Prime Minister’s Early Career Research Grant – Apply by 02 Dec 2025

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) was established under the ANRF Act 2023, passed by the Parliament of India to strengthen the national research and innovation ecosystem. ANRF aims to seed, support and scale research across domains, from science and engineering to medicine, agriculture and interdisciplinary areas.

The foundation functions under the guidance of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, who serves as the President of the ANRF Governing Board. As India positions itself as a global leader in science and technology, ANRF plays a strategic role in enabling high-impact research. It focuses on providing long-term support for fundamental research, improving the ease of doing research and creating an environment where investigators can pursue ambitious scientific questions.

About the Prime Minister’s Early Career Research Grant (PM-ECRG)

The Prime Minister’s Early Career Research Grant (PM-ECRG) is one of ANRF’s flagship initiatives designed specifically to empower early-career researchers. Since researchers at the beginning of their careers often face barriers such as limited funding, difficulty establishing laboratories and restricted opportunities for independent research, the PM-ECRG aims to address these challenges directly.

Through this scheme, ANRF provides flexible, investigator-centric funding that enables researchers to initiate independent projects, build research capacity, and establish themselves in new institutions. The programme supports high-quality research in emerging and critical areas, thereby contributing to India’s long-term scientific advancement.

Purpose and Objectives of PM-ECRG

The PM-ECRG programme is built around a set of well-defined objectives that ensure meaningful support for early-career researchers:

• Enable independent research by providing investigators with complete autonomy over their project design and execution.
• Support establishment of new laboratories, research groups and infrastructure at the host institution.
• Promote high-quality, innovative, and impactful research, especially in emerging and frontier areas.
• Empower early-career faculty to compete internationally and collaborate with leading researchers.
• Strengthen India’s long-term research capacity by nurturing talented scientists during the most productive phase of their academic careers.
• Improve ease of doing research through flexible budgeting and simplified administrative processes.

By achieving these objectives, the PM-ECRG programme ensures that India continues to invest strategically in scientific leadership.

Who Can Apply? – Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria ensure that the scheme supports deserving, early-career investigators who are ready to initiate independent research.

1. Citizenship

• Must be an Indian citizen.
• PIO/OCI candidates may also apply only if they work as regular employees in publicly funded R&D laboratories or institutions in India. They must apply in collaboration with an Indian Co-PI and follow the ANRF funding guidelines for PIO/OCI researchers.

2. Educational Qualification

Applicants must hold one of the following degrees:

• PhD in Science or Engineering
• MD / MS / MDS / MVSc or equivalent degree

3. Employment Requirement

• Must hold a regular academic or research position in a recognised academic institution, national laboratory or public R&D institution.
• Positions such as temporary, contract-based, ad-hoc, guest, consultant, or project-based roles are not eligible.

4. Career Stage Requirement

• Must apply within two years of joining the current institution.

5. Age Limit

• Maximum age: 42 years as of the application deadline.
• Relaxation of three years for:
  • SC
  • ST
  • OBC
  • Persons with Disabilities (PwD)
  • Women applicants

6. Restrictions on Previous Grants

Candidates must not have received any of the following earlier grants:

• YSS
• ECR
• SRG
• CRG (erstwhile EMR)
• EMEQ
• Any other project grant from SERB or ANRF

7. Restrictions on Co-Investigators

• No Co-PI allowed, except in cases where PIO/OCI applicants require an Indian Co-PI as per ANRF rules.

8. Institutional Approval

Applicants must ensure that their host institution supports their application and can administer the proposed research project.

Grant Funding – Coverage and Financial Support

The PM-ECRG grant offers a flexible, multi-year research budget, allowing the investigator to allocate funds based on the immediate needs of the project. While the exact funding amount may vary depending on the proposal, the scheme generally supports:

Funding Components

• Research consumables
• Minor equipment purchases
• Manpower support, such as project assistants or research fellows
• Domestic travel for fieldwork or research collaboration
• Data collection and analysis expenses
• Publication and dissemination costs
• Contingencies related to research activities

Funding Duration

• The grant typically supports research for up to three years, subject to satisfactory progress.

The flexibility of the fund allows researchers to make strategic decisions that accelerate their research output.

Who Should Apply? – Ideal Applicant Profile

The PM-ECRG is ideal for early-career faculty who:

• Have a strong research track record in their PhD or postdoctoral work.
• Have recently joined an Indian institution and are establishing a new research programme.
• Are motivated to pursue high-impact, innovative research.
• Demonstrate capacity for independent scientific work.
• Have not yet received any major national research grant.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit their proposals through the official ANRF portal.

Application Process

• Visit the official website link provided in the advertisement.
• Register and create a profile.
• Prepare the research proposal following ANRF formats and guidelines.
• Upload supporting documents, including proof of employment, age and qualifications.
• Submit the proposal before the deadline.

Applicants are encouraged to submit well in advance to avoid technical delays.

Important Dates

Why This Grant Matters

The PM-ECRG programme represents one of India’s most significant investments in the future generation of researchers. By targeting early-career faculty, the scheme ensures long-term scientific competitiveness and a strong national research pipeline. With its focus on flexibility and ease of doing research, the programme empowers investigators to take intellectual risks, pursue bold scientific ideas and build sustainable research ecosystems.

The Prime Minister’s Early Career Research Grant provides a powerful opportunity for early-career researchers to begin independent, cutting-edge scientific work. With flexible financial support and a strong emphasis on innovation, the scheme supports the growth of India’s next generation of scientific leaders.
Eligible candidates should prepare their proposals carefully and submit them before 02 December 2025.

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