New Delhi, April 17: In a significant recognition of its growing leadership in scientific research, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has been awarded the prestigious Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) grant by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). This grant, one of the most competitive in the country, was awarded following a rigorous national-level selection process based on the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).

As part of the PAIR initiative, 30 top-ranking institutions have been selected to serve as research hubs, each partnered with several “spoke” institutions. These hubs will mentor and collaborate with their spokes to advance research in emerging and priority areas. JNU emerged as one of the leading institutions, chosen after an intensive evaluation process that included a detailed in-person presentation before a panel of senior scientists and experts in Bengaluru.

The JNU team was led by Prof. Supriya Chakravarti as the Project Director, with key support from Prof. Kashyap Dubey, Prof. Shobhan Sen, and a diverse group of faculty across multiple schools. Present at the final presentation was JNU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Santishree D. Pandit, who commended the collaborative spirit and interdisciplinary strength of the proposal.

JNU’s PAIR hub will mentor five spoke institutions:

• Central University of Punjab

• Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University

• Tezpur University

• Cotton University

• Berhampur University

What set JNU’s proposal apart was its interdisciplinary approach, seamlessly integrating scientific research with contributions from social science faculties. This unique blend ensures the research not only drives scientific innovation but also addresses broader societal, ethical, and community dimensions—reflecting JNU’s commitment to inclusive and holistic knowledge creation.

Out of numerous applicants, only seven institutions were ultimately selected for the PAIR grant: three IITs, one NIT, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and two central universities—JNU and the University of Hyderabad (HCU). This places JNU firmly among India’s top-tier research institutions and highlights the strength of its science departments on a national scale.

The ANRF-PAIR initiative aims to foster long-term institutional collaborations, capacity building, and groundbreaking research in critical domains. As a hub, JNU will lead efforts to build research infrastructure, provide training, and support project execution across its partner institutions—strengthening India’s research ecosystem from the ground up.