Source: The post India faces sharp decline in MTech student enrolment has been created, based on the article “A BANK OF INNOVATORS” published in “Indian Express” on 20 May 2025. India faces sharp decline in MTech student enrolment.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- governance-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education.
Context: MTech enrolment in India has reached a seven-year low, with over two-thirds of seats vacant. This signals a deeper structural problem in India’s higher technical education, urging reforms to make postgraduate studies more appealing and viable for students.
Understanding the Decline in Postgraduate Enrolment
- Sharp Fall in Numbers: In 2023–24, fewer than 45,000 students enrolled against an offered intake of 1.3 lakh seats. This is a significant drop from the approved intake of 1.81 lakh in 2018–19.
- Early Employment Preference: Today’s graduates often choose immediate employment after BTech, motivated by strong industry demand and attractive salaries.
- Shift to Foreign Institutions: Many bright students prefer studying abroad due to better infrastructure, scholarships, global exposure, and job opportunities.
Key Barriers Discouraging Postgraduate Pursuits
- Low Perceived Value of MTech Degrees: Unless obtained from premier institutes, MTech is often not seen as significantly improving employability or skill levels.
- Inadequate Financial Assistance: The current PG scholarship of Rs 12,400 per month, unchanged since 2015, is insufficient to meet urban living expenses amid rising inflation.
- Lack of Research Ecosystem: Several institutions lack advanced labs, mentorship, industry collaboration, or interdisciplinary opportunities, weakening student motivation for research.
- Reduced Appeal of Academic Careers: With limited faculty job growth, concerns over job security, salary parity, and promotion avenues have made academic careers less attractive.
AICTE’s Efforts to Address Immediate Challenges
- Proposal for Scholarship Hike: AICTE has recommended increasing the monthly scholarship to Rs 18,600 for GATE-qualified students to address affordability concerns.
- Expanding Scholarship Eligibility: It has proposed including students with a CGPA of 8.5+ from AICTE-approved institutes, even if they haven’t cleared GATE, to broaden access.
Structural Reforms for Research and Education Quality
- PhD Oversight and Quality Standards: AICTE plans to regulate PhD programmes to ensure regular evaluations, promote interdisciplinary research, and introduce effective monitoring.
- Upgrading Research Infrastructure: Through the YASHASWI scheme, AICTE is investing in labs, innovation hubs, and Centres of Excellence to attract PG and PhD students.
- Industry Collaboration in Curriculum: By embedding internships, live projects, and co-designed syllabi, AICTE aims to link academic learning with real-world relevance.
Rebuilding the Appeal of Postgraduate Education
- Strategic National Need for Researchers:,India’s technological future in AI, green energy, and quantum tech depends on a strong pool of advanced researchers and specialists.
- Making Teaching Careers Attractive: The Council is working to improve pay structures, mobility, and professional development to make academia a viable career choice.
- Commitment to Reform and Excellence: AICTE remains dedicated to making postgraduate education aspirational, accessible, and essential to national growth and innovation.
Question for practice:
Examine the factors responsible for the decline in MTech enrolment in India and the measures being taken to address them.
