AI SummaryAICTE-INAE Distinguished Visiting Professorship Scheme is a joint scheme of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE). It was launched in 1999 to promote industry-institute interaction by bringing experienced industry professionals and retired INAE Fellows into AICTE-approved engineering colleges. As of August 2026, the scheme is open for nominations and applications are accepted through the offline process every year.
This scheme lets industry experts share their practical knowledge through lectures, student project guidance, and curriculum development. Since 2018, all retired INAE Fellows have also been eligible to take part. Nomination details, the application form, and scheme documents are available on the official INAE and AICTE websites.
AICTE-INAE Distinguished Visiting Professorship Scheme - Introduction
The main idea behind the scheme is to reduce the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical industrial needs. The expert who joins as a Distinguished Visiting Professor brings real-world insights into the classroom and helps students and faculty understand current industry trends, research needs, and working environments.
The scheme is applicable only for visits to AICTE-approved engineering colleges and institutes. A Distinguished Visiting Professor can visit up to two AICTE-approved colleges during the tenure and can visit an institution up to two times in a semester, with each visit lasting a maximum of three consecutive days.
As a Distinguished Visiting Professor, the expert will perform several tasks:
- Deliver lectures on the current state of industry, industrial work culture, and research and development needs to students and faculty of AICTE-approved engineering colleges.
- Guide student projects and theses that are useful to industry and support research-oriented student work.
- Help with curriculum development keeping in mind the changing needs of the industry.
- Develop cooperative undergraduate and postgraduate programmes with industry that benefit faculty, students, and the industry.
- Take up other activities for the mutual benefit of engineering institutions and industry.
Key Information
| Scheme Name | AICTE-INAE Distinguished Visiting Professorship Scheme |
| Level | Central |
| Scheme For | Individual |
| Beneficiary States | All |
| Category | Education & Learning |
| Sub Category | Education and training grants, fellowship, stipend |
| Benefit Type | Cash |
| DBT Scheme | No |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Education |
| Nodal Department | Department of Higher Education |
| Open Date | 1999-01-01 |
| Tags | Fellowship, Distinguished Engineers, Engineer Scientists, Technologists, Visiting Professorship |
Eligibility
To apply under this scheme, an industry expert should meet the following conditions:
Educational qualification: The applicant should hold at least a graduate degree in engineering or an equivalent qualification.
Age limit: The age of a Distinguished Visiting Professor should be in the range of 45 to 75 years as per the current INAE guidelines. For exceptional cases, the Selection Committee may relax the age limit.
Industry experience: The applicant must have at least 10 years of experience in industry and a distinguished work record shown through products, technology, processes, patents, publications, or awards.
Retired INAE Fellows: All retired INAE Fellows can also apply under this scheme.
Not eligible to re-apply: A Distinguished Visiting Professor who completes a tenure cannot apply again under this scheme.
Benefits
Selected experts get the following support during their association:
| Benefit Item | Description |
| Travel Reimbursement | Reimbursement of airfare (Y-Class), actual rail fare, or approved INAE rates for travel by road. |
| Honorarium | ₹ 10,000 per lecture day. |
| Online Session Honorarium | ₹ 10,000 per day without travel or lodging allowances for online programmes. |
For online sessions under Module 1 of the scheme, the expert is paid only the honorarium of ₹10,000 per lecture day without any travel or lodging allowance. The honorarium is payable only for lecture sessions for students and for guiding student projects. Review of curriculum, project evaluation, and discussions with college authorities are not counted as lecture days, so no honorarium is paid for those days.
Tenure
The initial tenure is one year and can be extended up to a maximum of five years. The Selection Committee decides each year's extension based on the contributions of the Distinguished Visiting Professor and the feedback received from the host institution. A break in tenure of up to two years can also be granted for a valid reason.
Application Process
Applications are accepted through the offline process. Follow these steps to apply:
STEP 1 - Visit the official AICTE-INAE DVP Scheme page on the INAE website, the AICTE INAE DVP page, or the AICTE staff development schemes page to download the application form.
STEP 2 - Fill in Part I of the application form with personal, educational, and industry experience details. Part II of the form has to be filled by the AICTE-approved engineering college or institution that the expert plans to visit.
STEP 3 - Sign every page of the application form and attach the required documents, including the copy of the AICTE letter of approval.
STEP 4 - Send the completed application with all documents through registered post or speed post to the Executive Director, Indian National Academy of Engineering, Ground Floor, Block-II, Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi - 110 016.
STEP 5 - Keep the postal dispatch details for reference. Applications sent directly to the AICTE office are not considered. For any query, contact INAE at 011-26582475 or inaehq@inae.in.
Documents
When preparing the application, gather the following documents:
- Copy of the AICTE letter of approval.
- Documents showing educational qualifications, degrees, industrial experience, and specialised training in research, design, management, or projects.
- Copies of publications.
- Copies of IPR details.
- Any other relevant documents.
References
Use these official links for the scheme document, application form, and application procedure:
- Official DVP scheme page on the INAE website
- Revised Scheme Document (PDF)
- Application Form (PDF)
- Application Procedure Guide (PDF)
- Indian National Academy of Engineering website
FAQ's
What is AICTE-INAE Distinguished Visiting Professorship Scheme?
AICTE-INAE Distinguished Visiting Professorship Scheme is a joint scheme of the Indian National Academy of Engineering and the All India Council for Technical Education that promotes industry-institute interaction.
Who manages this scheme?
The Indian National Academy of Engineering and the All India Council for Technical Education jointly manage this scheme.
When was this scheme launched?
This scheme was launched in 1999.
What should be the minimum educational qualification of the industry expert?
The applicant should hold at least a graduate degree in engineering or an equivalent qualification.
What is the age criteria for a Distinguished Visiting Professor?
The age should be in the range of 45 to 75 years as per the current INAE guidelines. The Selection Committee may relax the age limit in exceptional cases.
How many years of industry experience is required for an applicant?
The applicant must have at least 10 years of experience in industry.
Can a retired INAE fellow apply under this scheme?
Yes, the scheme has been open to all retired INAE Fellows since 2018.
How many colleges can a DVP visit during their tenure?
A Distinguished Visiting Professor can visit up to two AICTE-approved engineering colleges during the tenure.
What is the tenure of the Distinguished Visiting Professor?
The initial tenure is one year and can be extended up to a maximum of five years.
How should I submit my application?
Applications are submitted through the offline process by sending the filled form through registered post or speed post to the INAE office.
What is the contact address and phone number of INAE?
The INAE office is at Ground Floor, Block-II, Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi - 110 016. The phone number is 011-26582475 and the email is inaehq@inae.in.