PMRC-F

The scheme is a flagship national initiative that aims to attract & engage leading Indian-origin researchers, scientists & professionals from abroad & place them at premier government higher education institutions & national research laboratories in India to undertake cutting-edge research.

The Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme is a flagship national initiative by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India that aims to attract and engage leading Indian-origin researchers, scientists, and professionals from abroad and place them at premier government higher education institutions and national research laboratories in India to undertake cutting-edge research.

The scheme embeds globally experienced researchers and professionals within leading Indian higher education and research institutions to undertake high-impact research, teaching, and mentorship in strategic and emerging domains. Through long-term and structured engagements aligned with national priorities, the PMRC Scheme seeks to position India as a global hub for academic and research excellence.

Objectives:

• Establish industry and technology partnerships for research scale-up
• Enhance India’s position in global research
• Improve research quality and international collaboration
• Build research and development capacity in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
• Identify and integrate talent with India’s R&D ecosystem
• Provide mentorship for niche areas

The scheme is focused on supporting RDI activities by PMRC Fellows in the thematic areas, the details of which are provided below:

• Advanced Materials, Rare-earth & Critical Minerals
• Energy, Sustainability and Climate Change
• Agri & Food Technologies
• Semiconductors
• Advanced Computing (Supercomputing, Al, Quantum Computing)
• Healthcare & MedTech
• Space and Defence
• Next-Gen Communications, including Quantum Communication
• Blue Economy
• Cybersecurity
• Manufacturing & Industry 4.0
• Biotechnology
• Atomic Energy
• Any other project aligned with the National Missions

• Eligible Fellow for the Scheme are:

• Indian origin (Indian nationals, Overseas Citizens of India, or Persons of Indian Origin) researchers / scientists and professionals working at leading foreign HEIs, research laboratories, and research institutions, reputed companies and other industries.
• The Fellowship is in-person and they will be expected to work at Host Institutions. The Scheme will support Fellows for a pre-determined period of duration, with a maximum tenure of 5 years based on performance of the candidate.

• Fellows must be able to demonstrate a distinguished track record in research, as evidenced by publications, patents, awards, citations, or other internationally recognised indicators of excellence. They must also be willing to commit to the prescribed engagement period and associated responsibilities including research, teaching, and mentorship. It should be noted that candidates currently based in India are also eligible, provided they meet the Indian-origin criterion and other requirements as determined by the Empowered Committee.
• PMRC Fellows will be expected to:

• Conduct original, high-impact research in the identified priority sector(s) in collaboration with the Host
• Teach and co-design courses, contributing to curriculum enrichment
• Mentor doctoral, postdoctoral, and postgraduate students and junior researchers
• Facilitate international collaborations, publications, and co-funded R&D projects
• Engage with industry partners to promote applied research and real-world adoption of research outcomes
• Ensure that research ideas translate into commercial products. The patents granted from work done under PMRC is of great importance so as to link research with industry-aligned innovation. They will be supported with patenting process chain.
• Submit periodic progress reports and participate in evaluations as stipulated by the Empowered Committee

Categories of Engagement

Over the next five years (2026-27 to 2030-31), the Scheme envisions engaging at least 120 distinguished researchers/ scientists and professionals across the above-mentioned categories:

• Young Research Fellows: Early-career researchers/ professionals with up to 5 years of post-PhD experience outside of India
• Senior Fellows: Mid-career researchers/ professionals with 5 to less than 10 years of post-PhD experience outside of India
• Research Chairs: Eminent researchers / professionals with 10 years or more of post-PhD experience outside of India

Note: The eligibility criteria for selection of researchers/professionals, projects, and institutes will be finalised by the Empowered Committee.

The scheme leverages India's global scientific diaspora to strengthen domestic research capabilities, accelerate innovation in frontier domains, and support national development missions. By embedding global expertise into premier government institutions in India, the scheme enables sustained collaboration, institutional learning, and real-world impact.

Under the scheme, the following benefits will be offered to Fellows:

• Competitive fellowship fee with annual increments
• One-time research grant for project initiation
• Residential and medical allowance
• Relocation benefits linked to tenure
• Access to advanced research infrastructure and facilities
• Academic visibility, recognition, and leadership opportunities