PMRF Symposium Conducted at IIT Guwahati

IIT Guwahati recently hosted the 5th Annual National PMRF Symposium, a premier meeting that showcased the research of India’s exceptional doctoral researchers.

Published 8 March 2026 | Category Meetings & Conferences | Office Academic Affairs

A two-day symposium for scholars under the Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) scheme was held on March 6 and 7, 2026 in IIT Guwahati. The Symposium brings together PMRF scholars from across India to present their research, exchange ideas, and interact with peers, faculty, and experts.

A Prestigious Pipeline for STEM Excellence

Initiated in the 2018-19 Union Budget and administered by the Ministry of Education, the PMRF program is designed to retain top-tier talent within India by offering significant incentives to those working at the frontiers of science and engineering. Fellows receive a structured monthly stipend alongside an annual contingency grant to support their research endeavors.

The fellowship attracts talent through two distinct pathways: Direct Entry for top-performing graduates from institutions like IITs, IISc, and NITs at the time of admission, and Lateral Entry for students already enrolled in PhD programs who demonstrate exceptional merit within their first two years.

Research Showcase

The annual symposium is designed as a platform to showcase ongoing PhD work, receive feedback, and build collaborations across disciplines and institutions. 

During the symposium, scholars typically present their work in the form of poster presentations and oral talks. There are keynote lectures by eminent researchers and panel discussions. The atmosphere is interactive, with participants discussing methodologies, results, and future directions of their research.

Following successful editions at IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Indore, and IIT Hyderabad, the 5th Symposium at IIT Guwahati continued the tradition of featuring a wide spectrum of research.

The research presented spanned the full breadth of STEM and interdisciplinary fields, including:

• Engineering: Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, and Chemical

• Science: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics

• Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence

• Biological Science and Biotechnology

• Interdisciplinary Areas: Data science, climate science, materials science, robotics, and energy systems

Building a Stronger Research Ecosystem

Beyond the technical presentations, the symposium served as a critical networking platform. By facilitating interactions between scholars, faculty, and experts, the event encouraged the exchange of methodologies and the formation of new collaborations.

IIT Guwahati underscores its collective commitment to nurturing the innovators who will drive India’s scientific and technological leadership.