AICTE M.Tech (GATE/GPAT) Scholarship: 2025 Proposal & What Students Need to Know

In May 2025 AICTE proposed a 50% hike in the PG (GATE/GPAT) scholarship — from ₹12,400 to ₹18,600 per month — and sent the recommendation to the Ministry of Education; this is a proposal awaiting final approval/notification. Primary reporting: Indian Express.

1) What exactly was proposed?

1. Proposed change: monthly stipend increase from ₹12,400 → ₹18,600 (≈ +50%). The proposal was sent by AICTE to the Ministry of Education (i.e., it’s not yet an implemented/notification-level change).
2. Rationale: AICTE flagged declining M.Tech enrolments and a drop in students availing PG scholarships; the hike aims to make M.Tech financially more attractive. Data and reasons are in AICTE’s communications and reported in press coverage.

2) Current (pre-proposal) scheme & who is eligible today

1. Current stipend (before proposed hike): ₹12,400 per month for full-time GATE/GPAT qualified students admitted to AICTE-approved PG programmes. (AICTE PG scholarship rules / portal).
2. Who can apply now / normally: Full-time students admitted to AICTE-approved M.Tech / ME / M.Pharm (GPAT) programmes who have a valid GATE/GPAT/CEED score — and who are not sponsored or receiving other govt scholarships. The number of scholarships is capped by the AICTE-approved intake for the course.

3) Status: proposal vs. implementation (very important)

1. Status: AICTE’s recommendation is a proposal sent to the Ministry of Education (reported May 2025). No public government notification (Gazette/Ministry circular) confirming the ₹18,600 stipend as an implemented rule had been published at the time of these reports. Students must therefore treat ₹18,600 as proposed, not guaranteed, until an official notification appears on AICTE/MoE channels.

4) What AICTE suggested besides the hike

1. AICTE has also recommended that graduates from AICTE-approved institutions with a CGPA ≥ 8.5 be made eligible for the PG scholarship without having to appear for GATE (this is part of the recommendations to boost PG enrolment). That is a policy suggestion and also needs Ministry approval to become operational.

5) How to apply (current portal & process — while the proposal is pending)

Even while the stipend proposal is under consideration, the AICTE PG Scholarship portal is the official application/verification channel for PG scholarships. If you are (or will be) a GATE/GPAT-qualified student admitted to an AICTE-approved PG programme, follow these steps:

Official portal (in use): AICTE PG Scholarship Portal — login / apply. pgscholarship.aicte.gov.in

Typical process (current / established workflow):

1. Institute registers / uploads eligible students on the AICTE PG portal (institutes generate unique IDs for students).
2. Student uses unique ID to login and complete application on pgscholarship.aicte.gov.in (fill details, upload documents).
3. Documents required (typical): GATE/GPAT scorecard, admission letter, Aadhaar, bank passbook with IFSC, ID proof, recent photo, institute verification letter. (Portal manuals list exact files).
4. Institute verification: Institute must verify the student’s details on the portal — scholarship processing depends on institute verification.
5. Disbursement: On approval, stipend is disbursed directly to the student bank account.

6) What students should do now (practical checklist)

1. Apply/complete admission to an AICTE-approved M.Tech/M.E./M.Pharm programme if eligible.
2. Check with your institute whether they will upload student details to the AICTE PG portal (institutes are the first step).
3. Prepare documents: GATE/GPAT scorecard, admission letter, Aadhaar, bank passbook linked to Aadhaar (per portal instructions), parental income proof if applicable.
4. Monitor official channels: AICTE website and Ministry of Education notifications for final confirmation on any stipend hike. (Press reports indicate a proposal; ministry notification is final.)

7) FAQs (short)

Q: Has the stipend already increased to ₹18,600?

A: No — as of the latest reports, AICTE has proposed the hike and referred it to the Ministry of Education; it is not yet a notified change. Don’t assume automatic retroactive payment until there’s a formal notification.

Q: Who is eligible for the current GATE/GPAT scholarship?

A: Full-time GATE/GPAT/CEED qualified students admitted to AICTE-approved PG programmes; sponsored candidates or those receiving other govt support are not eligible.

Q: Where will I see the final notification if the hike is approved?

A: On the AICTE website and the Ministry of Education communications; AICTE’s PG Scholarship portal will also reflect changes.

8) Sources of the article

1. Indian Express reporting on AICTE’s proposal (May 2025). The Indian Express
2. AICTE PG Scholarship Portal (official portal & manuals). pgscholarship.aicte.gov.in
3. EdexLive and other reportage summarising the proposal and context. EdexLive