IITs to overhaul MTech and PhD programmes, focus on AI and industry integration

New Delhi: The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are set to revamp their MTech and PhD programmes to better align with industry needs, research goals, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in higher education. The decision follows a meeting of the IIT Council, the apex coordination body of the 23 premier engineering institutes, held in August last year.

Officials noted that current programmes are underutilised and often fail to provide sufficient specialisations or internship opportunities. "One of the major reasons as to why BTech graduates are not inclined to pursue MTech in India is due to the limited availability of specialisations. Another reason is the lack of internship opportunities," the minutes of the meeting stated.

To address these gaps, the Council has proposed making industry internships a compulsory part of MTech programmes. It also suggested creating dual-track MTech programmes—one focused on industry engagement and the other on research—and exploring multidisciplinary and product-based programs that do not require publishing papers.

In terms of PhD reforms, IIT Ropar has recommended a “Project-First PhD” model with structured timelines, predefined research goals and stronger industry collaboration. The Council also discussed networked PhD programmes across IITs and international universities to encourage interdisciplinary research and global exposure.

“The establishment of doctoral Academies at each IIT was also proposed to support mentorship, career development and international engagement, backed by upgraded infrastructure and digital labs,” the meeting minutes said.

IITs have been directed to form internal committees to assess the quality of incoming PhD students, improve administrative processes and monitor faculty guidance effectiveness. In addition, a Ministry of Education sub-committee may propose a framework for product-based PhDs within one month.

The IIT Council also suggested exploring adaptive models for the JEE Advanced exam to make it "a better and less stressful assessment”, where questions dynamically adjust according to candidates’ abilities. Overall, the Council aims to reshape engineering education over the next 2–3 years to meet national research objectives and industry demands.
PTI