The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has unveiled a set of sweeping reforms for PhD programs in engineering and related technical fields, potentially revolutionizing the pace and transparency of doctoral research.

A task force appointed by AICTE has recommended that candidates could complete their PhD in as little as two and a half years, provided their research is published in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals, with the scholar listed as first and corresponding author. Traditionally, PhDs in these fields take three to six years to complete.

The draft regulations also introduce strict norms for the use of artificial intelligence in research. Any AI-generated content must be clearly attributed, and its contribution to the thesis capped within a defined percentage, ensuring academic integrity and transparency.

Other notable proposals include allowing research scholars to migrate between universities mid-course and permitting retired faculty members to act as co-supervisors, broadening mentorship opportunities for doctoral candidates.

In addition, the task force has outlined guidelines for the Doctor of Science (DSc) degree in engineering and allied areas, which could now be completed within one to three years.

These proposed reforms, designed to modernize technical research and accelerate academic output, require approval from the Ministry of Education and a formal notification before implementation.