PM-ECRG Application 2026: The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has opened applications for the Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant (PM-ECRG) 2026, offering young scientists and engineers up to Rs 60 lakh plus overhead charges for three years. The window opens today and closes on December 2.
Up to 700 grants will be awarded annually across all subject areas. The scheme subsumes the SERB Start-up Research Grant, and applicants must meet age, qualification and employment criteria. Applications are accepted online through the anrfonline.in portal, with selection by an Expert Committee.
ANRF PM ECRG 2026 Registration: Key Highlights
The grant is meant to give early-career researchers more freedom to pursue high-quality research, with greater ease of doing research.
Feature | Details |
Grant amount | Up to Rs 60 lakh plus overhead charges |
Duration | Three years |
Number of grants | Up to 700 per year, across all subject areas |
Funding flexibility | Recurring funds and project staff recruitment |
International travel | Permitted for project-related activities |
Additional support | Open-access publications and patent filing charges |
Last date | December 2 |
ANRF PM ECRG 2026 Registration: Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be Indian citizens. PIOs and OCIs employed as regular staff in publicly funded Indian research institutions can apply as Principal Investigators with an Indian Co-Principal Investigator. Applicants need a PhD in Science or Engineering, or an MD, MS, MDS or MVSc degree, and must hold a regular academic or research position at a recognised institution or national laboratory. The upper age limit is 42 years, with a three-year relaxation for SC, ST and OBC candidates, persons with disabilities and women.
ANRF PM ECRG 2026: One-Time Relaxation
For this cycle only, ANRF has relaxed the joining-date rule. The usual requirement is to apply within two years of joining an institution. This year, applicants must have joined their institutions on or after February 1, 2023.
ANRF PM ECRG 2026: Application Process and Selection
The call is notified on the official ANRF portal, anrfonline.in, and all applications must be submitted online. Principal Investigators already registered on serbonline.in can log in with their existing credentials. An Expert Committee will recommend the selected candidates.
ANRF PM ECRG 2026: Who Is Not Eligible?
Research Associates, postdoctoral fellows, ad hoc and guest faculty, visiting scientists, consultants, project fellows and faculty on annually renewed contracts cannot apply. Past recipients of the Young Scientists Scheme, Early Career Research, Start-up Research Grant, Core Research Grant, EMEQ or any other SERB or ANRF project grant are also excluded. Co-Principal Investigators are allowed only in PIO and OCI applications.