AIRSA urges AICTE to extend ADF fellowship duration to 5 years for previous batches

NEW DELHI: The AICTE Doctoral Fellowship (ADF) now permits five years duration, with scholars starting as Junior Research Fellows (JRF) for the first two years before advancing to Senior Research Fellow (SRF). While this change is only applicable from 2024-25 batch, scholars from previous years are requesting the same benefit be extended to them.

The All India Research Scholars Association (AIRSA), representing AICTE doctoral fellows from the 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 batches, has formally appealed to AICTE for an extension of their fellowship duration. The scholars argue that limiting the fellowship to four years for past batches creates an ‘inequitable situation’, especially when the new batch enjoys an extended five-year period.

Parity with other national fellowships

The majority of national doctorate fellowships in India, including those offered by the Ministry of Education (MoE), support students for a period of five years, according to AIRSA. When compared to peers who benefit from longer durations, recipients of the ADF are at a disadvantage due to its present four-year cap, states the AIRSA.

Impact of COVID-19

As per the association, the research work of many scholars was severely impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdowns and restrictions from March 25, 2020, to March 31, 2022, limited access to laboratories, computational facilities, and fieldwork resulted in delaying research timelines. According to scholars, extending the fellowship duration would help them compensate for the lost time and complete their research effectively.

The AIRSA asserts that many institutes offering the ADF scheme are prestigious institutions with high NIRF rankings, where PhD programs typically allow for 5-6 years for research completion. Scholars argue that extending the fellowship aligns ensures research quality is not compromised by time constraints.

AIRSA states, “The extension aligns with these standards and ensures research quality is not compromised by time constraints. The quality of research is consistently reflected in their NIRF rankings, annually published top peer-reviewed journal articles, researchers securing the top 2% global rank by Stanford University's survey, and many other factors.”

As per AIRSA, extension of the fellowship for previous batches would:

• Promote equitable treatment for all ADF recipients.
• Enable the successful completion of long-term research projects.
• Alleviate financial burdens during the critical thesis phase

AIRSA has urged AICTE to take up the matter with the Ministry of Education, ensuring fair treatment for all doctoral researchers. As per the latest update, the scholars await AICTE’s response to their request.