|
The Union Ministry of Health, through its Department of Health Research (DHR), has issued an official notification announcing the call for research proposals under the prestigious Human Resource Development (HRD) Scheme for Health Research for the financial year 2025–26. This initiative is a part of the government’s continued efforts to cultivate a well-trained, research-oriented healthcare workforce capable of addressing India’s present and future health challenges.
The HRD scheme is designed to promote advanced training in biomedical and health research by offering fellowships and grants to students, researchers, and professionals across India. It provides a platform for individuals at various stages of their academic and professional careers to gain hands-on research experience, develop innovative ideas, and contribute to the national pool of skilled health researchers.
The core objective of the HRD scheme is to build and strengthen the country’s human resource base in biomedical and health research. By supporting short- and long-term training, academic thesis work, women researchers, and global Indian scientists, the scheme aligns with the national mission of promoting research excellence and innovation in healthcare.
The scheme invites online applications from eligible individuals and institutions across the country. Applicants must be affiliated with UGC-recognized universities and colleges, medical and dental colleges, research institutions and institutes of national importance.
Applications are open for a wide range of grant categories tailored to different levels and areas of research. These include Short-Term Studentship (STS) – for 1st and 2nd year MBBS/BDS students, Thesis Support – for postgraduate and super-specialty students (MD/MS/DM/MCh/DNB/DrNB/MDS), Short-Term Fellowships for researchers wishing to undertake short-term training in Indian research institutes, Long-Term Fellowships for extended research work at Indian institutions, Women Scientist Fellowship to support the research aspirations of women in science, NRI/OCI/PIO Research Support Program to enable the global Indian scientific community to contribute to Indian research, support to institutions, scientific bodies and associations for capacity building and research enhancement, International Travel Grants – for Indian scientists (non-DHR/ICMR affiliated) to participate in international conferences and training programs (accepted on a rolling basis) and Workshop Funding Grants for conducting workshops in biomedical research (accepted on a rolling basis).
The deadline for submitting proposals under most categories is May 31, 2025. However, applications for International Travel Grants and Workshop Funding are accepted throughout the year and are evaluated on a monthly or quarterly basis.
All proposals must be submitted online through the e-PMS (Electronic Project Management System) portal of DHR. Detailed information about eligibility criteria, application formats, submission guidelines, and terms and conditions are available on the DHR website.
It is important to note that any research involving human participants or animals must receive prior approval from the respective Institutional Human Ethics Committee or Animal Ethics Committee of the applicant’s institution. Without this clearance, proposals will not be considered for funding.
Projects approved under the scheme will be subject to periodic evaluation based on progress reports submitted by the principal investigators. Continued funding will depend on the satisfactory progress of the project and availability of scheme funds.
According to an official, “This initiative is a critical step towards nurturing young minds, supporting women in science, and enabling international collaboration. Whether you're a medical student eager to begin your research journey, a seasoned researcher, or an institution aiming to build research capacity, this scheme offers the necessary support to turn ideas into impact. For queries and clarifications, applicants are encouraged to use the communication channels available on the e-PMS portal.”
|