New Delhi, June 13: In a significant move to enhance research culture, innovation, and technical education, the Chairman of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Prof. T.G. Sitharam, has officially launched the AICTE Post-Doctoral Fellowship (PDF) Scheme for 2024. Vice Chairman Dr. Abhay Jere also graced the event.
Prof. Sitharam highlighted the scheme’s goal of fostering a robust research culture and advancing knowledge within AICTE-approved institutions. He said the primary objective of the scheme is to support scholars in advancing their educational qualifications. “Promoting a culture of research and innovation within AICTE-approved institutions is essential. Our educators are the backbone of our institutes, and this initiative is an investment in our faculty. This scheme will prepare a significant number of quality faculty and educators for our institutes and attract talented students for research.”
“PDF is the critical component of the research ecosystem in the institutes. Today research and innovation is very important for a higher education institution. This is the golden time to create a research ecosystem in their institution. They can create a culture of research and innovation. This scheme can also give a good break to our doctorates to file their patents and to decide for their career” he added.
Vice Chairman Dr. Abhay Jere said, “this scheme will give a huge push to the quality research and innovation in AICTE approved institutions. To achieve the goal of ‘viksit bharat @2047’ we will need to emerge as knowledge based economy, and for this we need to engage ourselves in creating new knowledge. And from that perspective Our higher education institutions need to emerge as fountainhead of research and innovation. This scheme can foster young minds in conducting research.”
The scheme will award 200 fellowships annually. The fellowship tenure is initially one year with extension of one more year. The scheme covers all areas under the purview of AICTE including Engineering and Technology, Management, Design, Planning, Applied Arts, Crafts and Design, Applied Sciences, Computer Application, Hotel Management and Catering Technology, and Interdisciplinary Areas.
Eligible applicants are unemployed candidates who have been awarded a Ph.D. degree in the relevant subject/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. Or, general category candidates must have a minimum of 55% marks at PG/UG level, with a 5% relaxation for reserved categories. Candidates already in regular service are not eligible. The age limit for applicants is under 35 years, with age relaxation as per government norms. Selected candidates will receive a monthly fellowship Rs. 65,000 with HRA as per government norms and an annual contingency grant of Rs. 50,000. Applications for the PDF can be submitted throughout the year. This fellowship can be availed only once by a candidate in their career.
