Parliament Question: Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme 2026
Issued by Ministry of Education
Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Education on 12th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary & Key Takeaways
Summary of the Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme 2026
Overview and Objectives In alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Ministry of Education has launched the Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme. The initiative is designed to transform India’s higher education and research landscape into a multidisciplinary, inclusive, and learner-centric ecosystem. The primary objective is to attract and engage distinguished Indian-origin researchers, scientists, and professionals with international experience to strengthen national research, mentorship, and institutional capacity-building in priority thematic areas.
Fellowship Categories and Implementation The scheme facilitates structured engagement between international experts and domestic Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), national laboratories, and research centers. Fellowships are offered under three distinct categories:
- Research Chair
- Senior Fellow
- Young Research Fellow
Key Metrics and Data Points
- Budget Allocation: The Government of India has provisioned Rs 200 crore for the PMRC Scheme for the fiscal year 2026-27.
- Lead Institutions: Seven institutions have been designated as Lead Institutions to spearhead the scheme.
- Application Volume: As of August 12, 2026, the scheme has received over 3,600 fellowship applications and more than 400 applications from potential host institutions.
Official Information and Resources This information was provided by Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State for Education, in a written response to the Rajya Sabha. For comprehensive details regarding eligibility criteria for fellows and host institutions, interested parties can visit the official portal at: https://pmrc.education.gov.in/