IIT changes PhD rules to make scholars future-ready
Times of India | 26 January 2026
Kolkata: IIT Kharagpur has introduced "progressive and student-friendly" PhD reforms to make research scholars future-ready and minimise "uncertainty in career".
From rolling PhD advertisements, enabling year-round entry aligned with research readiness, flexibility in eligibility criteria, and freedom to choose coursework from any academic unit to encourage an interdisciplinary and unconventional academic journey, to reforming evaluation processes to ease anxiety, the institute has taken up several key initiatives. It has also reframed the leave framework for research scholars, where they will get 30 days casual leave, 30 days medical leave, and autumn break eligibility. It also reduced unnecessary financial stress and supported them to make a smooth transition into their careers with adequate global exposure.
"The institute no longer believes a PhD is a rigid, long and isolated academic journey," said director Suman Chakraborty. "A researcher can perform at the highest level when s/he is mentally relaxed. So, we are reimagining what a PhD should mean in this century and introducing several progressive reforms to develop an ecosystem to enable holistic well-being of our research scholars."
This semester, 272 PhD scholars and 30 MS students enrolled at IIT Kharagpur.
Chakraborty said, "At a time when we are encouraging interdisciplinary research, shortlisting a candidate will be based on assessing one's capabilities that are needed or aligned with the research unit rather than rigidly testing subjects that were taught in UG days. We also relaxed eligibility criteria for working professionals because their experience, mission and vision are more important than how much they scored in UG."
According to him, the comprehensive exam was a reason for fear among research scholars because a student had to pass it in two attempts. "We introduced another attempt and thought of a modality where they will be assessed on the preparedness to pursue the research rather than an elimination test," he said.
"Productivity will be judged by ideas, outcomes and integrity, and not by punch-in systems. So, if the supervisor and the doctoral committee certify the research scholar's involvement and progress, there is no need for a 10 am-5 pm attendance."
To ease pressure on scholars during the uncertain period after submission of their thesis, an Institute Post-Doctoral Fellowship for six months has been introduced, where internal candidates will be eligible. "It is an incentive based on their performance during the cushion period to ensure momentum and smooth transition into the next career step," said Chakraborty.
"Often research scholars let go of opportunities, like wo-rking as a fellow under a professor abroad, participating in international conferences and competitions, due to lack of money. So we will provide financial support. There are also provisions for start-up seed funds for innovation," he said.