Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme for Host Institutions 2026 - Operational and institutional overhead support
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Quick answer
The Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Education that hosts leading Indian-origin researchers abroad at premier government higher education institutions and national research laboratories in India. Host institutions receive operational and institutional overhead support, access to global expertise in frontier domains, strengthened research labs and clusters, and enhanced industry linkages for technology translation. Eligible institutions apply by submitting project proposals through the official PMRC portal at https://pmrc.education.gov.in/signup-hi.
At a glance
| Main benefit | Benefits for Host Institutions |
| Ministry / department | Ministry of Education |
| Level | Central Government |
| Application mode | Online |
About the scheme
The Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India. It 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. Anchored on three core pillars, namely Lead Institutions, Host Institutions, and PMRC Fellows, the Scheme will be operationalised through India’s leading government (Central and State) Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), National Laboratories, and Research Institutes. They shall be identified by an Empowered Committee chaired by the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India. One Lead Institution is designated for each thematic area. They will provide strategic direction, coherence, and quality assurance across the PMRC ecosystem, ensuring research under PMRC is mission-aligned, non-fragmented, and national impact oriented. Lead Institutions shall also be responsible for evaluating the readiness and suitability of prospective Host Institutions within their respective thematic areas. Host Institutions demonstrating strong research, development, and innovation (RDI) environment, industry-academia linkages, history of commercializing patents, and strong institutional research support will engage PMRC Fellows. Host Institutions participating in the Scheme are expected to extend in-kind contributions, including but not limited to access to laboratories, libraries, research facilities, instrumentation, computational resources, collaborative academic environment, publication and institutional support. Open-access publication charges and cost of patenting arising from jointly produced research, development, and innovation (RDI) outputs may be enabled by the Host Institution.
Benefits
- Operational and institutional overhead support
- Access to global expertise in frontier domains
- Strengthening of research labs, centers, and thematic clusters
- Enhanced industry linkages and technology translation potential
Who can apply (eligibility)
- Eligible Host Institutions shall include: Government Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) ranked among: Top 100 in the NIRF Overall category, Top 100 in the NIRF Engineering category, Top 50 in the NIRF Research category
- Identified national laboratories and research institutions under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Department of Science & Technology (DST), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), among others
- Host Institutions are required to submit project proposals aligned with thematic areas. Multiple submissions across different themes can be submitted
- The Host Institutions receive funding from the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India to enable the Fellow(s) to conduct research. Host institutions shall disburse funds for the PMRC Fellow and their research activities as per approved pattern of scheme and endorsed by Empowered committee. The institution may also assist Fellows pursue impact focused research resources to optimize the project outcome with other existing schemes such as the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and among others
Documents required
- Institutional profile, research strengths, and existing infrastructure to support research in thematic area(s)
- Proposed thematic area(s) and research project description- especially why it is important for India’s growth, intended impact from the project, potential outcomes and methodological overview
- Details of the designated institutional liaison and Co-Principal Investigators
- Statement of institutional RDI strength, including co-funding, industry partnerships, patent history, student support, and research outputs
- Any existing collaborations relevant to the proposed thematic area
- Recommendations of (up to) 3 potential PMRC Fellows they are interested in hosting
- Any other documents as required
How to apply
- 1Explore Thematic Areas: Prospective host institutions review the thematic areas and understand the scope and kind of problems PMRC aims to solve.
- 2Initiate Domain Proposal: Top NIRF 2025-ranked government HEIs and selected national laboratories submit theme-specific justification, capabilities, and ecosystem details.
- 3Evaluation by Expert Committees: Expert Committees evaluate submitted proposals by prospective Hosts Institutions.
- 4Selection & Project Launch: PMRC Fellows initiate research projects with their mapped Host Institutions, supported by funding, mentorship and infrastructure.
- 5Applications are submitted online through the official PMRC portal at https://pmrc.education.gov.in/signup-hi.
Frequently asked questions
What is the role of a Host Institution under the PMRC Scheme?+
A Host Institution provides the academic, research, administrative, and infrastructural environment required for PMRC Fellows to undertake high-impact research aligned with national priority thematic areas.
Which institutions are eligible to participate as Host Institutions?+
Eligible Host Institutions include: Government Higher Education Institutions ranked among the Top 100 in NIRF Overall or Engineering categories, or Top 50 in the NIRF Research category. National laboratories and research institutions under agencies such as DST, DBT, ICMR, CSIR, and other notified institutions.
Can a Host Institution submit more than one proposal?+
Yes. Host Institutions may submit multiple project proposals across different thematic areas under the PMRC Scheme.
What kind of projects can be proposed by Host Institutions?+
Projects should address one or more PMRC thematic areas and demonstrate national relevance, innovation potential, measurable outcomes, and societal or economic impact.
Will Host Institutions receive financial support under the scheme?+
Yes. Funding is provided by the Department of Higher Education to support PMRC Fellows and approved research activities. The Host Institution is responsible for managing and disbursing these funds as per approved guidelines.
Are Host Institutions required to provide infrastructure support?+
Yes. Host Institutions must provide adequate laboratory facilities, equipment access, workspace, administrative support, and other research infrastructure necessary for successful project execution.
Can national laboratories participate as Host Institutions?+
Yes. Eligible national laboratories and research institutions under agencies such as DST, DBT, ICMR, and CSIR may participate as Host Institutions.
How can an eligible institution apply under the PMRC Scheme?+
Eligible institutions must register on the PMRC portal, submit the required institutional and project information, upload supporting documents, and complete the application process within the prescribed timeline.
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