Objectives:

1. To enhance the number of PhDs in Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) and IT/IT Enabled Services (IT/ITES) sectors in the country.
2. Give thrust to R&D, create an innovative ecosystem and enhance India’s competitiveness in these knowledge-intensive sectors.
3. To fulfill the commitments made in National Policy on Electronics (NPE 2012) and National Policy on Information Technology (NPIT 2012) which recommend giving special thrust on significantly increasing the number of PhDs in the country to enable India to compete globally in the coming decades, to develop an ecosystem of research, development and IP creation in these knowledge-intensive sectors.
4. To Support 1500 Ph.D. Candidates including both Full-Time (500) and Part-Time (1000) in each of the ESDM and IT/ITES sectors (Total: 3000 PhDs).
5. The scheme is also expected to encourage working professionals and non-PhD faculty members to pursue Ph.D.

Salient features of the Ph.D. scheme are as follows:

1. This Scheme provides 25% more fellowship amount than most of the other Ph.D. Schemes.
2. The scheme also provides an infrastructural grant of ₹ 5,00,000/- per candidate to the academic institutions for the creation/ up-gradation of laboratories.
3. Part-time Ph.D. candidates get a one-time incentive on completion of the Ph.D.
4. The scheme also supports 200 Young Faculty Research Fellowships in the areas of ESDM and IT/ITES with the objective to retain and attract bright young faculty members in these sectors.

Full-Time Ph.D. Candidates

1. Fellowship: ₹ 31,500/- per month (I & II years); ₹ 35,000/-(III to V year); revised to 38,750/- per month (I & II years); ₹ 43,750/-(III to V year).
2. Annual Contingency Grant support of ₹ 30,000/- per year. Following items may be booked under 'Annual Contingency grant/support" meant for a full-time Ph.D. candidate- Books/Documents of relevance to the research topic; Equipment/software exclusively for research; Consumables/Chemical/Electronic components for research work; ReprintlOff-Prints of research papers, reports, etc; Registration fee for attending Symposia/Seminars/Conferences in India/abroad provided the Ph.D. candidate is presenting a paper that has been accepted; Similar items of relevance / directly contributing towards the furtherance of the candidate's research work for his Ph.D., etc.
3. Reimbursement of Rent for those Full-Time PhD candidates who are not provided accommodation or choose not to avail of the accommodation provided by the institution.
4. The ceiling for Reimbursement of Rent would be 30%, 20%, and 10% of the fellowship amount as per the Government of India norms for class X, Y, or Z cities respectively.
5. Support for attending international conferences (Supports for 1000 conferences with an amount up to ₹ 50,000/- per conference). Any individual Full-Time Ph.D. candidate would be eligible to avail of the support for attending a maximum of 2 conferences under this scheme.

Part-Time Ph.D. Candidates

1. A one-time incentive of ₹ 2,50,000/- would be provided to Part-Time Ph.D. candidates on successful completion of the Ph.D.

Young Faculty Research Fellowship(YFRF)

1. Financial support provided to the YFRFs is as mentioned below:
2. Fellowship @ ₹ 20,000/- per month in addition to the regular income
3. Contingency/ Research Grant of ₹ 5,00,000/- per annum for presenting paper and research work at national and international conferences and other research expenses for a maximum of five years.



Eligibility Criteria for the Applicant

Eligibility Criteria for the Institute

1. Indian Institutes of Technologies (IITs)
2. National Institutes of Technologies (NITs)
3. Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
4. Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs)
5. Central Universities
6. Deemed Universities under Central Government
7. Colleges/Institutions of National Importance

1. Universities created under a Provincial Act/State Act
2. State Universities
3. Private Universities
4. Private Deemed to be Universities
5. Colleges that are allowed to offer PhDs
6. Other academic and R&D institutions

1. The Institution should have an existing postgraduate stream in ESDM/IT/ITES and have produced PhDs in these areas for the last 3 years.
2. The Ph.D. student(s) under this scheme to be admitted as per UGC admission norms.
3. The Institution should be recognized by AICTE and NBA (National Board of Accreditation) accredited with respect to ESDM & IT/ITES Programmes. OR The Institution should be accredited by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council of UGC).
4. Such an institution would be required to furnish a copy of documents in support of meeting the above-mentioned eligibility criteria for the Ph.D. Cell, MeitY.

1. Date of Birth (DOB) Certificate or High School (Class 10th) Certificate with DOB
2. SC/ST/OBC(NCL) Certificate, if applicable
3. Certificate of Physical Disability, if applicable
4. Sponsorship certificate for sponsored candidates, if applicable
5. A valid GATE/CSIR/UGC score card (Computer generated printout is also accepted)
6. Copies of mark/grade sheets of qualifying degree or higher
7. No Objection Certificate from employer (only for part-time/external) (Item 12). Full-time students currently working must produce NOC or Relieving Certificate from the employer at the time of admission.
8. Two letters of reference (for Ph.D. applicants only)