The PAIR programme, initiated by the Centre, aims to enhance research capabilities in HEIs in India lacking research resources through partnerships with leading institutions. This comes after the implementation of the program was talked about at the first governing board meeting of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September.

“The programme will operate through a mentorship-driven hub-and-spoke framework to facilitate systematic research growth across institutions,” the Department of Science and Technology (DST) said in an official statement.
 
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) also mentioned that these central hubs will support up-and-coming institutions (spokes) with research endeavors, offer resources, and utilize expertise, ultimately connecting institutions and fostering a strong research environment in India.

Every PAIR network will include a hub and a maximum of seven spoke institutions. Each hub institution is limited to submitting only one proposal, which must involve multi-departmental faculty teams from spoke institutions.

In the initial stage, hub institutions will consist of those ranked in the top 25 overall in NIRF and INIs in the top 50 overall in NIRF rankings.

The participating organizations will consist of public universities at both the central and state levels, as well as specific National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs). The DST announced that in the next stages, more top universities and institutions will be included in the eligibility criteria.