The Department of Higher Education beneath the Ministry of Education has launched the Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme 2026, a significant nationwide initiative aimed toward attracting completed Indian-origin researchers, scientists, technologists and trade professionals from all over the world to contribute to India’s rising analysis, innovation and expertise ecosystem.
The scheme is designed to convey main international Indian expertise again into India’s tutorial and analysis panorama by creating alternatives for collaboration with premier increased schooling establishments, nationwide laboratories and analysis centres throughout the nation.
Through this initiative, the Government of India seeks to strengthen the nation’s capabilities in vital expertise and analysis domains whereas accelerating progress in the direction of the imaginative and prescient of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat.
Applications for each fellows and host establishments opened on 1 June 2026 by means of the devoted PMRC on-line portal.
Strengthening India’s Research Ecosystem
The Prime Minister Research Chair Scheme is without doubt one of the nation’s most formidable efforts to leverage the experience of Indian-origin researchers and professionals working in main international establishments. The programme goals to attach India’s quickly increasing analysis and growth ecosystem with distinguished specialists at the moment contributing to globally reputed universities, laboratories, analysis establishments and industries.
Government officers imagine the initiative will assist bridge information gaps, foster worldwide collaborations and speed up innovation in strategically essential sectors. The scheme additionally displays India’s rising concentrate on constructing world-class analysis capabilities that may assist financial progress, technological self-reliance and international competitiveness.
Focus on 13 Strategic Areas of National Importance
The PMRC Scheme has been designed round 13 thematic areas recognized as vital to India’s future growth and technological development.
These precedence sectors embody:
Advanced Computing
Research in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Computing and Supercomputing applied sciences.
Semiconductors
Development of semiconductor applied sciences and strengthening India’s chip manufacturing ecosystem.
Energy, Sustainability and Climate Change
Innovations aimed toward supporting clear vitality, environmental sustainability and local weather resilience.
Cybersecurity
Advanced analysis in digital safety, cyber defence and safe digital infrastructure.
Healthcare and Medical Technology
Development of next-generation healthcare options, diagnostics, medical gadgets and digital well being techniques.
Biotechnology
Research targeted on organic sciences, bioengineering and life sciences innovation.
Advanced Materials and Critical Minerals
Exploration of superior supplies, uncommon earth components and important mineral applied sciences.
Space and Defence
Research supporting nationwide safety, aerospace applied sciences and area exploration.
Next-Generation Communications
Advancement of future communication applied sciences and digital connectivity techniques.
Manufacturing and Industry 4.0
Development of sensible manufacturing applied sciences, automation and industrial innovation.
Agriculture and Food Technologies
Research aimed toward enhancing agricultural productiveness, meals safety and sustainable farming practices.
Blue Economy
Innovations associated to marine assets, coastal growth and ocean-based industries.
Atomic Energy
Research supporting nuclear science, vitality safety and strategic applied sciences.
Government officers say these sectors have been chosen due to their strategic significance to India’s long-term growth targets and their potential to drive innovation-led financial progress.
Built Around Three Core Pillars
The PMRC Scheme has been structured round three key pillars designed to make sure efficient implementation and measurable outcomes.
These pillars are:
Lead Institutions
Premier establishments that can present thematic management and coordination throughout precedence sectors.
Host Institutions
Universities, analysis centres and laboratories the place chosen fellows will undertake analysis and innovation actions.
PMRC Fellows
Accomplished researchers, scientists and professionals who will contribute their experience to India’s analysis ecosystem.
Together, these parts are supposed to create a mission-driven framework targeted on producing nationally related and high-impact analysis outcomes.
Rigorous Selection Process Planned
The Government has emphasised that participation within the PMRC Scheme will probably be based mostly on a extremely aggressive and clear choice course of.
An Empowered Committee chaired by the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India will oversee the analysis and number of establishments and fellows.
The committee will assess functions based mostly on tutorial excellence, analysis achievements, innovation potential and alignment with nationwide priorities.
This rigorous strategy is meant to make sure that the programme attracts world-class expertise able to making significant contributions to India’s scientific and technological development.
Benefits for PMRC Fellows
Selected fellows beneath the scheme will obtain intensive assist to facilitate high-quality analysis and innovation actions.
Among the advantages accessible are:
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Fellowship assist.
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Research grants.
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Access to superior laboratories and analysis infrastructure.
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Opportunities to collaborate with main authorities establishments.
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Participation in nationally important analysis programmes.
The scheme goals to create an enabling surroundings that permits researchers to concentrate on cutting-edge work whereas contributing to India’s strategic growth targets.
Officials imagine the programme will present a singular alternative for Indian-origin specialists overseas to interact instantly with India’s quickly evolving analysis panorama.
Advantages for Host Institutions
The PMRC Scheme can also be anticipated to generate substantial advantages for collaborating host establishments.
By internet hosting globally completed researchers and professionals, establishments will achieve entry to worldwide experience, superior analysis methodologies and international networks.
Key advantages embody:
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Strengthened worldwide tutorial collaborations.
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Enhanced analysis and innovation capability.
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Increased alternatives for expertise growth.
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Greater engagement with international scientific communities.
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Expanded analysis actions in precedence sectors.
Government expects these partnerships to enhance institutional capabilities whereas contributing to India’s broader analysis and growth targets.
Three Categories of Fellowship Opportunities
To accommodate researchers at totally different levels of their careers, the scheme gives three distinct classes of engagement.
Young Research Fellows
This class is meant for promising early-career researchers searching for alternatives to contribute to high-impact analysis initiatives.
Senior Research Fellows
Designed for skilled researchers who’ve established monitor information of accomplishment of their respective fields.
Research Chairs
Reserved for globally recognised analysis leaders with distinctive accomplishments in science, expertise, innovation or trade.
The multi-tiered construction is meant to create alternatives for a broad spectrum of expertise whereas fostering mentorship and collaboration throughout generations of researchers.
Who Can Apply?
The PMRC Scheme is particularly focused at completed people of Indian origin with demonstrated experience and worldwide expertise.
Eligible candidates embody:
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Indian nationals at the moment working overseas.
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Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders.
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Persons of Indian Origin (PIO).
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Indian-origin researchers and professionals employed at main international establishments and industries.
The authorities is searching for candidates with excellent achievements in analysis, innovation, expertise growth and scientific management.
The initiative kinds a part of a broader effort to interact India’s international diaspora and encourage better participation in nationwide growth by means of science and expertise.
Eligibility Criteria for Host Institutions
The scheme is open to chose authorities increased instructional establishments and nationwide analysis organisations that meet particular eligibility necessities.
Eligible host establishments embody:
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Government Higher Educational Institutions ranked among the many Top 100 within the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Overall class.
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Institutions ranked among the many Top 100 within the NIRF Engineering class.
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Institutions ranked among the many Top 50 within the NIRF Research class.
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Leading nationwide laboratories and analysis organisations.
These embody establishments working beneath businesses similar to:
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Department of Science and Technology (DST).
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Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
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Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
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Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Other premier authorities analysis organisations may take part.
Seven Premier Institutions Named as Lead Institutions
To coordinate implementation throughout the assorted thematic areas, the Government has recognized seven main establishments as Lead Institutions beneath the PMRC Scheme.
These are:
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi)
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay)
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras)
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur)
Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad)
Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad [IIT (ISM) Dhanbad]
Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru (IISc Bengaluru)
These establishments will play a central function in guiding thematic analysis actions, coordinating collaborations and supporting implementation throughout the programme.
Supporting the Vision of Viksit Bharat
The launch of the Prime Minister Research Chair Scheme comes as India intensifies efforts to strengthen its place as a worldwide hub for science, expertise and innovation.
By attracting world-class expertise from throughout the globe, the initiative seeks to speed up the event of superior applied sciences, improve analysis excellence and contribute to nationwide priorities.
Government officers imagine the scheme will play a significant function in constructing a stronger innovation ecosystem able to addressing complicated societal challenges whereas supporting financial progress and technological self-reliance.
As India advances in the direction of its aim of turning into a developed nation by 2047, programmes such because the PMRC Scheme are anticipated to assist domesticate the information, experience and innovation essential to drive the nation’s subsequent part of growth.
Applications at the moment are open by means of the official PMRC portal, the place detailed pointers, eligibility standards and utility procedures can be found for candidates and establishments.