Deadline: 21-Aug-2026
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Medical Commission (NMC) are inviting research proposals to improve the quality of medical education in India through digital innovation, skill development, and evidence-based teaching approaches. Eligible medical colleges and institutions can apply for research grants supporting projects of up to four years aimed at strengthening undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral medical education.
What is the ICMR–NMC Medical Education Research Grant?
The ICMR–NMC Call for Proposals is a research funding initiative that supports innovative projects focused on improving medical education in India.
The programme encourages medical institutions to design, implement, and evaluate new educational approaches that enhance teaching quality, student learning outcomes, digital learning environments, and professional skill development for future healthcare professionals.
The initiative seeks evidence-based solutions that can strengthen medical education systems and contribute to long-term improvements in healthcare training.
Focus Areas
Research proposals should address one or more of the following priority areas:
- Digital innovation in medical education
- Skill development for healthcare professionals
- Undergraduate medical education (UG)
- Postgraduate medical education (PG)
- Doctoral medical education
- Innovative teaching and learning methodologies
- Educational quality improvement
- Technology-enabled medical learning
- Medical education research
- Capacity building in health professions education
Objectives of the Programme
The programme aims to:
- Improve the quality of medical education in India
- Encourage innovation in teaching and learning
- Support evidence-based educational research
- Enhance student learning outcomes
- Promote digital transformation in medical education
- Strengthen competency-based medical education
- Develop effective models for training future healthcare professionals
Grant Categories and Project Duration
Projects may be supported under the following funding categories:
Anveshan (Small Grant)
- Project duration of up to 3 years
Nishayak Anveshan (Intermediate Grant)
- Project duration of up to 4 years
Optional Preparatory Phase
Applicants may include an additional six-month preparatory period without requesting extra funding.
This phase may be used for:
- Project planning
- Curriculum development
- Pilot testing
- Ethics approvals
- Tool validation
- Faculty preparation
Who is Eligible?
The call is open to:
- Medical colleges
- Medical universities
- Medical teaching institutions
- Eligible healthcare education institutions
Principal Investigator Eligibility
Investigators must:
- Hold a regular faculty position in an eligible medical institution
- Possess relevant medical qualifications such as:
- MBBS
- MD
- MS
- DM
- Demonstrate research experience or active engagement in medical education research
Eligible Research Topics
Applicants may propose research related to:
- Digital teaching platforms
- Simulation-based learning
- Artificial intelligence in medical education
- Virtual learning environments
- Competency-based medical education
- Clinical skills training
- Assessment and evaluation methods
- Curriculum innovation
- Faculty development
- Technology-enhanced learning
- Educational outcome assessment
- Student engagement strategies
Why This Funding Matters
Medical education continues to evolve with advances in healthcare, digital technology, and competency-based learning.
This initiative supports institutions in developing innovative educational practices that can:
- Improve healthcare workforce quality
- Enhance clinical competence
- Promote technology-enabled education
- Generate evidence for educational policy
- Improve patient care through better medical training
The programme also encourages institutions to create scalable and sustainable educational models that can benefit medical education nationwide.
How to Apply
Eligible applicants should follow these steps:
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Ensure that:
- The institution is eligible to apply.
- The Principal Investigator holds a regular faculty position.
- Required academic qualifications are met.
Step 2: Identify a Research Problem
Select a medical education challenge related to:
- Digital innovation
- Teaching quality
- Skill development
- Student learning
- Educational assessment
Step 3: Develop a Research Proposal
Prepare a proposal describing:
- Background and rationale
- Research objectives
- Methodology
- Expected educational outcomes
- Implementation plan
- Timeline
- Budget
- Evaluation strategy
Step 4: Submit the Proposal
Submit the complete proposal according to the ICMR–NMC application guidelines within the prescribed deadline.
Selection Criteria
Applications are expected to be evaluated based on:
- Scientific quality of the proposal
- Innovation in medical education
- Relevance to programme objectives
- Feasibility of implementation
- Research methodology
- Expected impact on medical education
- Investigator expertise
- Institutional capacity
Expected Outcomes
Successful projects should contribute to:
- Better teaching practices
- Improved student competencies
- Stronger digital education systems
- Enhanced faculty capabilities
- Evidence-based educational reforms
- Higher-quality healthcare education
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Submitting proposals without a clear research question
- Choosing topics unrelated to medical education
- Providing weak evaluation methods
- Developing unrealistic project timelines
- Presenting unclear budgets
- Failing to demonstrate institutional capacity
- Not explaining the educational impact of the project
Tips for a Strong Proposal
To improve competitiveness:
- Focus on solving a real educational challenge.
- Use evidence-based research methods.
- Include measurable outcomes.
- Demonstrate innovation and scalability.
- Explain how the project can improve medical education nationally.
- Develop a realistic implementation and evaluation plan.
- Highlight the research experience of the project team.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the purpose of the ICMR–NMC Call for Proposals?
The programme supports research projects that improve medical education through digital innovation, skill development, and innovative teaching approaches.
2. Who can apply?
Medical colleges and eligible medical institutions can apply through regular faculty members with appropriate medical qualifications and research experience.
3. Which areas of medical education are supported?
The programme supports undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, digital, and competency-based medical education, along with innovative educational research.
4. How long can funded projects last?
Projects may run for up to three years under the Anveshan (Small Grant) category or up to four years under the Nishayak Anveshan (Intermediate Grant) category. An optional six-month preparatory phase may also be included without additional funding.
5. What qualifications must the Principal Investigator have?
Applicants should hold a regular faculty appointment and possess qualifications such as MBBS, MD, MS, or DM, along with experience or demonstrated interest in medical education research.
6. Can projects focus on digital learning technologies?
Yes. Digital innovation, technology-enabled learning, simulation, online education, and other innovative educational approaches are key focus areas of the programme.
7. Why is this programme important?
The initiative promotes evidence-based improvements in medical education, helping institutions develop innovative teaching methods that strengthen healthcare training and prepare future medical professionals more effectively.
Conclusion
The ICMR–NMC Call for Proposals provides an important opportunity for medical institutions to advance research that transforms medical education through digital innovation and skill development. By funding high-quality educational research, the programme aims to improve learning outcomes, strengthen competency-based training, and build a more effective and future-ready healthcare workforce in India.
For more information, visit ICMR.
