India's flagship doctoral fellowship for science and engineering, funded by the Ministry of Education and hosted across the IITs, IISERs, IISc Bangalore and selected NITs and central universities. Fellows receive a monthly stipend that steps up across the five years of the PhD, plus an annual research grant for travel, equipment and contingency. Two entry routes exist: direct entry at the start of the doctorate and lateral entry within the first two years for students already enrolled. Selection is competitive and seat numbers are capped by ministry sanction, so intake depends on the current allocation rather than being open-ended. One of the better-funded PhD routes in South Asia for students who want to stay in the region rather than move abroad for doctoral work.