CM Majhi Backs PM Modi's ₹1 Lakh Crore Research Push
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on 8 August 2026 amplified PM Narendra Modi's call for youth to pursue research, citing the Prime Minister Research Fellowship and a new R&D Yojana backed by up to ₹1 lakh crore in central funding.
Key Takeaways
CM Mohan Charan Majhi posted in Odia on 8 August 2026 quoting PM Modi's push for research as a key opportunity for young Indians.
The Prime Minister Research Fellowship (PMRF) , launched in 2018 , supports PhD scholars at IITs, IISc and other premier institutions with enhanced stipends.
A new Research, Development and Innovation Yojana has been announced to accelerate new thinking and innovation at scale.
Up to ₹1 lakh crore is being committed to the research sector under the central government's framework.
Odisha, with growing higher education infrastructure, stands to benefit from increased PMRF selections and state-level scheme uptake.
A ₹1 lakh crore commitment to research and a fellowship programme designed to keep India's brightest minds in domestic laboratories — Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi amplified Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for a research-powered India on Saturday, 8 August 2026, urging young scholars to seize the moment.
Posting in Odia, CM Majhi quoted PM Modi directly: 'ଆପଣମାନଙ୍କ ସାମ୍ନାରେ ଆଉ ଏକ ବଡ଼ ସମ୍ଭାବନା ରହିଛି' ['Before you lies yet another great opportunity'] — that opportunity being research. The Chief Minister spotlighted two central instruments driving this push: the Prime Minister Research Fellowship (PMRF) and a new Research, Development and Innovation Yojana, with a funding envelope of up to ₹1 lakh crore earmarked for the sector.
What the PM Research Fellowship Actually Does
The Prime Minister Research Fellowship was first launched in 2018 to pull top undergraduate and postgraduate talent directly into PhD programmes at IITs, IISc, and other premier institutions. Fellows receive enhanced stipends and research grants, removing the financial friction that has historically pushed gifted Indian students toward industry jobs or overseas universities rather than domestic doctoral programmes.
The scheme targets frontier areas of science and technology — the exact domains where India's R&D expenditure, long stuck at roughly 0.6–0.7 per cent of GDP, has struggled to compete with peer economies. By attaching a fellowship to institutional prestige, the programme bets that money plus mentorship equals retention.
Odisha's Stake in a National Research Agenda
CM Majhi, who took office in June 2024, has consistently positioned Odisha as an active implementer of central flagship schemes rather than a passive recipient. The state has been expanding its higher education infrastructure, and the PMRF — alongside the newly announced Research, Development and Innovation Yojana — offers a direct pipeline for Odisha scholars to enter nationally funded research without leaving the country.
The broader pattern is clear: successive governments have recognised that India cannot sustain a technology-led economy on imported innovation. Fellowships and large corpus funds are the lever being pulled. Whether Odisha universities see a measurable uptick in PMRF selections in the coming academic cycle will be the real test of this amplification.
For a generation of Odia students watching from college campuses, the Chief Minister's message was pointed — the infrastructure is being built, the money is being committed. The question now is who steps in.
Point of View
Reinforcing the party's governance narrative ahead of any future electoral cycle. The ₹1 lakh crore research corpus, if realised, would mark a significant structural shift in India's chronically underfunded R&D landscape — making Majhi's endorsement consequential beyond optics. The real metric to watch is whether Odisha institutions translate this central commitment into actual fellowship selections and local research output.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Prime Minister Research Fellowship (PMRF)?
The Prime Minister Research Fellowship is a central government scheme launched in 2018 that allows top undergraduate and postgraduate students to directly join PhD programmes at IITs, IISc, and other premier institutions with enhanced financial support.
What is the Research, Development and Innovation Yojana mentioned by CM Majhi?
The Research, Development and Innovation Yojana is a central government scheme announced to accelerate new thinking and innovation in India, referenced by CM Majhi in his 8 August 2026 post quoting PM Modi.
How much funding is being allocated for research under the new scheme?
According to CM Majhi's post quoting PM Modi, up to ₹1 lakh crore is being arranged for the research sector, though the full allocation details are subject to official government announcements.
Why did Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi post about PM Modi's research push?
CM Majhi shared PM Modi's remarks to highlight research opportunities available to young people, particularly through the PMRF and new R&D schemes, positioning Odisha youth to benefit from central government funding.
How can Odisha students apply for the Prime Minister Research Fellowship?
Eligible students with strong academic records in science and technology can apply through the official PMRF portal; selections are made for PhD admissions at IITs, IISc, and designated premier institutions across India.
