AICTE Doctoral Fellowship: Eligibility, Benefits and Latest Guidelines

The AICTE Doctoral Fellowship is a flagship research funding initiative of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Under this fellowship, financial assistance is provided in the form of a monthly fellowship, contingency grant and house rent allowance (HRA) to support meritorious PhD scholars pursuing research in engineering, technology, management, design, applied sciences, and allied disciplines.

The scheme aims to strengthen doctoral-level research, promote academic excellence and foster innovation by developing a robust and sustainable research ecosystem within AICTE-approved institutions and universities across the country.

AICTE Doctoral Fellowship: Eligibility Criteria

Students who wish to apply for AICTE Doctoral Fellowship must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

Academic Eligibility

• Must be admitted to a full-time PhD programme in an AICTE-approved institution
  
• Eligible disciplines include engineering & technology, management, design, planning, applied arts & crafts, computer applications, hotel management & catering technology
  
• Applied science postgraduates admitted to PhD in AICTE-approved institutions are also eligible
  

Educational Qualification

• UG / PG degree or 5-year integrated / dual degree leading to PG in a relevant discipline
  
• For Hotel Management: AICTE-approved UG degree + master’s in relevant/allied area
  

Qualifying Examination (Last 5 Years)

Discipline	Required Exam
Engineering & Technology	GATE / SRF
Management	CAT / CMAT / GMAT
Design	CEED / NET
Planning	GATE / NET
Applied Arts & Crafts	NET / CEED
Applied Science	GATE / JRF / SRF
Hotel Management	No national exam; research proposal evaluated by AICTE

Age Limit

1. Maximum 30 years at the time of registration/application

2. Age Relaxation:

• 5 years for SC / ST / Women / PwD
• 3 years for OBC
• Maximum relaxation capped at 5 years
  

Other Conditions

• Candidate must not have availed AICTE ADF or NET-JRF earlier
• Full-time research commitment is mandatory

AICTE Doctoral Fellowship: Registration Guidelines

Category A: These candidates can register directly on the AICTE ADF portal and submit the application along with a no objection certificate (NOC) from the admitting university, as per scheme guidelines.

Category B: The university registers under the scheme and admits candidates to its Ph.D. programme following its own admission procedure and the minimum eligibility criteria prescribed by AICTE.

In order to promote the quality of research, the evaluation committee of the AICTE will evaluate the research proposal of the candidate from category A and category B.

AICTE Doctoral Fellowship: Benefits

The fellowship is offered for a maximum duration of five years, subject to satisfactory progress and periodic reviews. Here is the fellowship reward structure:

AICTE Doctoral Fellowship Rewards

Fellowship	Amount
Junior Research Fellow (JRF)	₹37,000 per month
Senior Research Fellow (SRF)	₹42,000 per month

1. ADF students are entitled to a contingency grant of ₹15,000 per year to cover miscellaneous research expenditures.

2. House Rent Allowance (HRA) is provided as per central government norms applicable in the city where the institution is located, only if hostel accommodation is not provided. Students residing in hostels are not entitled to HRA.

3. Fellows are eligible for a maximum of 30 days of leave in a year, in addition to public holidays. They are also eligible for maternity/paternity leave as per Government of India (GoI) norms.

4. Students will be assigned a teaching assistantship of 6 to 8 hours per week for the entire tenure. This includes assistance in tutorials, labs, invigilation, and evaluation of answer sheets, but not independent teaching load.

AICTE Doctoral Fellowship: JRF to SRF Upgradation

Upgradation from JRF to SRF occurs after the successful completion of two years from the date of the ADF start. Upgradation is mandatory subject to fulfilling the following conditions within the first two years:

• Successful completion of the course-work.
• Approval of the research plan/proposal by the competent authority/committee (e.g., SRC/DRC) of the institute.

The assessment is conducted by a three-member committee constituted by the competent authority of the university, which includes the head of the department, the supervisor, and one external member.

Documents required for AICTE Doctoral Fellowship

• PhD admission / registration letter
• UG and PG mark sheets and degree certificates
• National qualifying exam scorecard (GATE/NET/CAT/CEED etc.)
• Research proposal
• Age proof (Class 10 certificate)
• Category certificate (If applicable)
• Undertaking for non-availing of ADF/NET-JRF
• University NOC (For category-A applicants)

Objective of AICTE Doctoral Fellowship

The key objectives of the AICTE Doctoral Fellowship is to enhance both the quality and quantity of doctoral research in AICTE-approved institutions, promote a strong research culture and a robust knowledge creation ecosystem, support collaborative, peer-reviewed and industry-linked research that leads to innovation and start-ups and catalyse high-impact academic research aligned with national priorities.

AICTE Doctoral Fellowship: Thrust Areas for Research

Following are the stream-wise areas of research for AICTE doctoral fellows:

Engineering and Technology

Artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, blockchain, cyber security, green technologies, renewable energy, electric and hybrid mobility, smart cities, IOT, robotics, quantum computing, defence technology, climate change, waste management and sustainable infrastructure

Management

Technology management, business analytics, supply chain resilience, innovation and entrepreneurship, risk management, operations management, strategic planning, talent management and social enterprise management

Design

Product design, graphic design, textile and apparel design, transportation design, interaction design, universal design and design thinking

Hotel Management and Catering Technology

Master’s level research in relevant or allied areas of hotel management and hospitality studies.

FAQs

Who can apply for the AICTE Doctoral Fellowship?

Candidates admitted to a full-time PhD programme in an AICTE-approved institution and meeting academic, age and qualifying examination criteria are eligible to apply for the fellowship.

What is the age limit for applying under the AICTE Doctoral Fellowship?

Applicants must be below 30 years of age, with permissible age relaxation for reserved categories as per the government of India norms.

Which qualifying examinations are accepted under the AICTE Doctoral Fellowship?

ADF accepts national examinations such as GATE, NET, CAT, CMAT, GMAT, CEED, JRF or SRF, depending on the discipline.

What is the duration of the AICTE Doctoral Fellowship?

The fellowship is awarded for a maximum period of five years, including both Junior Research Fellowship and Senior Research Fellowship tenure.

Can AICTE Doctoral fellows take up part-time employment?

No, ADF scholars must devote full time to research and are not permitted to undertake part-time or full-time employment during the fellowship.

Is transfer of AICTE Doctoral Fellowship to another institution allowed?

No, the AICTE Doctoral Fellowship cannot be transferred from one institution to another under any circumstances.