The Ministry of Education has launched the Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme to attract Indian-origin researchers, scientists, and professionals with international research experience. The scheme aims to provide fellowships under three categories, namely Research Chair, Senior Fellow, and Young Research Fellow.
The Government of India has framed and approved the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to transform the education landscape into a multidisciplinary, inclusive, and learner-centric ecosystem. The Policy aims to enhance equity, quality, and access to education for all while promoting research and innovation as key components of higher education. In pursuance with the vision of NEP 2020, the Ministry of Education has launched the Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme on August 12, 2026. This scheme intends to attract and engage distinguished Indian-origin researchers, scientists, and professionals with international research experience to strengthen India's higher education and research ecosystem through research, mentorship, and institutional capacity-building across national priority thematic areas. The Scheme provides for fellowships under three categories: Research Chair, Senior Fellow, and Young Research Fellow. As on the current date, more than 3,600 applications for fellowship and over 400 applications from host institutions have been received.
Under the Scheme, seven institutions have been identified as Lead Institutions. The government has made provision of Rs 200 crore for the PMRC Scheme for the year 2026-27. The Scheme envisages India’s position as a global hub of research, innovation, and knowledge creation by providing benefits of structured engagement of Indian-origin researchers and scientists to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), national laboratories, and research centres. Details of scheme, eligibility criteria for fellows and host institutions are available at <https://pmrc.education.gov.in/>.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Education, Dr Sukanta Majumdar, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
