The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has launched the AICTE Innovation and Entrepreneurship Doctoral Fellowship Programme (AIEDFP) with a financial outlay of ₹245 crore over five years. The programme will support 150 PhD fellowships and is designed to promote research that can generate practical, innovative and commercially viable solutions. Unlike conventional doctoral research that may remain primarily academic, the AIEDFP will focus on problem-driven and application-oriented research. Scholars will be encouraged to address real-world challenges and develop solutions that can lead to technology transfer, commercialisation, innovation and wider societal impact. The initiative also seeks to strengthen the connection between academic institutions, industries, startups and society, helping research move from laboratories towards practical applications. AICTE expects the programme to contribute to India's innovation ecosystem and knowledge-driven economy by supporting the next generation of researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs.