NCERT PRAYAAS 2026-27 applications close today, August 10, 2026, after the council extended the original July 31 deadline for its school student research scheme. The Department of Education in Science and Mathematics (DESM) at NCERT confirmed the extension in a notice posted on its official website, giving Class 8 to 11 students, along with their guide teachers and mentors, a final window to submit research proposals under the Promotion of Research Attitude in Young and Aspiring Students programme.

 

Key Facts: NCERT PRAYAAS 2026-27

• Scheme announced: June 22, 2026, by DESM, NCERT.
• Original application deadline: July 31, 2026.
• Extended deadline: August 10, 2026 (today), as per NCERT’s official notice.
• Eligibility: students studying in Class 8 to 11, in any school.
• Team structure: one student, or a group of maximum two students from different classes, one guide teacher, and one expert from a higher education institution (HEI).
• Catalytic grant: Rs 50,000 per selected project — Rs 10,000 to students, Rs 20,000 to the school, and Rs 20,000 to the HEI expert.
• Only one project proposal per school will be forwarded and considered.
• Applications and proposals must be emailed to prayaas2526@gmail.com in the prescribed format.
• Official source: ncert.nic.in, under DESM’s Activities section.

 

What This Means for Students

If you are in Class 8, 9, 10, or 11 and wanted to submit a research idea under PRAYAAS but missed the July 31 deadline, you now have until the end of today, August 10, 2026, to apply. NCERT’s PRAYAAS scheme funds student-led scientific research on real problems, from environmental issues to community-level challenges, guided by a school teacher and a subject expert from a nearby college or university.

This is not a written exam or a one-day competition. Selected teams get a full academic year to carry out an actual research project, culminating in a report and a presentation before an NCERT jury.

Who is Eligible to Apply

• Any student currently studying in Class 8 to Class 11, from any school in India.
• A single student, or a group of up to two students from different classes (for example, one from Class 10 or 11 and another from Class 8 or 9), can apply together.
• Each team must have one guide teacher from the school (PGT or TGT teaching Science, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, or Biology to Classes 8-11) and one expert from a higher education institution listed in the guidelines.
• Schools can forward only one project proposal each; multiple proposals from the same school get rejected without review.

 

How to Apply for PRAYAAS 2026-27

• Download the PRAYAAS 2026-27 guidelines and application format from ncert.nic.in under the DESM Activities section.
• Fill in the student, teacher, and HEI expert details along with the research proposal, following the format given in the guidelines.
• Get the no-objection certificate signed by the school principal and the HEI expert’s institution, as specified in the annexures.
• Scan the completed application, proposal, and signed certificates.
• Email the full set of documents to prayaas2526@gmail.com before the end of the day today, August 10, 2026.

 

Grant Amount and Project Timeline

Each selected team will receive a one-time grant of Rs 50,000 to help carry out its research project. The amount will be divided into three parts: Rs 10,000 will go directly to the student team (Rs 5,000 per student if the team has two students), Rs 20,000 will be given to the school to cover research-related expenses, and the remaining Rs 20,000 will go to the institution of the HEI expert for mentoring support and access to laboratory facilities.
The grant will be released in two installments. The first half will be provided after the results are announced, while the remaining amount will be released after the team submits a satisfactory progress report, around six months after the project begins.
For 2026, NCERT plans to select 40 research proposals. Of these, 20 will come from schools in rural or underserved areas, with an equal number of projects from government and private schools. Another 20 proposals will be selected from urban schools, again with equal representation from government and private institutions.
The proposed project period is September 1, 2026, to August 31, 2027. This gives the selected student teams one full year to conduct their research, complete the project, and submit their final report.

 

What Happens After You Apply

After the extended deadline ends today, a panel of subject experts will evaluate all applications based on the originality of the idea, scientific approach, research method, practical relevance, and environmental sustainability.
Shortlisted teams will then attend an online interview and give a 5–7 minute presentation. Only applicants who clear the initial screening will reach this stage. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee an interview call.

 

PRAYAAS 2026-27 FAQs

Q. What is the last date to apply for PRAYAAS 2026-27?
Ans. The last date is August 10, 2026. NCERT extended this from the original deadline of July 31, 2026, as confirmed in an official notice on ncert.nic.in.

Q. Who is eligible to apply for NCERT PRAYAAS?
Ans. Students studying in Class 8 to Class 11 in any school in India are eligible, applying individually or in a group of up to two students, along with a guide teacher and an HEI expert.

Q. How much funding does a selected PRAYAAS project get?
Ans. Each selected project receives a catalytic grant of Rs 50,000, split between the students (Rs 10,000), the school (Rs 20,000), and the HEI expert’s institution (Rs 20,000), paid in two instalments.

Q. Where do I send my PRAYAAS application?
Ans. Completed applications and research proposals, along with the required signed certificates, must be emailed to prayaas2526@gmail.com in the format specified in the official guidelines on ncert.nic.in.

Q. When will PRAYAAS 2026-27 results be announced?
Ans. As per NCERT’s original schedule, screening was set for August 10, jury review for August 25, and results for August 31, 2026, though timelines may shift slightly given the deadline extension. Students should watch ncert.nic.in for the confirmed date.

 

Next Steps for Students

Students who still want to submit a PRAYAAS 2026-27 proposal need to get their application, research idea, and signed certificates emailed to prayaas2526@gmail.com before today ends. Talk to your school’s science coordinator immediately if your school hasn’t already forwarded a proposal, since each school gets only one entry. Keep checking ncert.nic.in for the screening and results schedule over the coming weeks.