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.

Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme - For Host Institutions – Eligibility & How to Apply

By Expertie Editorial Team · Expertie editorial desk

Overview

About PMRC-HI

The Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) scheme is a central-sector scheme of the Department of Higher Education, under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. It sets out to attract Indian-origin researchers, scientists and professionals working abroad and place them at government higher education institutions and national research laboratories in India to carry out advanced research. On the host-institution side, these are the institutions that give a PMRC fellow their academic base.

The scheme runs on three parts: lead institutions, host institutions and the fellows. To take part as a host, an institution has to be a government higher education institution ranked in the top 100 of the NIRF Overall or Engineering categories, or the top 50 of the NIRF Research category. National research laboratories under bodies such as the DST, DBT, ICMR and CSIR also qualify, while a group of established IITs and IISc Bengaluru act as the scheme's lead centres.

Support goes to the fellows a host takes on: fellowship and research-grant funding, and access to the host's laboratories and research infrastructure. Proposals are expected to fall within the national priority areas the scheme names, among them artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors and biotechnology. The host route is open to eligible government institutions that clear the NIRF thresholds, with applications submitted through the PMRC portal.

Sources: myScheme - Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme (Host Institutions) · Careers360 - PMRC Scheme 2026: applications open for Indian-origin researchers abroad · InsightsonIndia - Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme 2026

Who runs it

Provider

Ministry of Education

Central Government

Department Of Higher Education

At a glance

Key details

Level	Central
Scheme type	Central Sector Scheme
Category	Science, IT & Communications
Beneficiaries	Individual
Benefit type	In Kind
Application mode	Online

Calendar

Important dates

Across all open application cycles.

Important dates by cycle
Cycle	Stage	Date

Who can apply

Eligibility criteria

Government Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) ranked among	o Top 100 in the NIRF Overall category
Government Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) ranked among	o Top 100 in the NIRF Engineering category
Government Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) ranked among	o Top 50 in the NIRF Research category
Government Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) ranked among	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.
Government Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) ranked among	Host Institutions are required to submit project proposals aligned with thematic areas. Multiple submissions across different themes can be submitted.
Government Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) ranked among	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.

What you get

Award & benefits

Under the scheme, the following benefits will be offered to Host Institutions: 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

What to prepare

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 Prime Minister Research Chair Scheme– Call for Applications 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

Step by step

How to apply

1
Apply online
See the official links below for the application portal.

Source

Official links

Official Website Application Details Online Application myScheme (Government of India)

Questions

PMRC-HI – FAQ

Disclaimer

Scheme details are compiled from myScheme, the Government of India’s official scheme-discovery platform, and are reproduced without alteration. Amounts, deadlines and eligibility change between cycles — always confirm on the official links above before applying. Expertie does not process applications or charge fees.

AICTE - Grant For Augmenting Infrastructure In North Eastern Region Access to Knowledge for Technology Development and Dissemination (A2K+) AlCTE - Distinguished Professional Scheme ASEAN-India Research Training Fellowship INAE Travel Grant Scheme for Engineering Students from IITs/NITs/Govt. Approved Engineering Colleges/Institutions other than AICTE AICTE - Scheme For Promoting Interests, Creativity And Ethics Among Students

Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme - For Host Institutions(PMRC-HI)