PhD Backlog in IITs ‘Bares Systemic Malady’: Academics Flag Output-Centric Policy
Basant Kumar Mohanty | 31 January 2026 | The Telegraph
The Centre has directed the IITs to pull up their socks on PhD backlogs and recommended actions against supervisors for greater accountability. However, several academics have pinned the delay in the completion of research on the government’s policy of promoting output without due regard for quality.
Last month, higher education secretary Vineet Joshi is learnt to have written to all IIT directors about the huge PhD backlog, as revealed by data collected by the education ministry. IIT students get an assistantship or a fellowship while pursuing research. They are entitled to the assistantship for four years, which is extendable for another year. The rules allow them to complete their PhD within seven years, failing which they can’t continue at the institute. However, the students are expected to complete their doctoral research within five years…