AICTE Launches New Fellowship Scheme for PhD Students

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has unveiled a new fellowship scheme aimed at PhD students, providing financial support and collaboration opportunities with industries and startups. This initiative, which spans five years, offers a monthly stipend, house rent allowance, and grants for innovation-related activities. With a budget of ₹245 crore, the program seeks to promote research that addresses real-world challenges and encourages multidisciplinary collaboration. Eligible institutions include top-ranked colleges and those with robust research facilities, ensuring students gain practical experience while pursuing their degrees. Discover how this fellowship can enhance your academic journey and career prospects.

By Sourabh Singh Sep 7, 2026, 10:49 IST

Exciting Fellowship Opportunity for PhD Aspirants

Students aiming to pursue a PhD have received encouraging news. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has introduced a fellowship initiative aimed at bridging the gap between research and industry, including startups. This program will provide selected researchers with financial support for a duration of five years. The monthly fellowship amount will be ₹60,000 for the initial three years, followed by ₹70,000 for the last two years. Furthermore, recipients will also receive House Rent Allowance (HRA) and a grant of up to ₹10 lakh for activities related to innovation.

**Five-Year Fellowship Overview**

The 'Innovation and Entrepreneurship Doctoral Fellowship' scheme by AICTE is designed to encourage research that addresses real-world challenges. A total budget of ₹245 crore has been earmarked for this five-year initiative.

Fellows will receive ₹60,000 monthly for the first three years, increasing to ₹70,000 in the fourth and fifth years. HRA will be provided as per applicable regulations. Additionally, each researcher can access an innovation grant of up to ₹10 lakh for activities like prototype development, testing, field trials, and data collection during their research tenure.

**Collaboration with Industry and Startups**

A significant aspect of this fellowship is the chance for researchers to collaborate with industries, startups, research institutions, and incubators. They will also have the opportunity to gain industrial experience for six to twelve months, engaging in research and development, prototype creation, testing, and validation.

The scheme aims to foster multidisciplinary research across both technical and non-technical domains, focusing on patents, prototypes, technology transfer, startups, and market-ready products.

**Eligible Institutions for the Program**

Colleges that rank among the top 150 according to NIRF, 'Institutes of Eminence,' and those with sufficient research facilities will be eligible to offer PhD programs under this initiative. AICTE's goal is to connect research with employment, industry, and entrepreneurship, providing students with practical experience alongside their academic pursuits and enhancing their chances of translating research into real-world applications.