum within half an hour, the meeting is postponed; the postponed meeting needs no quorum but may not take up new subjects.
Extraordinary and special meetings: The Secretary holds an Extraordinary General Meeting when at least 20 members give notice with proposed resolutions. Special meetings are held with 21 days’ notice to all members.
Members’ proposals: Proposals and amendments, including proposals to form sub-committees, must be notified at least 10 days before the General Body meeting.

Elections and voting

Who may vote: Members whose subscriptions and dues are cleared and whose names are on the voters’ list. Each member has one vote.
How elections are held: The General Secretary conducts elections by secret ballot and presents the results at the General Body meeting.
Voting by representative: A member may vote in person, or through a representative authorised in the member’s own handwriting for that meeting only.
Terms of office: Two years for the President, General Secretary, Treasurer and Executive Committee; three years for the editors and the Editorial Board.

Core Interest Groups

Members work in Core Interest Groups on particular areas of neurocognition, for the enrichment of clinical and research work and the sharing of knowledge.

Each group has a Chairperson appointed by the Executive Committee, and a member may join more than one group. Groups may organise programmes with funds they raise themselves.

Clinical neuropsychology
Geriatric neuropsychology
Neuropsychological rehabilitation
Training for learning-disabled children and autism
Brain resource development for excellence in cognitive performance
Sleep and awareness
Meditation and its effects on brain and mind
Hypnosis as a neurocognitive intervention
Methods: functional neuroimaging and cognitive electrophysiology

Membership administration

Approval: The General Secretary looks after membership until a Membership Committee is formed, approves eligible nominated applications and reports them to the Executive Committee, which ratifies them by majority vote. How to apply.
Joining: New members receive a copy of the Bye-laws and undertake in writing to follow the Society’s rules.
Lapse and cancellation: Membership lapses if the fee is unpaid three months after it is due. It may also be cancelled if a member’s activities are judged not to be in the Society’s interests, after notice and an opportunity to explain.
Re-entry: Former members may re-apply on terms set by the Executive Committee, which decides whether to accept the application.

Finance and accounts

Income: Membership subscriptions, conference registration fees, donations, advertisements in journals and proceedings, and grants from bodies such as ICMR, CSIR, DBT and DST, or from private organisations that promote science.
Use of funds: With the approval of the General Body: running costs, printing and publication, and seminars, training programmes, workshops, scholarships, projects and conferences.
Payments: By cash, crossed cheque, demand draft or online transfer in favour of the Society. Every payment is receipted by the Treasurer.
Bank account: Held in the Society’s name and operated with the joint signatures of the Treasurer and the General Secretary.
Accounts and audit: The financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March. A Chartered Accountant appointed by the Executive Committee audits the accounts, which go to the General Body for approval.
Not for profit: Profits are used only to improve the functioning of the Society and are never distributed among its members.

Website, communication and journal

Communication: The Society communicates with members by email and through its website, which announces educational and clinical activities and members’ research.
Journal: The Bye-laws provide for the Indian Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, in online and print editions, with a Chief Editor, two to four national and two to four international editorial advisors, and an Editorial Board of eight to twelve members selected by the members. About the journal.
Editors: A Journal Editor and a Website Editor are among the elected office bearers, serving three-year terms.

Amendments, filings and dissolution

Amending the Bye-laws: By a two-thirds majority at a General Body meeting, taking effect only with the consent of the Registrar of Societies, under Sections 9 and 10 of the Act.
Annual filing: Within 14 days of General Body approval, the list of Executive Committee members and the annual accounts are filed with the Registrar of Societies under Section 13 of the Act.
Amalgamation: With another registered society, under Section 21 of the Act.
Dissolution: Under Sections 22 and 23 of the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960.