Applications Invited for Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant

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About the Organization

Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has been recently established by an Act of Parliament, ANRF Act 2023, to seed, grow and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout the country. Under the guidance of Hon'ble Prime Minister, the President of the ANRF Governing Board, the foundation is set to commence several new initiatives to strengthen India's research and innovation ecosystem and accelerate scientific advancement through programs with diverse mandates as well as a series of measures to enhance ease of doing research.

About the Grant

Early career researchers are at the forefront of innovation and excellence, playing a vital role in the scientific and technological progress of the country. ANRF recognises that early career researchers are committed 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. This commitment of the early career researchers will significantly contribute in driving the ambitions of ANRF in positioning the country as a global leader in science and technology as well as creating a vibrant research ecosystem. ANRF considers its responsibility 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. Pursuant to this objective, ANRF is initiating the program, Prime Minister's Early Career Research Grant with a flexible budget and progressive initiatives for ease of doing research.

ANRF invites early career researchers to be part of the transformative journey in leading the country to the forefront of scientific excellence.

Nature & duration of support:

• Research grant up to Rs. 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. PIO/OCI working as regular employees in any of the public funded and recognized R&D laboratories/institutions in India are eligible to apply as PI in collaboration with an Indian Co-PI, provided they fulfill the eligibility criteria notified by ANRF (ANRF Funding Guidelines for PIO/OCI) The applicant should hold a PhD degree in Science or Engineering or MD/MS/ MDS/MVSc degree.
• The applicant must hold a regular academic/research position in a recognized academic institution, national laboratories or any other recognized R&D institution.
• The applicant is eligible to apply within two years of joining the institution.
• The upper age limit for PM ECRG would be 42 years, with a relaxation of three years for SC/ST/OBC/Physically challenged and women candidates.
• 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 under PM ECRG. In respect of cases that are not mentioned above, ANRF reserves the right to determine the eligibility.
• Co-PIs are not allowed except in the case of PIO/OCI.
• The applicant should not have received YSS, ECR, SRG, CRG (erstwhile EMR) or any other grant of the erstwhile SERB or ANRF.

Note: A one-time relaxation of the following eligibility criteria is accorded for the current call:

• The upper age limit of 42 years, with a relaxation of three years for SC/ST/OBC/ Physically challenged and women candidates, will be calculated as on February 01, 2024 instead of "as on date of submission".
• The applicant should have joined the institution on or after February 01, 2022 instead of 'the applicant is eligible to apply within two years of joining the institution'.

How to Apply

The Call for applications will be notified through the website www.anrfonline.in . The application should be submitted online at 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.

Other conditions:

• An applicant is eligible to apply only one proposal during a call.
• The PM ECRG would be a one-time career grant.
• Extension of the project tenure is not permitted under PM ECRG.

For online submission of the application the following points may be noted:

• Applicants should first register in the ANRF online portal,www.anrfonline.in  click here to register
• 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.
• 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.
• 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

Documents required (in PDF format):

• Biodata (under user profile section)
• Certificate from Principal Investigator
• Endorsement Letter from the Head of Institution
• Age Proof Certificate
• Category Certificate
• Plagiarism undertaking

For more information please check the Link

Tags Innovations and Technology Research Others