Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme 2026 to Attract Global Indian Talent

Key facts

• The Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education (MoE) launched the Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme 2026 to bring accomplished Indian-origin researchers, scientists, technologists, and professionals into India's research and innovation ecosystem.
• The PMRC focuses on 13 priority sectors: artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, energy and climate change, cybersecurity, healthcare and medical technology, biotechnology, advanced materials, space and defence, next-generation communications, manufacturing, agriculture and food technologies, blue economy, and atomic energy.
• The initiative is structured around three pillars—Lead Institutions, Host Institutions, and PMRC Fellows—with selection overseen by an Empowered Committee chaired by the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India.
• The programme offers three categories of engagement—Young Research Fellows, Senior Research Fellows, and Research Chairs—for eligible Indian nationals working abroad, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders, and Persons of Indian Origin.
• Eligible host institutions include government higher educational institutions ranked among the top 100 in National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Overall or Engineering categories, top 50 in the NIRF Research category, and laboratories under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
• Seven premier institutions are designated as Lead Institutions: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIT Hyderabad, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru.
• Applications for both fellows and host institutions opened on June 1 through the dedicated PMRC portal.