Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) Scheme

The mission of the PMRF scheme was to reduce the brain drain, strengthen higher education, and give boost to research and innovation in India. To support its mission, it focuses on: 

• Financial Support 
• National Research Development 
• Global Competitiveness 
• Career growth to fellows 

PMRF 2025’s Budget Update 

The Finance Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman, announced that over 10,000 fellowships will be provided in the next five years. The scheme was expanded to cover eligible students across all the acknowledged educational institutions in India.  

Fellowship Amount Offered Under PMRF

Selected students under the PMRF scheme will receive a stipend of Rs.70,000 to Rs.80,000 plus a grant of Rs.2 lakh per year (along with Rs.5 lakh for five years). The yearly stipend structure is as follows: 

PMRF Seat Allocation and Granting Institutions 

The institutions that offer PMRF are: 

1. Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) 

1. Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISERs) 

1. Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 

1. National Institute of Technology (NITs) and Central Universities appearing in top 25 institutes list of National Institute Ranking Framework of the previous year. 

Each Institute listed above gets PMRF seats every year based on the following rules: 

1. A PMRF granting institute ranked in the NIRF overall top 10 gets PMRF seats equal to 3.5% of its PhD strength as of May 1 each year. 

1. A NIRF rank of 11-25 overall gets PMRF seats equal to 2.5% of existing PhD. students' strength as of May 1 each year. 

1. Remaining PMRF granting institutions gets 1.5% seat of existing PhD students as of 1 May each year. 

PMRF seat requirements for a particular year should not exceed 1000. 

Eligibility Criteria for PMRF 

There are two channels through which candidate can apply for PMRF; one is direct, and another is lateral entry channel. You can apply for direct entry when you satisfy one of the following criteria in the previous three years from the date of submission of application: 

1. Completed or pursuing final year of integrated or undergraduate MTech or MSc or dual degree programs in technology and science streams from IITs/NITs/IIEST/IISERs and central funded Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIITs) with a CGPA/CPI of at least 8.0 on a 10-point scale in the last three years or, 

1. Completed or pursuing integrated or undergrad MTech or MSc or dual degree program in science and tech from any other institution recognised in India with a CGPA of 8.0 or equivalent to minimum of 650 marks in the relevant GATE subject in the last 3 years or, 

1. Qualified GATE and pursuing or completed MTech or MS by research in any one PMRF granting institutions having a minimum CPI or CGPA of 8.0 with a minimum of four courses at the time of application. 

Note: Scholars upgraded from MS/MTech to PhD are not eligible to apply for PMRF under Direct Entry channel. 

The candidates will get eligible for lateral entry channel if they satisfy all the following conditions: 

1. Currently pursuing MTech/MS/MSc PhD or Direct PhD from PMRF granting institutions. 

1. The candidate should have CGPA of at least 8.5 in all four PhD courses (other than ethics, project course, research methodology etc.) 

1. The student applying for PMRF should have completed 12 months in PhD program if they have joined it after master's degree or should have completed 24 months in case of joining after bachelor's program. 

1. The students can apply for a maximum of two times for lateral entry to PMRF. 

Application Process for PMRF 

The candidates wanting to get admission under PMRF must apply and get selected under a PhD program in PMRF granting institutions through either direct or lateral entry channel.  After application, if eligible, your institution will nominate you through PMRF portal.  

After nomination, a national expert panel will evaluate nominations and decide. 

Selection Process for PMRF 

After candidates get nominated by PMRF granting institutes by uploading documents, the selection panel assess the application and decide. The shortlisting and selection process is as follows 

1. A team of experts appointed for an area of discipline will examine the nominated applicants and prepare a shortlist. 

1. PMRF National Level Committe will analyse the shortlisted applicants’ list. 

1. A link to the selected candidates will be sent by the National Level Committee to submit some documents like CV, experience, academic background, list of publications, and reference person that will write a letter of recommendation. 

1. The final allocation of the seats by the National Level Committee will be based on their application. 

Conclusion 

The Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) scheme is one of the most ambitious programs initiated to empower innovators, thinkers, and problem solvers. It is not just a fellowship but an investment in India’s intellectual capital.