What is the purpose of Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?

Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Individual through benefits related to Science, IT & Communications, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.

Who can apply for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?

Eligibility for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.

What benefits are offered under Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?

Benefits under Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.

Which department manages Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?

Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant is managed by Department Of Science & Technology and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.

Can users apply online for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?

Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.

Is Aadhaar mandatory for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?

Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.

Where can users apply for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?

Applications for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.

What documents may be required for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?

Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.

Is Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant a central government scheme?

Yes, Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.

Can CSC centres help users apply for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?

Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.

How can users check the latest updates for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?

Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.

Can beneficiaries track application status for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?

Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.

Where can users get help for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant in All India?

Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.

Which nearby public services may help with Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant applications?

Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.

PMECRG

Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant

6.7/10

This programme is initiated by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) to assist researchers to initiate their research career in a new institution with a flexible budget and progressive initiatives for ease of doing research.

Central Composite

States / UT: All India

Ministry / nodal: Ministry Of Science And Technology

Nodal department: Department Of Science & Technology

Scheme for: Individual

Scheme profile

DBT (direct benefit transfer): No

Categories: Science, IT & Communications

Sub-categories: Research & Development

Target beneficiaries: Individual

Tags: Research Grant, Researcher, ANRF, Research, PhD, Science, Engineering

Details

The “Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant” is a program initiated by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. It aims to assist researchers to initiate their research career in a new institution with a flexible budget and progressive initiatives for ease of doing research.
Objectives:

To empower and support the early career researchers in their pursuit of research excellence, providing them with an enabling environment to effectively conduct research with ease and flexibility.
To contribute in positioning the country as a global leader in science and technology as well as creating a vibrant research ecosystem.
To produce research of the highest quality, bringing in new skills, breakthrough ideas and the zest to explore new frontiers, thereby expanding the boundaries of knowledge.

Benefits

Nature & duration of support:
Research rant up to ₹60 lakh plus overheads for a period of three years
The measures for ease of doing research include flexibility to utilize resources under recurring head; flexibility in manpower recruitment; enhanced travel, contingency and overhead charges; and support for expenses related to open access publications and patent filing charges
International travel for project related activities is also permitted
Maximum of 700 grants would be awarded per year across all subject areas

Nature & duration of support:

Research rant up to ₹60 lakh plus overheads for a period of three years.
The measures for ease of doing research include flexibility to utilize resources under recurring head; flexibility in manpower recruitment; enhanced travel, contingency and overhead charges; and support for expenses related to open access publications and patent filing charges.
International travel for project related activities is also permitted.
Maximum of 700 grants would be awarded per year across all subject areas.

Eligibility

The applicant should be an Indian citizen.
Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) or Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) working as regular employees in any publicly funded and recognized R&D laboratories/institutions in India are eligible to apply as Principal Investigator (PI), in collaboration with an Indian Co-PI, provided they meet the eligibility criteria specified by ANRF (ANRF Funding Guidelines for PIO/OCI).
The applicant should hold a Ph.D. degree in Science or Engineering or an MD/MS/MDS/MVSc degree.
The applicant should be in a regular academic/research position at a recognized academic institution, national laboratory, or any other recognized R&D institution.
The applicant is eligible to apply within two years of joining the institution.
The upper age limit is 42 years, with a relaxation of three years for SC/ST/OBC/Physically Challenged and women candidates.
The applicant should not have received funding under YSS, ECR, SRG, CRG (erstwhile EMR), EMEQ, or any other project grant from the erstwhile SERB or ANRF.

Other conditions

An applicant is eligible to apply only one proposal during a call.
Only a one-time career grant will be provided.
Extension of the project tenure is not permitted under this programme.

Termination and transfer of the project:

If any Principal Investigator (PI) wishes to terminate the project, they shall inform ANRF immediately with proper justifications. The implementing institute should not incur any expenditure from the date of termination of the project or the date of resignation of the PI. The institute must also arrange for the submission of relevant documents.
ANRF reserves the right to terminate the project at any stage if it is convinced that (i) appropriate progress is not being made (ii) the grant has not been utilized properly (iii) furnishing of false information or suppression of factual information.
Projects sanctioned under this programme cannot be transferred to any other person/s.
Transfer of approved/sanctioned PM ECRG project to another institution will be considered only in the following cases: (i) From private/public/government institution to any other public/government institution (ii) General administrative transfers in government or public funded institutions. Change of institute will not be considered in any other cases.

Exclusions

Research Associates, Post doctoral Fellows, Ad-hoc faculties, Guest faculties, Visiting Scientists, Consultants, Project Fellows and faculty members whose contract is renewed every year are not eligible.
Co-PIs are not allowed except in the case of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) or Person of Indian Origin (PIO).

How useful is this scheme?

Public benefit analysis

A practical look at this scheme for citizens

AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.

6.7

/ 10

Public Benefit Score

Accessibility 6.0/10 Moderate

Rural usefulness 4.0/10 Moderate

Application complexity 6.0/10 Moderate

Financial impact 9.5/10 Good

Literacy barrier 8.0/10 Challenging

Women inclusivity 7.0/10 Good

Awareness 7.5/10 Good

Implementation reliability 8.0/10 Good

Bigger shape means a better fit for citizens

Accessibility6.0
Financial impact9.5
Rural utility4.0
Awareness7.5
Simplicity4.0
Inclusivity7.0

What problem does this scheme solve?

The scheme supports early career researchers in India, providing them with financial assistance and resources to initiate their research careers.

Key challenges addressed

Lack of funding for early career researchers
Need for a supportive research environment

Most beneficial for

New researchers
PhD holders in Science and Engineering

Likely challenges

Complex eligibility criteria
High competition for grants

Practical insights for citizens

While the scheme offers significant financial support, the complexities of the application process may deter potential applicants, especially from rural backgrounds.

Rural challenges

Limited access to high-speed internet
Lack of awareness about the scheme

Digital challenges

Dependence on online application process
Need for digital literacy

Implementation bottlenecks

Complex eligibility and application process
High competition for limited grants

Awareness challenges

Low awareness among potential beneficiaries
Limited outreach in rural areas

Application analysis

Application mode: Online portal
Documents burden: Moderate, requires detailed proposal and profile information
Verification complexity: High, involves expert committee review
Office dependency: Low, primarily online
DBT dependency: No direct benefit transfer involved
CSC support: Limited, primarily online application
Estimated citizen effort: High, requires substantial documentation and proposal writing

Estimated beneficiary reach

Rural / urban reach Moderate
Gender reach Moderate
Target income group Middle to upper income researchers
Occupation reach Academics and researchers

Benefit analysis

Benefit type: Composite
Benefit frequency: One-time grant for three years
Benefit practicality: High, if eligibility criteria are met
Financial meaningfulness: Very meaningful for research projects
Long-term impact: Potentially significant if successful research outcomes are achieved

Plain-language guidance

The Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant helps new researchers in India get funding for their projects. It is aimed at those with a PhD in Science or Engineering.

Who should apply: Indian citizens with a PhD in relevant fields working in recognized institutions.
Who may struggle: First-time applicants, especially from rural areas or those with limited digital skills.
Best application route: Apply directly through the ANRF online portal.

This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.

Application Process

Online

Step 1: Applicants should first register in the ANRF online portal, Click here to register.
Step 2: After log-in, applicants are required to fill in all the mandatory fields under User Profile section, which includes Bio-data, Photo, Institute address, etc.
Step 3: Some of the details of a proposal like Project Title (max 500 characters), Project summary (max 3000 characters), Keywords (max 6), Objectives of the project (max 1500 characters), Expected output and outcome of the proposal (max 1500 characters), Budget (Research Personnel, Consumables, Travel, Equipment, Contingency, Overheads) have to be entered at the time of proposal submission.
Step 4: Other relevant information of the proposal has to be uploaded as a single PDF file, not more than 10 MB, as a Technical Document (TD). Download Template
Mode of application & selection

The Call for applications will be notified through the website- https://www.anrfonline.in. - The application should be submitted online at https://www.anrfonline.in (Note : Already registered PIs with the SERBONLINE portal (www.serbonline.in) may Login using the same credentials). - Selection will be based on the recommendations of Expert Committee.

Clarifications

Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).

What is the age limit for availing PM ECRG?: The upper age limit for PM ECRG is 42 years, with a relaxation of three years for SC/ST/OBC/ Physically challenged and women candidates.
What is the nature of support under PM ECRG scheme?: PM ECRG is a one-time grant and carries a maximum research grant of Rs. 60 Lakhs (excluding overheads) for a period of three years. The research grant covers equipment, research personnel, consumables, travel and contingency apart from overheads.
What is the duration of the PM ECRG project? Can it be extended?: PM ECRG project period is of 3 years. There is no provision for extension of the project duration.
When should I apply for PM ECRG? Can I apply for the projects throughout the year?: The Call for applications will be notified through the website www.anrfonline.in and www.anrf.gov.in . The application form along with a proper research proposal highlighting the research work to be undertaken should be submitted online through the website www.anrfonline.in during the call opening period.
How should I apply for PM ECRG?: All applications should be submitted through the ANRF online portal www.anrfonline.in
Can I have a Co-PI in PM ECRG project? Can I have a Mentor in PM ECRG?: Co-PI or Mentors are not allowed in this scheme. However, foreign nationals are mandated to have an Indian Co-PI.
I am working abroad as post-doc, and I want to return to India. I intend to apply for PM ECRG. But I have not yet finalized my place of work. Am I eligible to apply under the scheme?: No. The applicant must hold a regular academic/research position in a recognized academic institution/ or national laboratories or any other recognized R&D institutions. Only after joining a research or academic institution, one can apply for the grants under this scheme.
I am implementing an PM ECRG project for the last one year. Am I eligible to apply for another project under any other scheme/award or fellowship programs of ANRF?: In general, a PI is allowed to operate only one ANRF project at a time. Exceptions are allowed for some specific calls under certain topics/programs/schemes. In all other cases, PI can submit another proposal under regular schemes of ANRF six months prior to the date of completion of the ongoing PM ECRG project.
What documents should I send for receiving the next instalments of the grant?: The PIs should upload annual Progress Report and financial statements at the end of each financial year. The release of the next instalment of the grant will be considered only after submission of Utilization Certificate (separately for Recurring & Non-recurring) and Statement of Expenditure, financial year wise.
I intend to change my Host Institution? What procedure should I follow?: Change of host institute will be considered only (i) from a private/public/government institution to any other public/government institution or (ii) General administrative transfers in government or public funded institutions. Change of institute will not be considered for any other cases. Change of host institution can be undertaken only after obtaining due approval from ANRF.Transfer of the project along with balance grant and the assets to the new institute is allowed, provided the administrative authority of both institutes agree in writing. NOC from the previous host institute and Endorsement Form from the new host Institute must be sent to ANRF through the online portal.
What is the procedure for surrendering PM ECRG project?: For termination of the project, PI need to inform the ANRF through the host institution immediately. The implementing institute should not incur any expenditure from the date of termination of the project or the date of resignation of PI. The institute must also arrange for the submission of relevant documents.
Can I be away from the implementing Institute when I am implementing the PM ECRG project?: The PIs must seek the consent of ANRF if he/she intends to be away from the implementing institute (except for field work related to the project) continuously for a period of more than eight weeks.
What should be done for the unspent grant under PM ECRG project after the completion of the tenure of the project?: The following documents should be sent to the ANRF after the duration of the project is completed: 1. Final Consolidated Statement of Expenditure (in duplicate) , giving expenditure financial year wise (FY) from date of start till date of completion. 2. Utilization Certificates (FY wise) for all FYs (in duplicate) matching with Statement of Expenditure figures in that FY. 3. Project Completion Report (PCR) with a list of publications, and patents filed/granted. 4. DD/ cheque for the unspent grant, drawn in favor of 'Science & Engineering Research Fund'. 5. The Principal Investigator is responsible for the timely submission of progress reports, utilization certificates, project closure report (PCR), refund of unspent balance amount etc. at the end or early closure of the project.
I am an INSPIRE Faculty Fellow. Am I eligible to apply for PM ECRG?: Yes. INSPIRE Faculty, Ramanujan and Ramalingaswamy Fellows are eligible to apply under PM ECRG subject to fulfilling all other eligibility criteria.
I was National Post Doctoral Fellow (NPDF). Am I eligible to apply for PM ECRG?: Yes. Applicants who have availed NPDF, SIRE are eligible to apply under PM ECRG subject to fulfilling all other eligibility criteria.
I have an ongoing TARE project. Can I apply for PM ECRG?: Applicants having ongoing TARE project can submit proposal under PM ECRG six months prior to the completion of ongoing project, subject to fulfilling all other eligibility criteria.
What is the budget limit under 'Travel' and 'Contingency' Heads in PM ECRG?: Budget upto Rs.1 lakh per year each under 'Travel' and 'Contingency' heads will be provided. Higher amount under 'Travel' head based on the recommendation of Expert Committee will be provided where the research work involves field work.
Are the funds sanctioned under recurring head flexible?: The funds sanctioned under the Recurring-I head are flexible, meaning the PI can use money allocated for consumables, manpower, travel, contingency, publications, or patent filing. However, there are some conditions to follow (See terms and conditions of the scheme, under travel and contingency).
Are there any upper limit on travel expenditure for the project?: Yes. The expenditure under the travel head is limited to Rs. 3 Lakh for a threeyear project, and proportionately lower for projects of shorter duration, except (where the project entails field work etc.) in cases where a higher amount for travel is explicitly sanctioned in the project. International travel is permitted within this limit.
Are there any limits on contingency expenditure for the project?: Yes, the expenditure under the contingency head is also limited to Rs. 3 Lakh for a three-year project, or proportionately lower for shorter projects.
Can I use the contingency funds for paying registration fees for international conferences?: Yes. Contingency funds can be used for registration charges for international conferences.
Are there specific guidelines for engaging research personnel in the project?: Yes, the PI can engage research personnel as per ANRF norms, as informed through OMs - ANRF/OM/N/01/2024 and SB/S9/Z-06/2019. Additionally, the total funds under the recurring budget should not be exceeded in any case.
One JRF is approved in my project. Can I engage a SRF or an R.A or multiple research personnel in the project?: Yes, the Principal Investigator (PI) has the flexibility to recruit research personnel of any designation, or multiple personnel, as needed during the course of the project. However, the PI / host institution must ensure that (a) guidelines as per ANRF's OMs viz., ANRF/OM/N/01/2024 and SB/S9/Z-06/2019 are followed, (b) total funds sanctioned under the recurring head are not exceeded in any case and (c) Any future revision of emoluments by the ANRF will apply only to the originally approved or sanctioned research personnel for the revised fellowships.
Can I delay the acceptance of the project implementation?: No. The Principal Investigator (PI) must generally complete the documentation process within one month from the date the approval letter is issued. Any delay or lack of correspondence beyond one month from the PI, shall result in the withdrawal of the proposal approval.
Can I reallocate or reappropriate funds between recurring and nonrecurring budgets?: No, interoperability or reappropriation between the non-recurring and recurring budgets is not permitted under any circumstances.
Can the approved equipment list be changed during the project?: The change of approved or sanctioned equipment is generally not permitted and may only be considered on a case-by-case basis. The PI must obtain prior approval from ANRF to change the approved or sanctioned equipment.
How can I seek approval for publication-related expenditures?: The PI must submit a request through the ANRF online portal to obtain prior approval for publication-related expenditure.

Official links

References

Guidelines: https://www.anrfonline.in/ANRF/ecrg_anrf
Scheme Details: https://www.indiascienceandtechnology.gov.in/programme-schemes/research-and-development/prime-minister-early-career-research-grant

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Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?: Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Individual through benefits related to Science, IT & Communications, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
Who can apply for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?: Eligibility for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
What benefits are offered under Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?: Benefits under Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
Which department manages Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?: Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant is managed by Department Of Science & Technology and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
Can users apply online for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?: Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
Is Aadhaar mandatory for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?: Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
Where can users apply for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?: Applications for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
What documents may be required for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?: Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
Is Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant a central government scheme?: Yes, Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
Can CSC centres help users apply for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?: Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
How can users check the latest updates for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?: Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
Can beneficiaries track application status for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant?: Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
Where can users get help for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant in All India?: Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
Which nearby public services may help with Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant applications?: Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.