Rs. 20 Crore Research Grant at ANRF Under Ministry of Jal Shakti – Apply Now

The Mission for Advancement in High-impact Areas (MAHA) is an ANRF program designed to support solution-based research aligned with national priorities. In partnership with the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the “MAHA Water Program” focuses on accelerating innovation to address water challenges through R&D-based technological solutions.

The Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) oversees comprehensive water management in India, integrating water resources, river development, and sanitation. It comprises the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, and the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

ANRF Call for Proposal – Thematic Areas

• Water Resource Assessment and Sustainable Management
• Drinking Water
• Water Quality, Human and Ecological Health
• Water Use Efficiency and Circular Economy
• Climate Resilience & Adaptation

Project duration is 3 years, extendable up to 5 years based on milestone evaluation and project impact.

Eligibility for this Research Grant

• Proposals must be submitted in consortium mode with one Lead PI and at least one Co-PI (maximum six PIs).
• The Lead PI must hold a regular position in an academic institution, national research laboratory, DSIR-SIRO registered organization, or eligible Section 8 company.
• Applicants must be Indian citizens or OCI holders with a Ph.D. or equivalent professional degree (MD/MS/MDS/MVSc).
• At least one collaborating institution is mandatory, promoting interdisciplinary and multi-institutional research.
• Roles, responsibilities, deliverables, and budget allocations for all PIs must be clearly defined.
• Industry experts, startup representatives, and international collaborators may participate as Honorary Investigators.

• Funding support of up to ₹20 Crore per project is available for research personnel, consumables, travel, contingency, and institutional overheads.
• High capital expenditure proposals will not be supported.
• The lead institution will manage project funds and coordinate fund distribution to partner institutions.
• Participation of at least one Startup/MSME/Industry partner is mandatory with a minimum 10% cash contribution of the total project budget.
• A clear translational and scale-up plan with measurable impact outcomes must be included in the proposal.

• The Call for applications will be notified through the online portal of ANRF.
• The proposals under the MAHA Water mission should be submitted in online mode only through the website.
• Proposals submitted in any mode or platform other than the designated one will not be considered by ANRF.
• Last Date to Apply: Jul 10 2026, 05:00 PM

• Lead PI and Co-PIs must register and complete their profiles on the ANRF online portal before proposal submission.
• Applicants must provide key proposal details, including project title, summary, keywords, objectives, target values, and expected outcomes.
• Other Technical Details (OTD) must be uploaded as a single PDF document.
• All submitted proposals must be original and free from plagiarism.
• Any proposal containing copied, unattributed, or previously submitted content will be rejected without review.
• Cases of plagiarism may be reported to the applicant’s lead institution.

Process of Selection

• Lead PI and PI(s) should first register on the official website.
• After logging in, applicant(s) are required to fill all the mandatory fields in the Profile Detail section.
• Some of the key elements of the proposal should be defined clearly, such as Project Title (max 500 characters), Project summary (max 3000 characters), Keywords (max 10), Objectives of the project (max 1500 characters), Target values being set for the project, Expected output and outcome of the proposal (max 1500 characters).
• Other Technical Details (OTD) of the proposal must be uploaded as a single file in PDF format.
• Plagiarism Policy:
  All proposals submitted under the MAHA Water program must be entirely original in both concept and content, reflecting the applicant and his/her team’s own research ideas, methodologies, and planned activities. Proposals found to contain any uncredited or unattributed copied content, whether from published literature, online sources, or previously submitted work, will be summarily rejected without further review. It will be reported to the lead institution.

• Industry/MSME/Startup partners must contribute at least 10% of the project budget in cash.
• Project duration is 3 years, extendable up to 5 years (3+1+1) based on performance and milestone achievements.
• Funds must be utilized only for approved project activities.
• The lead institution is responsible for project execution, fund management, and reporting.
• Project staff will be appointed on a temporary basis and governed by host institute rules.
• Intellectual Property generated will be governed by a joint ANRF–MoJS–Institute IP policy.
• Research findings should not be published before securing appropriate IP protection.
• Annual progress reports, utilization certificates, expenditure statements, and asset records must be submitted through the ANRF portal.
• Release of subsequent funds will depend on project progress, milestone achievement, and financial compliance.
• ANRF and the Ministry of Jal Shakti may conduct periodic reviews, monitoring visits, and expert evaluations.
• Projects may be terminated for poor progress, fund misuse, false information, or non-compliance.
• Project transfer to another institution is not permitted.
• Unspent funds must be refunded, and final reports submitted after project completion.
• Assets purchased under the project cannot be disposed of without prior approval.
• All project activities must comply with environmental, bioethical, safety, and statutory regulations.

The ANRF Call for Proposal under the MAHA Water Program is one of the most significant Research Grant opportunities currently available in India. By bringing together researchers, institutions, startups, and industry partners, this initiative aims to create transformative solutions for national water security. For professionals pursuing a Career in Life Sciences, environmental sciences, biotechnology, engineering, and interdisciplinary research, this program offers a unique platform to contribute to impactful scientific innovation while securing substantial research funding.