The Prime Minister Early Career Research Grant (PMECRG) Scheme of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) aims 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. It supports researchers to initiate their research with a support of up to Rs. 60 lakh along with overhead charges for a period of three years. Selection of researchers is based on recommendation of the subject specific expert committees. The Committees select the applicants primarily based on the quality of the research proposal, and the research accomplishment and track record of the applicant in relevant fields.

The Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas - Electric Vehicle (MAHA-EV) of ANRF addresses priority-driven, solution-focused research that would catalyse multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary and multi-investigator collaboration to address scientific challenges and advance the frontiers of technology in Electric Vehicle (EV) mobility. The Mission enables research & development (R&D) in some of the key EV components such as batteries, motors and controllers, power electronics, and related subsystems, chargers, grid interface to meet the current technological requirements on one side as well as doing cutting edge research to attain future global leadership, enhance domestic R&D capabilities, and position India as a hub for development of EV components thereby promoting Atmanirbhar Bharat. The EV Mission is one of the significant steps in achieving India's commitment towards net-zero emission target by 2070 and positively impact on India's sustainability goals. These targets necessitate India to develop indigenous, innovative, technically advanced, and economically viable components/systems for EVs that are also going to perform at optimal levels in the context of the Indian weather and traffic conditions.

The MAHA-EV Mission envisages creation of Electric Mobility Nodes (e-Nodes) in consortia mode for effective and impactful implementation. Each e-Node in a specific technology vertical consists of about 3-4 academic institutions/R&D laboratories with provision for inclusion of startups/PSU/industry partners working in the respective domain. Selection of e-Nodes is based on recommendation of specific expert committees. ANRF will monitor the progress of e-Nodes periodically in terms of their target achievements and impact. These measures ensure effective implementation and monitoring of the MAHA-EV Mission.

By supporting early-career scientists, the PMECRG will play a pivotal role in advancing scientific research, enabling recipients to undertake independent and impactful research. It also promotes knowledge creation and strengthens the research ecosystem by fostering fresh perspectives and innovative outcomes. The MAHA-EV Mission initiative focuses on developing indigenous capabilities in the Indian eco-system to meet the current technological requirements and doing cutting edge advanced research. These schemes help researchers establish and advance their research careers, and their contributions are likely to impact India's position in global science and technology. These initiatives are also aligned with the broader vision of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and contribute to India's scientific and technological advancements.

This information was given by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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