Applications open for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant, assistance up to ₹60 lakh to be provided

Applications have been invited by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) for the Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant (PM ECRG). The primary objective of this scheme is to provide the necessary financial assistance to researchers starting their careers in the field of science and technology to advance their research work. According to a report by Amar Ujala, selected researchers under this scheme will be provided financial assistance of up to ₹60 lakh for a period of three years. In addition to this assistance, a separate overhead amount will also be provided to meet the institutional expenses.

The application process for this scheme has commenced from November 2, 2026. Interested candidates can submit their applications until 5 pm on December 2, 2026.

Regarding eligibility, it is mandatory for the applicant to hold a regular academic or research position in a recognized institution, national laboratory, or research and development (R&D) organization. Furthermore, the candidate must have commenced their work at the institution within the prescribed time limit. Specifically, candidates who joined an institution on or after February 1, 2023, are eligible to apply for this scheme. Candidates holding MD, MS, MDS, or MVSc degrees are also eligible to apply.

According to the rules of the scheme, a time limit of 3 years has been mentioned for SC, ST, OBC, Divyang, and women candidates. For PIO and OCI candidates, the condition is that they must have a Co-PI associated with an Indian institution.

Detailing the utilization of financial assistance, the report states that the assistance of up to ₹60 lakh for three years does not include overhead expenses. This amount can be used for purchasing necessary equipment for research, salaries of personnel working on the project, purchase of required materials, travel expenses, and other contingent expenditures. Additionally, assistance may be provided for open-access research publications and the cost of filing patents under the scheme. If foreign travel is required for the project work, permission for the same will be granted. However, the grant must be utilized strictly in accordance with the rules and guidelines of the scheme.

The selection process for candidates will be completely transparent and based on the recommendations of an expert committee. While applying, the candidate must submit a research proposal, in which they must clearly state the plan and objectives of their work. The expert committee will review this proposal meticulously and subsequently recommend for selection.

An important point is that the grant provided under this scheme is a one-time career grant. This means that once this assistance is received, the duration of the research project cannot be extended. Therefore, candidates are advised to carefully read the eligibility, required documents, and all rules associated with the grant before applying.

It is reiterated that the last date for application is December 2, 2026, until 5 pm.