IIT Kanpur’s Rs 3 Lakh ‘Bright Minds’ to IIT Kharagpur’s Rs 90,000 Ph.D. Grant: Scholarships for JEE, GATE Rankers
In a significant move to promote high-quality research, IIT Kharagpur recently announced a Special Ph.D. Fellowship for Top GATE 2026 Rankers, named the Director’s Platinum Jubilee Excellence Ph.D. Fellowship (DPEF). This fellowship is specifically designed for the top 50 rank holders of GATE 2026. Selected DPEF candidates will receive a substantial monthly stipend of ₹80,000 during the first two years of their Ph.D. Program, which will then increase to ₹90,000 per month for the subsequent three years, providing tough financial support for their doctoral studies.
On the other hand, IIT Kharagpur’s scholarship schemes can offer up to Rs. 3 lakhs a year. Some of its popular scholarships include Bright Minds Scholarship, Merit-cum-means scholarships and more. Take an in-depth look at IIT Kanpur and IIT Kharagpur’s key scholarships ahead.
IIT Kharagpur Scholarships: JEE Advanced and GATE Rankers
IIT Kharagpur offers scholarships and fellowships for top JEE Advanced and GATE rankers, along with merit-cum-means support for eligible undergraduate students.
| Scholarship/Fellowship | Eligibility | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Full Scholarship | Top 100 JEE Advanced rankers, as per applicable admission-year criteria | Full-ride scholarship covering eligible academic and related expenses |
| Director’s Platinum Jubilee Excellence Ph.D. Fellowship (DPEF) | Top 50 GATE 2026 rank holders selected for Ph.D. admission | ₹80,000 per month for the first 2 years and ₹90,000 per month for the next 3 years |
| Merit-Cum-Means (MCM) Scholarship | Up to 25% of students admitted to UG and Dual Degree programmes; subject to merit and income criteria | Exemption from Institute tuition fee |
| MCM — Fresh Entrants | At least 60% aggregate marks in the qualifying examination for JEE Advanced, along with prescribed income criteria | Institute tuition fee exemption |
| MCM — Renewal | Existing scholarship holders with a GPA of at least 7.00 in the preceding academic session and prescribed income eligibility | Continued tuition fee exemption |
IIT Kanpur Scholarships: Bright Minds and Beyond
IIT Kanpur offers the Bright Minds Scholarship along with several merit-, means-, donor- and category-based scholarships to support undergraduate students.
| Scholarship/Aid | Eligibility | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Bright Minds Scholarship | Selected high-performing students, including top JEE Advanced rank holders in applicable admission cycles | ₹3 lakh per year; support covering tuition, hostel, books and miscellaneous expenses, as per applicable scholarship terms |
| Merit-cum-Means Scholarship | Non-SC/ST students with annual parental income below ₹4.5 lakh | Full tuition fee waiver + ₹1,000 monthly allowance |
| INSPIRE Scholarship | B.S. students in Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics meeting the prescribed JEE/CML eligibility | ₹30,000 per semester + ₹20,000 annual research grant |
| Free Basic Mess Scholarship | SC/ST students with annual parental income below ₹4.5 lakh | Basic mess expenses |
| Sports Scholarship | Selected students based on sports performance | ₹1,000 per month for 9 months annually; 20 scholarships |
| Academic Excellence Award | Students with CPI of 8.5 or above | Award/recognition based on academic performance |
| Donor-funded Scholarships | Eligibility varies by individual scholarship | Benefits vary across the institute’s donor-funded scholarships |
IIT Kanpur Annual Undergraduate Expenses and Scholarship
| Expense Head | Amount |
|---|---|
| Full Tuition Fees | Rs. 2,00,000 |
| Hostel Fees, Mess Fees, Books, medical insurance & other living expenses | Rs. 1,00,000 |
| TOTAL | Rs. 3,00,000 |
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