NEW DELHI: The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has introduced a new doctoral fellowship programme to encourage research that can be translated into practical solutions and innovations.
AICTE Chairman Professor Yogesh Singh and Member Secretary Professor Shyama Rath launched the AICTE Innovation and Entrepreneurship Doctoral Fellowship Programme (AIEDFP). The initiative has a proposed financial outlay of Rs 245 crore over five years and is expected to support 150 PhD fellowships.
The programme is designed to encourage doctoral research that addresses real-world challenges rather than remaining limited to academic outcomes.
It will focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, technology transfer, commercialisation and societal impact.
Five-year fellowship
As part of the programme, selected scholars will be eligible for financial assistance for a maximum of five years, subject to the prescribed eligibility conditions and satisfactory academic and research progress.
Fellows will receive Rs 60,000 per month during the first three years, along with applicable House Rent Allowance (HRA). The monthly fellowship will increase to Rs 70,000, plus applicable HRA, for the fourth and fifth years.
AICTE Chairman Prof. Yogesh Singh and Member Secretary Prof. Shyama Rath launched the AICTE Innovation and Entrepreneurship Doctoral Fellowship Programme (AIEDFP), with a projected financial outlay of ₹245 crore over five years to support 150 PhD fellowships.
The programme will… pic.twitter.com/T9LF3EfYR8
— AICTE (@AICTE_INDIA) September 3, 2026
In addition to the monthly fellowship, each scholar can receive an Innovation Grant of up to Rs 10 lakh. The grant can be utilised for activities linked to research and innovation, including prototype development, testing, validation, field trials, and travel.
Through AIEDFP, AICTE seeks to create opportunities for researchers to develop ideas into practical and implementable solutions. The programme places particular emphasis on research with the potential to move from the laboratory or academic setting into real-world applications.
The initiative intends to strengthen the link between doctoral research, innovation, and entrepreneurship, while encouraging outcomes that can contribute to solving pressing societal challenges.