NEW DELHI: The Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, has officially opened applications for the Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme 2026. Positioned as a flagship national initiative, the scheme is strategically structured to reverse brain drain by pulling accomplished Indian-origin researchers, scientists, technologists, and industry professionals from elite global universities and corporate laboratories into India’s premier public research ecosystem.
Core Pillars and Governance
The PMRC Scheme operates on a highly coordinated framework built upon three foundational elements: Lead Institutions, Host Institutions, and PMRC Fellows.
To ensure the research remains mission-aligned, nationally relevant, and highly impactful, the selection of both fellows and participating institutions will be governed by a rigorous evaluation process. This process is overseen by a dedicated Empowered Committee chaired by the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India.
Thematic Focus and Research Areas
The initiative seeks to embed global expertise directly into India’s expanding research, development, and innovation landscape. The program targets 13 specific thematic areas identified as national strategic priorities:
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Advanced Computing: Focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Computing, and Supercomputing.
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Semiconductors & Communications: Covering chip technologies and Next-Generation Communications.
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Security & Defense: Spanning Cybersecurity, Space, and Defense sectors.
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Life Sciences: Encompassing Healthcare, MedTech, and Biotechnology.
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Sustainability & Resources: Addressing Energy, Sustainability, Climate Change, Advanced Materials, and Critical Minerals.
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Primary Industries & Production: Boosting Manufacturing & Industry 4.0, Agri & Food Technologies, and the Blue Economy.
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Nuclear Physics: Focusing on Atomic Energy.
Fellowship Categories and Eligibility Criteria
The scheme caters to varying levels of academic and professional seniority, offering three distinct categories of engagement:
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Young Research Fellows: Geared toward early-career researchers.
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Senior Research Fellows: Structured for experienced researchers.
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Research Chairs: Reserved for globally accomplished research leaders with outstanding achievements.
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Candidate Eligibility: The portal is open to Indian Nationals working abroad, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders, and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) who have demonstrated research excellence at leading international institutions or industries.
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Fellowship Benefits: Selected PMRC Fellows will receive comprehensive fellowship stipends, dedicated research grant support, full access to premier state-of-the-art laboratories, and opportunities to collaborate directly with India’s top-tier government institutions.
Institutional Framework and Application Window
To maintain a high standard of academic execution, the government has placed strict benchmarks on participating domestic facilities.
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Host Institution Criteria: Eligible host locations are restricted to government Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) ranked within the Top 100 in the NIRF Overall or Engineering categories, or the Top 50 in the NIRF Research category. Top-tier national laboratories operating under agencies like the DST, DBT, ICMR, and CSIR are also eligible to host fellows.
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Identified Lead Institutions: Seven premier institutions have been selected to anchor the implementation of the thematic areas:
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Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (IISc Bengaluru)
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IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIT Hyderabad, and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.
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The application window for both international fellows and domestic host institutions officially went live on June 1, 2026 via the dedicated government portal ([https://pmrc.education.gov.in/](https://pmrc.education.gov.in/)).
