AI SummaryAICTE-Margdarshan scheme is a central mentorship scheme by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) under the Ministry of Education. It connects well-established mentor institutes with nearby mentee institutes so they can improve their technical education quality and work toward NBA accreditation. The scheme has been in place since 2018 and continues to help AICTE-approved institutions raise their academic standards.
Under this scheme, a high-performing mentor institute shares best practices, offers facility access, and guides up to 10 nearby mentee institutes. In return, the council provides a token grant-in-aid to the mentor institute for every mentee it supports. The scheme is open to AICTE-approved institutions across all states.
AICTE-Margdarshan scheme - Introduction
AICTE-Margdarshan scheme was launched by the All India Council for Technical Education in 2018 to help technical institutions improve their educational quality through accreditation. The scheme acts as a support system to strengthen the ecosystem in AICTE-approved institutions.
Margdarshan Institute (Mentor Institute or MI): A well-established AICTE-approved institution or a centrally funded body such as an IIT, NIT, IIIT, IISc, IISER, or IIM acts as a mentor. These institutions receive support to mentor up to 10 nearby institutes.
Mentee Beneficiary Institute (MBI): A mentee institute receives guidance from its designated MI. The MBI should be located within a reasonable distance of about 200 km. Participation is voluntary. After the nomination is confirmed, an MoU is signed. The council does not handle financial transactions between the parties under this MoU. MIs must make sure their chosen MBIs give an undertaking that they have never been mapped as an MBI with another MI and that none of their programs gained accreditation in the last decade.
Prerequisites: Mentor institutes should check the potential of an MBI, including enrolment, faculty, and infrastructure, before starting. It is important to pick an MBI with the right potential to avoid wasted effort.
Key Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | AICTE-Margdarshan scheme |
| Level | Central |
| Scheme For | Infra |
| Beneficiary States | All |
| Category | Education & Learning |
| Target Beneficiaries | University / Institution |
| Sub Category | Education and training grants, fellowship, stipend |
| Benefit Type | In Kind |
| DBT Scheme | No |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Education |
| Nodal Department | Department of Higher Education |
| Open Date | 2018-01-01 |
| Tags | Technical Education, Grant-in-aid, Mentor Institute, Mentee Beneficiary Institutes |
Benefits
For Mentor Institute (MI): The council provides a token grant-in-aid of ₹ 3,00,000 per MBI. An MI can receive a maximum of ₹ 30,00,000 for mentoring 10 MBIs. Staff members also get a suitable honorarium, capped at 4% of the total grant.
| Item | Remarks |
|---|---|
| Travel Allowances | AC 2-tier train fare or taxi rates limited to government norms. |
| Honorarium | ₹ 3,000 per day for internal experts. |
| Local Support | Provided by the host MBI (lodging, boarding, office utilities). |
For Mentee Beneficiary Institute (MBI): Activities focus on accreditation preparedness. Suggested initiatives include the following:
- Workshops on accreditation, SWOT analysis, and NIRF ranking parameters.
- Guidance on research, consultancy, and innovation.
- Faculty development programs and outcome-based education (OBE) workshops.
- Institutional reforms including curriculum improvements and performance-based faculty appraisals.
- Quality improvements in student learning, employability, and critical thinking.
Eligibility
For Mentor Institute (MI): The institution must be AICTE-approved or a centrally funded institution. It should hold valid accreditation for at least 6 months at the time of proposal submission. Institutions focusing only on diploma courses must run at least four accredited courses.
For Mentee Beneficiary Institute (MBI): Only AICTE-approved institutes can receive mentoring. The institute should not have enrolled as an MBI before or mapped with another MI. It should also not have had any accredited programs in the last 10 years.
Exclusions
For Mentor Institute (MI): Institutes with a break in approval or zero admission in the last 10 years are not eligible. An institute cannot submit more than one project proposal. Also, institutes sharing the same board or management as an existing MI cannot apply.
For Mentee Beneficiary Institute (MBI): An institute cannot take part if it shares the same management or board of trustees as its designated Mentor Institute.
Application Process
Follow these steps to apply:
STEP 1 - Download the application form and put together the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
STEP 2 - Make sure the Head of the institute signs and stamps every page of the report.
STEP 3 - Gather all the required supporting documents.
STEP 4 - Submit the complete application packet to the official address given in the AICTE circular.
Documents
Make sure the application includes the following:
- Basic details of the institute.
- List of proposed MBIs.
- Consent letters from all proposed MBIs.
- Programme-specific pre-qualifiers for each MBI (Diploma/UG/PG).
- Signed self-undertaking.
- Proposed activity plan.
- Form for mandate details.
References
Official Margdarshan Scheme Page
For other training and development support, see the AICTE-Professional Development Scheme.
FAQ's
What is the purpose of the AICTE-Margdarshan scheme?
It aims to improve technical education quality by pairing high-functioning mentor institutes with institutes seeking accreditation, giving them the guidance and facility access they need.
Who manages this scheme?
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) manages the scheme.
When was this scheme introduced?
The scheme was introduced in 2018.
What is the role of a Mentor Institute?
A Mentor Institute is a well-established institution like an IIT or NIT that guides up to 10 nearby institutes to achieve accreditation and academic excellence.
What is a Mentee Beneficiary Institute (MBI)?
An MBI is an institute that receives mentorship and technical guidance to improve its accreditation status and infrastructure.
How many MBIs can one Mentor Institute support?
One MI can support a maximum of 10 MBIs.
What is the financial grant available?
Mentors receive ₹ 3,00,000 per mentee, up to a total of ₹ 30,00,000 for 10 mentees.
What is the duration of the mentorship?
The nomination and associated grant support last for a period of three years.