Cabinet Clears ₹1500 Cr Phase III of Biomedical Research Career Programme
The BRCP, launched in 2008-09 under the DBT-Wellcome Trust India Alliance, supports world-class biomedical research fellowships in India. Phase II was rolled out in 2018-19 with an expanded portfolio.
New Delhi, October 2: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved Phase III of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP), a ₹1,500 crore initiative to strengthen India’s biomedical research ecosystem. The programme will be implemented from 2025-26 to 2030-31 in partnership with the UK-based Wellcome Trust, with India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT) contributing ₹1,000 crore and the Trust providing ₹500 crore.
The BRCP, launched in 2008-09 under the DBT-Wellcome Trust India Alliance, supports world-class biomedical research fellowships in India. Phase II was rolled out in 2018-19 with an expanded portfolio.
In its third phase, the programme will introduce Early Career and Intermediate Research Fellowships, a Collaborative Grants Programme for two- to three-member investigator teams, and a Research Management Programme to support core research. Emphasis will also be placed on mentorship, networking, public engagement, and fostering new partnerships.
Expected outcomes include training over 2,000 students and postdoctoral fellows, producing high-impact publications, enabling patentable discoveries, and expanding research activities to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. The initiative also aims for a 10-15% increase in support to women researchers and for up to 30% of collaborative projects to reach technology readiness levels (TRL) 4 and above.
Officials said the continuation of BRCP reflects India’s commitment to creating world-class biomedical capacity, advancing translational innovation, and positioning the country as a global hub for biomedical sciences.
