AICTE National Doctoral Fellowship Scheme (NDF)

1 Objective
The objective of this scheme are:
(a) To promote research culture in AICTE approved Institutions.
(b) Admitting full time meritorious research scholars by providing research fellowship
who wants to seek admission to Ph.D. in AICTE approved Technical
Institutes/University Departments for carrying out research in thrust areas as
listed in Annexure-I.
(c) To nurture talents for technical research.
(d) To promote collaborative research between Institute and Industries leading to
start-ups.
2 Eligibility
(a) The fellowship/contingency will be granted to research scholars admitted in
research institute of AICTE. National Nodal Centre will augment the process for
selecting candidates as per the eligibility criteria for grant of National Doctoral
Fellowship.
(b) The candidate must have secured cumulative grade point average of 7.5 on the
scale of 10 or equivalent at both B.E/B.Tech/B.Pharm and M.E/M.Tech/M.Pharm.
In addition to above the candidate should have qualified GATE/GPAT during the
last 5 years. For SC/ST/PH candidates CGPA requirement will be 7.0 on the scale
of 10 or equivalent or general candidate must have secured 75% marks or above &
70% marks for candidates of reserved categories.
(c) The candidate should be less than 30 years of age as on 31 st August of year of
application however age relaxation of 5 years would be applicable to candidates
belonging to SC/ST, women and physically challenged category.
3 Duration of the scheme
The duration of the scheme shall be for a period of 3 Years. No further extension
will be granted, however, extendable by 6 months in special cases with the
recommendation of Institute and approval of National Nodal Centre. Further
extension of 6 months may be given on the recommendations with the approval of
AICTE.
4 Intake of the scheme
The total number of candidates selected under this scheme per year would be
limited to 150 per year. Number of candidates/Institute would be about 3 per
Institute subject to the availability of seats in the research centre and demand of a
research centre by candidates. If the seats allotted to the institution remain vacant,
these seats will be allotted to the other institutions by the Nodal Centre on the
approval of AICTE.
5 Reservation Policy
Reservation for fellowship shall be as per Central Reservation Policy i.e. 15% to SC
candidates, 7.5% to ST candidates and 27% to OBC candidates (NCL only), and will
be observed at National level.
6 Disbursement of the Funds
The candidate will be provided the fellowship of Rs. 28,000/- per month + House
rent allowance wherever the hostel accommodation/Institute accommodation is not
 available as per the rates of Ph.D. Scholarship notified by Ministry of Human
Resource Development, Department of Higher Education (Technical Section-I) vide
F. Number 17-2/2014-TS.I dated 18.02.2015.Contingency grant will be admissible
at the rate of Rs.15,000/- per annum.
7 Processing Methodology
(a) Candidates will be identified by the National Nodal Centre of AICTE as per the
functions and duties of National Nodal Centre.
8 Limit of funding
The selected Nodal Centre may be released an amount of Rs.11.00 lakhs annually
for meeting the expenditure on Honorarium/Salary to DEO/Clerks and for meeting
expenses of National Nodal Centre Coordinator’s Office.
9 Terms and Conditions
(a) The awardee shall submit an annual report on the progress, each year through
the Research Supervisor, Head of the Department and Head of the Institute.
(b) The final progress report should be submitted by the awardee through the Head of
the Department / Institution to the AICTE.
(c) The awardee shall not be allowed for transfer of award from the Institution where
the awardee is presently working for Ph.D. during the entire tenure of the award.
(d) The awardee shall devote full time to research during the tenure of fellowship and
will not be permitted to take any part time/full time assignment. He/She will not
accept any other salary or fellowship, if offered during the tenure of fellowship
through any other source. The nature of the candidature (Full time AICTE
sponsored National Doctoral Fellow) will not be changed during the program.
(e) The awardee shall give a declaration that if the results of research are such that
can be exploited commercially by taking a patent or otherwise commercial
exploitation and patent rights should be with the Institute, candidate and
supervisor. However, the rules of respective research institute, if any, in this
regards will be applicable.
(f) AICTE online portal will have PG Scholarship portal like mechanism for the
purpose of releasing fellowship/HRA etc amount directly in the bank account of
the beneficiary through DBT.
(g) The service conditions mentioned in the Ministry of Human Resource Development,
Department of Higher Education (Technical Section-I) instruction notified vide F.
Number 17-2/2014-TS.I dated 18.02.2015 shall be applicable to awardees.
(h) If the progress of the candidate is not satisfactory as reported by the
supervisor/Head of the Department /Head of the research institute, the fellowship
of the candidature will be terminated with immediate effect. This will not be
revoked under any circumstances.
(i) The PhD rules/regulations of the research institute and affiliating university will be
applicable to all admitted candidates under this scheme.
 Annexure-I

Thrust Areas (Indicative)

 Nuclear Engineering and Allied Technologies