PhD Fellowship India 2026: AICTE Launches INR 245-Crore Programme

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has launched the AICTE Innovation and Entrepreneurship Doctoral Fellowship Programme (AIEDFP) to support innovation-focused PhD research in India. 

The programme has an INR 245-crore budget for five years and will initially offer 150 full-time PhD fellowships.

Once the application window opens, the registration and submission process will take place exclusively through these official portals:

• Primary Web Portal: All India Council for Technical Education Official Website

• Dedicated Fellowship Portal: AICTE Fellowship/Scholarships Dashboard

PhD Fellowship India 2026: Key Highlights

• Fellowship: AIEDFP

• Total Budget: INR 245 crore

• Initial Fellowships: 150

• Duration: 5 years

• Stipend:

• Years 1-3: INR 60,000/month + HRA

• Years 4-5: INR 70,000/month + HRA

• Research Grant: Up to INR 10 lakh for prototypes, testing, and market validation

• Industry Exposure: Optional 6–12-month industry placement

Eligibility and Research Areas

The AICTE doctoral fellowship targets candidates pursuing full-time PhD programmes at AICTE-approved institutions in areas such as:

• Engineering and technology

• Management

• Design

• Pharmacy

Research proposals will be assessed for innovation, scalability, commercial potential, and social impact.

Other Support

• KAPILA: Patent and intellectual property support

• YUKTI: Innovation and commercialisation support

• Focus on converting research into startups, patents and market-ready products