The Ministry of Education has announced the launch of the Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme 2026 for the recruitment of renowned Indian-origin researchers from abroad. The scheme is open to boost the research ecosystem in India with fellowships, research propositions, relocation packages, and institutional support with a maximum funding support of ₹13 crore. This mega project is a reflection of the Government of India’s resolve to create a world-class research environment in India.

Objective of the scheme and professional experience

PMRC Scheme 2026 has been launched to promote the repatriation of Indian-origin scientists, technologists and professionals working abroad to join the Indian scientific arena. The purpose of the scheme is to introduce world-class expertise in the priority areas, strengthen the cooperation between the international scientific community, and improve the capacity of the Indian scientific community for innovation. 

The idea of the program is to change the brain drain scenario and bring the knowledge and skills of the Indian diaspora to the benefit of the country of their birth. The scheme offers support across three categories, according to professional experience. 

The category ‘Young Research Fellows’ will include those individuals who have less than five years of post-doctoral experience. The category ‘Senior Fellows’ will include those individuals who have 5-10 years of post-PhD experience. The Research Chairs category includes the most experienced and eminent professionals who have at least 10 years of post-doctoral experience and are leading practitioners in their domain, and who haven’t held the chairs before.

Funding structure and eligibility

The PMRC Scheme provides one of the most liberal funding schemes in the Indian research landscape. An annual fellowship of ₹15–₹20 lakh and a one-time research grant of ₹1–₹1.5 crore will be awarded to the Young Research Fellows. Senior Fellows will receive an annual fellowship of ₹20–₹40 lakh, in addition to a research grant of ₹1.5–₹2.5 crore per annum. Research Chairs will be awarded an annual fellowship of ₹40–₹60 lakh and research grants valued at ₹3–₹5 crore. 

Further, all categories will get residential and medical allowances, relocation cost of ₹30-₹50 lakh, and institutional overhead of ₹20 lakh to ₹1 crore per year, depending upon the category. The entire support could exceed ₹13 crore, making this scheme one of the largest research funding schemes in India. Applicants have to be Indian origin researchers who are presently engaged in research work at foreign universities, research institutes, laboratories, industries, and companies.

Host organizations eligible for this award include the top 100 institutions in the Overall category of NIRF, the top 100 institutions in the Engineering category of NIRF, the top 50 institutions in the Research category of NIRF and national laboratories under CSIR/DST/DBT/ICMR & other government research organizations. This allows selected fellows to attend high-end laboratories and get access to the latest and sophisticated infrastructure in the leading institutions in India.

The last date to apply for interested candidates is 15 July 2026 through the official PMRC application portal. It includes the fellow registration, an online application form, uploading documents, and presenting proposals. The host institutions will also have to undergo a separate registration process before proposals are assessed. The duration of each appointment will be decided by an Empowered Committee, depending on the research proposal & host institution recommendations.

Conclusion

The PMRC Scheme 2026 is a groundbreaking initiative by the Ministry of Education to recruit world-class Indian-origin talent to India. The scheme is anticipated to provide a strong boost to research and innovation in India with its generous funding, structured fellowships, and access to leading institutions. The PMRC Scheme could have a transformative impact on the future of science in India, connecting foreign knowledge with domestic priorities and making it a hub for cutting-edge research.