New Delhi: In a major policy shift for doctoral education in technical disciplines, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has unveiled its first comprehensive guidelines for PhD and DSc programmes. Covering engineering, technology, management, and design, the reforms aim to standardise admission, research, and evaluation practices across AICTE-regulated institutions. The guidelines, finalised by an expert committee in July 2025, are pending central government approval.
PhD Admissions Without Interviews
One of the most notable changes is the elimination of interviews for PhD admissions. Previously, interviews accounted for 30% of selection criteria. Under the new system, admissions will be based entirely on written assessments—70% weightage for institutional entrance exams and 30% for national-level qualifying exams like GATE or NET. The move is aimed at reducing bias and ensuring transparency, though some experts caution that qualitative evaluation may be compromised.
Publications Made Mandatory
AICTE has reinstated the requirement for research publications for thesis submission. Candidates must publish:
- Two Scopus-indexed journal papers (excluding reviews)
- One peer-reviewed conference paper
- Scholars must be first and corresponding authors, a move intended to enhance research quality and international visibility.
Flexible and Early Submission
The guidelines allow early thesis submission up to six months before minimum duration for candidates meeting strict criteria, including high-impact publications and significant research contributions. Rolling enrolment and twice-yearly admission windows also introduce greater flexibility. Candidates with a four-year undergraduate degree and five years of industry experience can now apply directly for a PhD.
AI Disclosure and Monitoring
Acknowledging AI’s growing role in research, scholars must declare any AI usage in submissions. Institutions are required to conduct Research Advisory Committee meetings early and monitor progress biannually, with thesis evaluation and viva completion within six months of submission.
DSc Degree Criteria
For the first time, AICTE has formalised Doctor of Science (DSc) requirements, including:
- 20 years of experience, including 10 as a professor
- 25 publications, Scopus h-index of 20, Google Scholar h-index of 30, 5,000 citations or 5 Indian patents
- Supervision of 15 PhDs or leadership of five major projects
- Authorship of two books or monographs
- Jurisdictional and Implementation Concerns
The guidelines have raised questions regarding overlap with UGC regulations for affiliated universities. AICTE acknowledges the need for broader consensus and Ministry of Education approval before full implementation.
These rules mark a significant overhaul of doctoral education under AICTE, emphasizing transparency, research quality, and flexibility, while their success will depend on resolving practical and jurisdictional challenges.
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