AICTE extends PhD fellowship deadline 2024-25; eligibility, stipend and selection norms revised

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has extended the registration deadline for AICTE Post-Doctoral Fellowship (PDF) 2024-25. Significant changes have been made to the AICTE PDF eligibility criteria, assistance and grants available, and the guide to the parameters of the evaluation, including other details.

Eligible candidates can apply for the AICTE PDF on its official website at aicte.gov.in by November 15.

The AICTE PhD fellowship supports 200 full-time Indian research scholars per year. The fellowship promotes advanced research in AICTE-approved institutions for PhD holders wanting a career in research and development.

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AICTE PhD Fellowship: Assistance available

The council has also made revisions in its budget for postdoctoral fellowship grants. The fellows will be entitled to receive the grants as shown in the table below.

The research grant may be utilized for minor equipment, consumables, contingency expenses, and domestic travel. However, the scheme does not provide any financial support for research personnel. The fellow is expected to independently carry out the proposed research objectives throughout the fellowship period.

Furthermore, candidates are not permitted to receive any other fellowship from government or non-governmental sources during the tenure of the fellowship.

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AICTE Fellowship: Revision in eligibility criteria for scholars

The revisions made in eligibility criteria for AICTE PhD fellowship requirements are as follows.

• Only candidates belonging to physics, chemistry, and maths backgrounds and who have been awarded the PhD degree from a recognised university, in the relevant discipline of engineering and technology, management, design, planning, applied arts, crafts and design, hotel management and catering technology, computer application, applied sciences and interdisciplinary areas are eligible to apply.
• Only general category candidates having a minimum of 60% or equivalent percentage converted from CGPA score at either PG/ UG level are eligible.
• A relaxation of 5% of marks is allowed for reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC/women/PWD (Persons with Disabilities).
• Candidates must possess quality publications (SCI/SCI-E/SCOPUS) and/or patents granted.

Several changes have been made in the fellowship’s age criteria for selection as well.

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AICTE PhD Fellowship: Selection process

The shortlisting for evaluation includes the candidate’s accomplishment at the PhD level, the professional standing of the supervisor and the university where the post-doctoral research is to be carried out, and papers published at the time of application.

The parameters for the evaluation of the proposals are shown in the table below.

In case of PG through an integrated course, the total weightage marks will be 20 for the whole integrated course.

A merit list will be prepared for selecting candidates based on the parameters mentioned above, and preference will be given to the candidates as per the number of publications with higher impact factor and patents published.