Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant (PMECRG) 2025 Empowering India’s Next Generation of Researchers

Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant (PMECRG) 2025

Empowering India’s Next Generation of Researchers

🏛️ About the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) was established through an Act of Parliament – the ANRF Act, 2023, to provide high-level strategic direction for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in India.

ANRF plays a pivotal role in advancing research across diverse domains including:

• Natural and Mathematical Sciences
• Engineering and Technology
• Environmental and Earth Sciences
• Health and Agricultural Sciences
• Scientific and Technological Interfaces of Humanities and Social Sciences

Acting as the apex body for research and development in India, ANRF aims to foster a robust culture of research and innovation across universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.

It actively forges collaborations among industry, academia, and government, aligning its strategies with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, and adopting global best practices followed by leading international research agencies.

“ANRF strategies should align with the goals of Viksit Bharat 2047 and implementation should follow global best practices adopted by research and development agencies across the world.”

— ANRF Governing Board

🎯 About the Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant (PMECRG)

The Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant (PMECRG), launched by ANRF, is a flagship initiative designed to empower early-career researchers to establish independent research programs and pursue high-impact projects that contribute to national development.

Under the guidance of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, President of the ANRF Governing Board, the Foundation has introduced PMECRG as part of its mission to:

• Strengthen India’s research and innovation ecosystem
• Support young researchers with flexible, progressive funding models
• Enhance the ease of doing research across institutions nationwide

💡 Objective

Early-career researchers represent the frontline of innovation and discovery. ANRF recognizes their vital role in driving scientific progress and national competitiveness.

Through PMECRG, ANRF aims to:

• Encourage young scientists to pursue independent, high-quality research
• Provide flexibility, autonomy, and resources to help them translate ideas into impactful outcomes
• Cultivate a vibrant research ecosystem that positions India as a global leader in science and technology

This grant provides researchers with the freedom to initiate their research careers in new institutions, backed by flexible budgeting and measures that simplify administrative processes.

💰 Nature & Duration of Support

• Grant Amount: Up to ₹60 lakh (plus institutional overheads)
• Duration: 3 years
• Number of Awards: Up to 700 grants per year across all subject areas

Key Benefits

• Flexibility in using resources under the recurring head
• Freedom in manpower recruitment
• Enhanced travel, contingency, and overhead provisions
• Support for open access publication fees and patent filing charges
• Permission for international travel for project-related activities

The PMECRG subsumes the earlier “Startup Research Grant (SRG)” scheme of the erstwhile SERB.

📘 Ease of Doing Research – Key Features

ANRF’s framework emphasizes researcher empowerment through:

• Simplified administrative procedures
• Transparent funding and utilization processes
• Decentralized decision-making for project execution
• Institutional autonomy and flexibility for researchers

🧾 Eligibility & Relaxations

For the current call (2025), certain eligibility criteria have been relaxed once, encouraging a broader pool of early-career researchers to apply.

Detailed eligibility guidelines are available on the ANRF official website.

🗓️ Important Dates

• Start Date: 3 November 2025
• End Date: 2 December 2025

🌐 How to Apply

Eligible candidates can submit proposals through the official ANRF online portal:

👉 Apply Here

For program details, visit:

🔗 https://www.anrfonline.in

Applicants are advised to carefully review:

• Program Guidelines
• Terms & Conditions
• FAQs before submission

💬 Career Advice for Aspiring Researchers

If you are an early-career academic or post-doctoral researcher seeking to establish an independent line of inquiry, PMECRG 2025 offers the ideal platform to:

• Kickstart your research journey with financial and institutional backing
• Build collaborations and networks with industry and academia
• Develop leadership in emerging scientific domains

By enabling research autonomy and flexibility, PMECRG sets a new benchmark for supporting young Indian researchers to make globally significant contributions.