Guide · IIT stipends · 2026-27
An IIT PhD scholar on the institute fellowship gets ₹37,000 a month for the first two years and ₹42,000 a month after that, and a GATE-qualified M.Tech student on a teaching assistantship gets ₹12,400 a month. Both rates are printed in the 2026-27 admission brochures of IIT Bombay and IIT Madras. The PhD rate was last raised with effect from 1 January 2023; the M.Tech rate has not changed since December 2014. Prime Minister's Research Fellows get ₹70,000 to ₹80,000 a month. Below: every rate with its source document, the work and attendance conditions, HRA, contingency grants, and who gets nothing.
How much is the IIT PhD and M.Tech stipend in 2026?
The numbers come from Ministry of Education (formerly MHRD) orders that every centrally funded institute follows. IIT Bombay's 2026-27 PhD brochure says: "The monthly rate of assistantship is Rs. 37,000/- for the first 2 years and enhanced rate of Rs. 42,000/- for the remaining period" (IIT Bombay Ph.D. brochure 2026-27). Its M.Tech brochure offers "a financial assistantships of Rs.12,400/- (per month) for a maximum period of 24 months" (IIT Bombay M.Tech brochure 2026-27). IIT Madras prints the same two figures (IIT Madras research admission brochure (updated 2 Feb 2026); IIT Madras M.Tech admissions 2026).
| Programme / scheme | Monthly amount | Source | Effective date |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.Tech, institute TA (HTRA / HTTA) | ₹12,400 | IIT Bombay M.Tech brochure 2026-27; IIT Madras M.Tech admissions 2026; MHRD order of 18 February 2015 | 1 Dec 2014 (MHRD order of 2 March 2015 (archived copy)) |
| M.S. by Research, IIT Madras HTRA | ₹12,400 (2 years, plus 6 months on recommendation) | IIT Madras research admission brochure (updated 2 Feb 2026) | Current brochure, Feb 2026 |
| PhD, institute fellowship (TA / HTRA), years 1-2 | ₹37,000 | IIT Bombay Ph.D. brochure 2026-27; IIT Madras research admission brochure (updated 2 Feb 2026) | 1 Jan 2023 (Business Standard, 5 October 2023) |
| PhD, institute fellowship, year 3 onward | ₹42,000 | IIT Bombay Ph.D. brochure 2026-27; IIT Madras research admission brochure (updated 2 Feb 2026) | 1 Jan 2023 |
| PhD, IIT Bombay RA category (20 hrs/week) | ₹42,000, then ₹47,000 | IIT Bombay Ph.D. brochure 2026-27 | 2026-27 brochure |
| M.Tech, IIT Bombay RA category (20 hrs/week, 3-year programme) | ₹13,400 | IIT Bombay M.Tech brochure 2026-27 | 2026-27 brochure |
| CSIR-UGC NET JRF, years 1-2 | ₹37,000 + ₹20,000/year contingency | CSIR-HRDG JRF guidelines | Guidelines w.e.f. 1 Mar 2023 |
| CSIR SRF, year 3 onward | ₹42,000 | CSIR-HRDG JRF guidelines | Guidelines w.e.f. 1 Mar 2023 |
| UGC NET JRF / SRF | ₹37,000 / ₹42,000 | UGC fellowship page | Current UGC page |
| PMRF, years 1-2 / 3 / 4-5 | ₹70,000 / ₹75,000 / ₹80,000 + ₹2 lakh/year grant | PMRF portal | Current PMRF page |
Before 2023 the JRF and SRF rates were ₹31,000 and ₹35,000. The ministry announced the move to ₹37,000 and ₹42,000 in October 2023, backdated: "The increase in monthly emoluments for researchers at higher education institutes will be effective from January 1, 2023" (Business Standard, 5 October 2023).
Has there been a stipend hike in 2025 or 2026?
No, not as of 1 October 2026. IIT Madras' brochure updated on 2 February 2026 and IIT Bombay's 2026-27 brochures still carry ₹37,000, ₹42,000 and ₹12,400 (IIT Madras research admission brochure (updated 2 Feb 2026); IIT Bombay Ph.D. brochure 2026-27; IIT Bombay M.Tech brochure 2026-27). In January 2026 the All India Research Scholars Association wrote to DST that scholars on JRF and SRF "currently receive a monthly stipend of Rs 37,000 only", and asked for PhD stipends to be included in 8th Pay Commission talks (Careers360, 12 January 2026).
For M.Tech, AICTE asked the ministry for a 50% increase. "The technical education regulator has recommended raising the current monthly scholarship from ₹12,400 to ₹18,600", with the request first made in June 2023 and a reminder in March 2024 (EducationPost, 12 May 2025). That is a proposal, not an order. No notification raising the M.Tech rate has been issued, and students have noticed:
"the fact that stipend is stuck at the same value for more than 10 years just shows how committed government is at promoting higher education and research" (r/GATEtard, July 2026)
What do you have to do to get the ₹12,400 M.Tech stipend?
It is an assistantship, paid for work. The conditions are close to identical across IITs:
- Valid GATE score. IIT Bombay: "A valid GATE score is mandatory" for TA seats (IIT Bombay M.Tech brochure 2026-27). The 2015 ministry order lets IIT B.Tech graduates with a CGPA of 8 or above skip GATE: they "would also be entitled to the assistantship without having to appear in GATE" (MHRD order of 18 February 2015).
- 8 hours of work a week. IIT Madras HTTA students "are required to assist the department for 8 hours of work per week" in labs, tutorials, evaluation and similar duties (IIT Madras M.Tech admissions 2026).
- Attendance. At IIT Bombay "The assistantship will be paid on the basis of monthly attendance", and continuation depends on "monthly attendance and satisfactory academic performance" (IIT Bombay M.Tech brochure 2026-27).
- No other income. TA students "shall not accept or hold any appointment (paid or otherwise) or receive any emoluments, salary, stipend from any other source" (IIT Bombay M.Tech brochure 2026-27).
- Duration. Up to 24 months at IIT Bombay; IIT Madras says "Tenable for a maximum period of 22 months" (IIT Madras M.Tech admissions 2026).
The stipend is tax-free: the ministry order says it "is exempted from the payment of income tax under Section 10(16) of the Income Tax Act, 1961" (MHRD order of 18 February 2015).
How does the IIT PhD fellowship work?
PhD scholars admitted on institute support (called TA at IIT Bombay, HTRA at IIT Madras) also work 8 hours a week. IIT Madras: "They should work for 8 hours per week in the Departments to earn this assistantship", with renewal each semester "contingent on enrollment, satisfactory progress in research work" (IIT Madras research admission brochure (updated 2 Feb 2026)). IIT Bombay pays it "for a maximum duration of 5 years or up to the thesis submission, whichever is earlier" (IIT Bombay Ph.D. brochure 2026-27).
The jump from ₹37,000 to ₹42,000 is not automatic. The ministry's order says the higher slab "may be provided after successful assessment by the Review Committee" (MHRD order of 18 February 2015). A 2015 ministry clarification, quoted by IIT Kanpur, set the tenure: "PhD candidates with M.Tech/equivalent qualification are to be paid PhD fellowship for a period of 4 years and those with B.Tech/equivalent qualification, are to be paid PhD fellowship for a period of 5 years" (IIT Kanpur office order, August 2015). Current brochures at IIT Bombay and IIT Madras both state five years; check your own institute's ordinance.
Do IIT PhD scholars get HRA?
Only if they do not live in a hostel. The ministry rule: "those residing in accommodation provided by the Institute will not be eligible for drawing HRA"; where hostels are not possible, HRA follows central government norms, and "The fellowship amount may be taken as basic for calculating the HRA" (MHRD order of 18 February 2015). CSIR uses the same rule: "The basis for calculating HRA will be the actual stipend of the Research Fellow" (CSIR-HRDG JRF guidelines).
Central government HRA rates are 24%, 16% and 8% of basic for X, Y and Z class cities, "further revised to 30%, 20% & 10% when DA crosses 50%" (Department of Expenditure HRA compendium, 30 Dec 2022). DA reached 50% from 1 January 2024 (PIB, 7 March 2024). So the most an X-class city (population 50 lakh and above) can add to a ₹37,000 fellowship is ₹11,100 a month, or ₹12,600 on ₹42,000. Y-class adds ₹7,400 on ₹37,000; Z-class adds ₹3,700.
In practice IITs restrict who can claim it. At IIT Kanpur, "Only Ph.D., M.Tech, MS and M.Des married students getting assistantship from the institute and permitted to stay out of campus are eligible to claim HRA", and they must be on the waitlist for campus married housing (IIT Kanpur day-scholar FAQ). M.Tech students are mentioned there, but the 2015 ministry order allows HRA only to "JRF, SRF", so do not count on it for an M.Tech. IIT Madras says PhD HTRA scholars "are also eligible for HRA as per GoI norms" (IIT Madras research admission brochure (updated 2 Feb 2026)).
Institute fellowship vs CSIR/UGC JRF vs project positions: what is the difference?
| Type | Who pays | Amount | Extras | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Institute fellowship (TA / HTRA) | Ministry of Education via the IIT | ₹37,000 then ₹42,000 | HRA if no hostel | 8 hrs/week of TA work (IIT Madras research admission brochure (updated 2 Feb 2026)) |
| CSIR or UGC NET JRF (Fellowship Award) | CSIR or UGC | ₹37,000 then ₹42,000 | CSIR: ₹20,000/yr contingency (CSIR-HRDG JRF guidelines). UGC: ₹12,000 JRF / ₹25,000 SRF a year for science, ₹10,000 / ₹20,500 for humanities (UGC fellowship page) | Upgrade to SRF needs an assessment committee (CSIR-HRDG JRF guidelines) |
| PMRF | Ministry of Education | ₹70,000 to ₹80,000 | ₹2 lakh a year research grant, up to ₹10 lakh (PMRF portal) | Very selective; see below |
| Project (TAP / RAP / Project-HTRA) | The sponsored research project | As per project norms; MoE/DST norms if none (IIT Bombay Ph.D. brochure 2026-27) | Varies | Tied to one project and its investigator |
A NET JRF does not pay more than the institute fellowship. What it adds is a contingency grant and portability. IIT Bombay pays JRF holders under its Fellowship Award category, where "The amount and duration of the fellowship will be as specified by the awarding agency" (IIT Bombay Ph.D. brochure 2026-27). IIT Delhi's shortlisting notice also waives the GATE score for applicants who have "qualified CSIR/UGC NET JRF/DST-INSPIRE for fellowship" (IIT Delhi shortlisting notice, Sem I 2025-26).
The PMRF portal lists ₹70,000 for years one and two, ₹75,000 for year three and ₹80,000 for years four and five, plus "a research grant of Rs. 2 lakhs per year (up to Rs 10 lakhs for five years)". As of 1 October 2026 the portal also says: "Presently all seats sanctioned by the ministry have been filled up. Further approval for admissions awaited" (PMRF portal). Check the portal before planning around it.
What is the minimum GATE score for a PhD at an IIT?
There is no single IIT-wide cutoff. Each department sets its own, and M.Tech holders usually do not need GATE at all. IIT Madras admits Master's degree holders in engineering to its engineering PhD on "a good academic record" (IIT Madras research admission brochure (updated 2 Feb 2026)). In the IIT Delhi notice, the GATE column for M.E./M.Tech applicants reads "NA" (IIT Delhi shortlisting notice, Sem I 2025-26).
| Where | Applies to | GATE score required (out of 1000) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay, Civil Engineering (2026-27) | B.Tech or M.Sc applicants | 700 GN/EWS, 630 OBC-NC, 467 SC/ST/PwD (or 2 years' work experience) | IIT Bombay Ph.D. brochure 2026-27 |
| IIT Bombay, CSIF/CReST (2026-27) | M.Sc applicants | 450 GN, 405 OBC, 300 SC/ST (or NET JRF) | IIT Bombay Ph.D. brochure 2026-27 |
| IIT Delhi, textile-focused PhD notice (2025-26) | B.E./B.Tech/M.Sc, non-textile | ≥600 GE/EWS, ≥540 OBC, ≥400 SC/ST/PH | IIT Delhi shortlisting notice, Sem I 2025-26 |
| IIT Delhi, same notice | M.E./M.Tech | Not required | IIT Delhi shortlisting notice, Sem I 2025-26 |
IIT graduates often skip GATE. IIT Bombay exempts IIT B.Tech and dual-degree graduates with a CPI of 8.00 or above for TA admission (IIT Bombay Ph.D. brochure 2026-27). IIT Madras accepts "a B.Tech. degree holder of Centrally Funded Technical Institute with a minimum CGPA of 8.0 on a 10.0 point scale or with a valid GATE score" for direct PhD (IIT Madras research admission brochure (updated 2 Feb 2026)).
How to check this yourself: open the PhD brochure for the IIT and read your department's section. IIT Bombay's lists criteria department by department (IIT Bombay Ph.D. brochure 2026-27). For M.Tech cutoffs, see our GATE cutoff guide.
Does the stipend cover fees, hostel and mess?
For a PhD, comfortably. For an M.Tech, not in the first semester. Take IIT Madras, Jul-Nov 2026, general category, new admission:
| Item | M.Tech (HTTA) | PhD (HTRA) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Institute fees, first semester (incl. one-time fees and ₹5,000 deposit) | ₹66,402 | ₹56,402 | IIT Madras 2026-27 PG fee structure; IIT Madras 2026-27 M.S./Ph.D. fees |
| Hostel fees, new admission (incl. ₹5,000 refundable deposit) | ₹24,750 | ₹24,750 | IIT Madras hostel fee circular, Jul-Nov 2026 |
| Advance mess charges, 27 Jul to 19 Nov 2026 (non-veg) | ₹18,879 | ₹18,879 | IIT Madras hostel fee circular, Jul-Nov 2026 |
| Total due at the start | ₹1,10,031 | ₹1,00,031 | Sum of the above |
| Stipend for five months (Jul-Nov) | ₹62,000 | ₹1,85,000 | ₹12,400 or ₹37,000 × 5 |
So an IIT Madras M.Tech student needs about ₹48,000 of their own money in the first semester. Later semesters are lighter because one-time fees and deposits are not repeated, and SC/ST/PwD students pay no tuition (their M.Tech total is ₹41,402; IIT Madras 2026-27 PG fee structure). The PhD fellowship covers the same bill with roughly ₹85,000 to spare. M.Tech fees vary a lot between IITs; our IIT M.Tech fees guide compares them.
"Most iit's will have fees under 2 year stipend , for nits and iiits that's not the case" (r/GATEtard, April 2026)
Who does not get a stipend?
The ministry order is blunt: "Sponsored and Self-Financed Category of students including those in receipt of any other similar assistantship / scholarship / fellowship would not be eligible" (MHRD order of 18 February 2015). In practice:
- Sponsored candidates. IIT Bombay M.Tech: "not eligible for any financial assistance from the Institute" (IIT Bombay M.Tech brochure 2026-27). IIT Madras charges sponsored M.Tech students "an additional tuition fee of Rs. 50,000/- per semester" (IIT Madras 2026-27 PG fee structure).
- Self-financed and non-assistantship seats. At IIT Madras, "Non-HTTA does not Provide financial assistance", and those students "must make their own provision for accommodation" (IIT Madras M.Tech admissions 2026). IIT Bombay self-financed PhD scholars are "not entitled for hostel accommodation on campus" (IIT Bombay Ph.D. brochure 2026-27).
- Working professionals. "Employees on the rolls (with or without pay) of any organization are not eligible" for TA seats (IIT Bombay M.Tech brochure 2026-27). External, QIP and staff PhD scholars at IIT Madras are admitted "without assistantship" (IIT Madras research admission brochure (updated 2 Feb 2026)).
- Most part-time students. IIT Bombay's 3-year part-time M.Tech takes sponsored candidates, its own project staff and institute staff, who stay in their jobs and are not on the TA stipend. The exception is its part-time RA and RAP seats, paid for 20 hours of work a week (IIT Bombay M.Tech brochure 2026-27).
- Foreign nationals on IIT Madras' M.Tech: HTTA is awarded "to Indian Nationals" (IIT Madras M.Tech admissions 2026).
Related reading
- IIT M.Tech fees, institute by institute
- GATE cutoff for IIT M.Tech
- IIT M.Tech placements
- IIT hostel guide: fees, mess and rooms
Doing your M.Tech or PhD at an IIT? Campus hoodies for every IIT: Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Kanpur, Kharagpur, and the rest of the 23.
By Arun Raghav S · Co-founder, IITian Vibes · Facts retrieved 1 October 2026 from the linked official pages and documents. Corrections to hello@iitianvibes.com.