AI SummaryQuality Improvement Programme (QIP) by AICTE is running for the 2026-27 academic session, and it helps faculty members of degree and diploma level institutes pursue Master's and Ph.D. degrees with a monthly scholarship. AICTE opened online applications for the 2026-27 session on 2 March 2026 on the new QIP portal at qip.aicte.gov.in, and the next admission cycle will also be announced on the same portal.
Under this scheme, teachers get ₹9,000 per month for M.E./M.Tech courses and ₹15,000 per month for Ph.D., along with an annual contingency grant. The money is sent directly to the Aadhaar-linked bank account through DBT.
Quality Improvement Programme (QIP) - Introduction
Quality Improvement Programme (QIP) was launched in 1970 by the Government of India and is run by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). The main aim is to upgrade the expertise and teaching skills of faculty members of degree and diploma level institutes, and to build a research culture in technical education.
Only sponsored teachers can take admission under QIP. This means a teacher needs a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the parent institute, along with a valid AICTE Faculty ID and Aadhaar details, to apply.
Faculty members of AICTE-approved diploma (Polytechnic) institutes with a valid Faculty ID can apply for M.E./M.Tech and Ph.D. courses.
Faculty members of AICTE-approved degree level engineering or management institutes with a valid Faculty ID can apply for Ph.D. courses.
Key Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Quality Improvement Programme (QIP) |
| Level | Central |
| Scheme For | Individual |
| Beneficiary States | All |
| Category | Education & Learning |
| Beneficiaries | Individual |
| Sub Category | Scholarships and student finance |
| Benefit Type | Cash |
| DBT Scheme | Yes |
| Ministry | Ministry of Education |
| Department | Department of Higher Education |
| Run By | AICTE-approved Institutes |
Benefits
Quality Improvement Programme (QIP) gives financial support and leave benefits so that teachers can focus fully on their studies.
Program Duration
| Program Type | Standard Duration |
|---|---|
| M.E./M.Tech | 2 years (no extension) |
| Ph.D. | 3 years (extendable by 1 year in special cases without scholarship) |
Scholarship Details
| Program | Monthly Scholarship | Annual Contingency |
|---|---|---|
| M.E./M.Tech | ₹9,000 | ₹5,000 |
| Ph.D. | ₹15,000 | ₹15,000 |
Pre-Ph.D. Support: A one-time lump sum grant of ₹15,000 toward Travel Allowance (TA) and ₹30,000 toward Daily Allowance (DA) for a 60-day pre-Ph.D. period is given. If the parent institute and the admitting institute are in the same district, TA and DA are not paid. Pre-Ph.D. payment is given only for the offline period of the pre-Ph.D. work.
Leaves: Teachers can take 15 days of casual leave and up to 30 days of medical leave in one academic year. Maternity or paternity leave is allowed once during the tenure as per government norms. Prior approval of the QIP center is required for all leaves.
Payment: All scholarship money is paid through DBT directly to the Aadhaar-linked bank account using the online QIP portal.
Eligibility
To apply for Quality Improvement Programme (QIP), the teacher should meet the criteria given below for the selected course.
For Master's Degree (M.E./M.Tech):
- Full-time regular or permanent faculty member of an AICTE-approved Polytechnic (Diploma) institute.
- At least one year of teaching experience at the polytechnic level.
- A Bachelor's degree in the relevant branch.
For Ph.D. Program:
- Full-time regular or permanent faculty member of an AICTE-approved degree level institute.
- At least three years of teaching experience at polytechnic or graduate level institutes.
- A Master's degree in the relevant branch.
Apart from these minimum criteria, the teacher also has to meet the specific requirements of the QIP center or institute where admission is sought.
Application Process
Applications for the 2026-27 session were invited online from 2 March 2026, and the last date was 30 April 2026, which AICTE later extended to 15 May 2026. Results for M.E./M.Tech were announced on 1 June 2026 and for Ph.D. on 10 June 2026. The admission process works in the steps given below.
STEP 1 - Go to the official QIP portal at qip.aicte.gov.in and register with the AICTE Faculty ID. Fill the application form, upload the required documents and pay the application fee before the last date.
STEP 2 - The application is first screened for the minimum eligibility criteria by the Nodal QIP Centre at IIT Kharagpur.
STEP 3 - Based on eligibility, the application is forwarded to up to three preferred QIP institutes or departments in order of preference.
STEP 4 - Shortlisted candidates are called for an interview or test by the respective QIP centers, and the details are sent by email.
STEP 5 - The final merit list is prepared by the QIP center and approved by AICTE. Selected candidates get an admission offer by email and through the QIP portal. A candidate selected in more than one institute can lock the best option and join.
Application Fees: The fee is non-refundable. General/OBC candidates pay ₹1,700, while SC/ST/PwD and female candidates pay ₹850.
Help and Contact: For technical issues with the admission portal, write to ittlb@aicte-india.org or call 011-29581307. Payment gateway queries can be sent to cep_off@adm.iitkgp.ac.in or call +91 3222 282033 / 283788.
Documents
Scanned copies of the following documents (PDF format, max 2 MB each unless stated) are needed while applying:
- Photograph and signature (jpeg/png, max 2 MB each)
- Aadhaar Card (PDF, max 2 MB)
- Experience Certificate (single PDF of current and past experience, max 10 MB)
- 10th and 12th marksheets and certificates
- Bachelor's degree and consolidated marksheet
- Master's degree and marksheet (required for Ph.D. applicants)
- GATE, NET, or JRF certificates (if applicable)
- Category Certificate (for SC/ST/OBC)
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the parent institute (mandatory)
References
Download QIP Scheme Guidelines
Download QIP Admission Brochure 2026
QIP 2026-27 Admission Notification
FAQ's
Are maternity and paternity leaves available?
Yes, these are given as per government norms once during the award tenure. The scholarship duration is not extended for these leaves.
How are casual and medical leaves calculated?
A scholar can take up to 15 days of casual leave and 30 days of medical leave in one academic year with prior approval of the QIP center.
What are the Pre-Ph.D. expense components?
A one-time lump sum of ₹15,000 for travel and ₹30,000 for 60 days of daily expenses is given for pre-Ph.D. work done in offline mode.
What are the scholarship amounts?
M.E./M.Tech scholars get ₹9,000 per month with a ₹5,000 annual contingency, and Ph.D. scholars get ₹15,000 per month with a ₹15,000 annual contingency.
When was Quality Improvement Programme (QIP) started?
AICTE launched this scheme in 1970 to improve the expertise of faculty members.
Is the application fee refundable?
No, the application fee of ₹1,700 or ₹850 is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Can the scholarship be discontinued?
Yes, the scholarship can be stopped in cases of misconduct, false information, insufficient attendance, or if a candidate leaves the course midway. Past payments may also be recovered.
How do I know if I was selected?
Selected candidates are informed by email and through the QIP portal. The admission offer letter is issued by the concerned QIP institute.