How to Apply for ANRF POWER Grant in 2026: Steps & Benefits

Introduction to the ANRF POWER Grant

Bridging the gender gap in scientific and technological research requires targeted financial backing and institutional support. The ANRF POWER Grant (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research) stands as a landmark gender-affirmative scientific initiative. Formulated by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF / formerly SERB) under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, this program is designed specifically to empower female researchers to undertake frontier science without financial constraints.

For female researchers and scientists operating across Indian academic and research institutions, securing capital for advanced laboratory instruments, research staff fellowships, and consumables can often present a barrier to breakthrough discoveries. The ANRF POWER Grant directly addresses this hurdle by providing substantial research funding—up to ₹60 Lakhs for Tier-I premier institutions and up to ₹30 Lakhs for Tier-II state universities—over a structured 3-year tenure.

To get started right away with your submission, review the official guidelines and pathways directly on our portal via the ANRF POWER Grant overview page.

Scheme Overview & Objective

The primary mandate of the ANRF POWER Grant is to mitigate gender disparity in scientific research and provide structured funding opportunities for female scientists and engineers across India. By offering competitive peer review managed by all-women expert search committees, the scheme ensures rigorous, equitable evaluation of proposals in biomedical engineering, climate science, astrophysics, green chemistry, and allied disciplines.

The scheme is administered directly by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (DST, Govt of India) and is structured around two primary funding tiers to ensure robust regional participation:

• Tier I (Premier Labs): Up to ₹60 Lakhs for institutions such as IITs, IISc, IISERs, and CSIR national labs.
• Tier II (State Universities): Up to ₹30 Lakhs for state universities and regional colleges.
• Project Duration: A 36-month structured tenure designed to deliver measurable exploratory research outcomes.

Eligibility Criteria & Scope

Before initiating the ANRF POWER Grant application process 2026, applicants must verify that they meet all mandatory criteria set forth by the governing body. The eligibility framework is strictly defined to target qualified female researchers holding regular academic positions:

• Gender & Nationality: Exclusively for Indian women scientists and researchers holding a regular academic or research position in an eligible Indian institution.
• Educational Qualification: Must hold a PhD in Science, Engineering, Medicine, or allied fields.
• Host Institution: Eligible institutions include Central Universities, IITs, IISc, NITs, State Universities, private universities, and National R&D Laboratories.
• Research Focus: The proposal must outline high-impact, original exploratory scientific research across any recognized science or engineering discipline.
• Grant Limitation: The applicant must not hold more than one active individual research grant from SERB/ANRF concurrently.
• Tier Allocation: Tier classification is determined automatically based on the category of the applicant's host institution.

Key Financial & Growth Benefits

Understanding the ANRF POWER Grant funding amount and structural benefits helps researchers plan their multi-year projects effectively. The grant covers a comprehensive expense matrix designed to support autonomous scientific investigation:

• Capital Equipment Acquisition: Funding for state-of-the-art laboratory instrumentation required for exploratory research.
• Research Staff Fellowships: Resources for hiring Junior Research Fellows (JRF), Senior Research Fellows (SRF), and Research Associates.
• Consumables & Contingency: Dedicated budgets for specialized chemical consumables, testing materials, and operational contingencies.
• Travel Support: Domestic and international conference travel grants to present findings at global symposia.
• Institutional Overheads: Overheads credited to host academic institutions to foster an enabling environment for women in STEM.
• SERB-POWER Fellowship Integration: Top-performing principal investigators become eligible for the prestigious SERB-POWER Fellowship, which includes a ₹15,000/month top-up honorarium.

Application Procedure & Documents

The application workflow on the ANRF scientific portal is completely digital, transparent, and structured for end-to-end tracking. Ensuring compliance with the ANRF POWER Grant document checklist is essential for avoiding administrative rejection during peer review.

Required Documents Checklist

• Detailed Project Proposal: Prepared strictly in the ANRF POWER format, outlining the methodology, work schedule, and detailed budget breakdown.
• Itemized Budget Quotations: Verified cost estimates for capital equipment and specialized consumables.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV): Comprehensive CV of the Woman Principal Investigator, complete with a peer-reviewed publication list.
• Endorsement Letter: Official letter signed by the Head of the Host Academic or Research Institution.
• Employment Proof: Verification of regular academic or research employment at the host institution.
• Regulatory Clearances: Institutional Ethics or Bio-safety clearances, where applicable.

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

1. Register on the official ANRF portal as a principal investigator and complete your professional profile.
2. Download the current ANRF POWER Grant proposal template and draft your exploratory research project.
3. Gather institutional endorsements, ethics committee approvals, and itemized quotations for capital equipment.
4. Log in to the portal, upload all documents according to the required specifications, and submit your proposal prior to the active call deadline.
5. Track your application status through the portal dashboard during the all-women expert committee review phase.

Official FAQs

1. What is the maximum funding amount available under the ANRF POWER Grant?

The grant provides up to ₹60 Lakhs for Tier-I premier institutions (such as IITs, IISc, and CSIR labs) and up to ₹30 Lakhs for Tier-II state universities and colleges over a 3-year period.

2. Who is eligible to apply for this scheme?

The grant is exclusively open to Indian women scientists and researchers who hold a PhD in Science, Engineering, Medicine, or allied fields, and possess a regular academic or research position in an eligible Indian institution.

3. Can an applicant hold multiple grants concurrently from ANRF?

No. An applicant must not hold more than one active individual research grant from SERB or ANRF at the same time.

4. What expenses are covered under the research grant?

The funding covers capital equipment acquisition, hiring of research scholars (JRF/SRF/Research Associates), chemical consumables, domestic and international conference travel, and contingency expenses.

5. How are proposals evaluated?

Proposals undergo rigorous competitive peer review conducted by all-women expert search committees comprising eminent scientists and fellows of national science academies.

Conclusion & Next Steps

The ANRF POWER Grant represents a transformative opportunity for female researchers in India to secure substantial financial backing, elevate their institutional standing, and drive breakthrough discoveries in science and engineering. By preparing a meticulous proposal, assembling the required documentation, and adhering strictly to the eligibility guidelines, women scientists can successfully navigate the application process. To begin your application journey, explore the complete program guidelines at our dedicated ANRF POWER Grant resource portal today.