PhD funding gap widens nationwide, West Bengal universities see falling applications

India’s PhD ecosystem is witnessing a widening imbalance between the number of qualified aspirants and the financial and institutional support available to sustain doctoral research, according to national education data and accounts from researchers and faculty.

The latest figures from the University Grants Commission indicate that more than 1.28 lakh candidates qualified for PhD admission through UGC-NET 2025, an increase of 14% over the previous year.

In contrast, only 5,269 candidates were awarded the Junior Research Fellowship, the principal source of full-time doctoral funding.

This means only about 4% of eligible candidates secured assured financial support, leaving most scholars to begin their research without stable funding.

Enrollment trends reflect both expansion and pressure within higher education. Data from the All India Survey on Higher Education 2021–22 show that approximately 2.02 lakh students were enrolled in PhD programs across the country, accounting for about 0.5% of total higher education enrollment.

While participation has risen over the past decade, experts note that unclear timelines and the absence of standardized completion frameworks continue to extend research durations and contribute to attrition.

In West Bengal, faculty members say the funding shortage is directly affecting doctoral admissions. Dr Punarbasu Chaudhuri, Head of the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Calcutta, said the department has recorded a significant drop in PhD applications this year, leading to a lower intake.

“The primary reason is the absence of fellowships, especially JRF support. Many NET-qualified candidates ask us about funding, but neither the university nor the department has the capacity to support them. It becomes extremely difficult for scholars to continue without it,” he said.

Dr Chaudhuri added that although PhD admission regulations are currently being revised, admissions are still being conducted under older rules.

Researchers say the lack of funding shapes the entire doctoral experience. Anuja Saha, a PhD scholar in International Relations at Jadavpur University, said her financial difficulties intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She enrolled in 2020 under a RUSA–MHRD-funded project that was discontinued when lockdowns began, leaving her without institutional backing.

After reapplying for a state fellowship that had earlier been rejected, she faced prolonged delays and inconsistent responses from officials.

“My fellowship was approved, but it took several months, and even after that, the stipend was never paid on time. There was always a delay of three to four months,” Saha said.

Now awaiting her thesis defense, she described the PhD process as long and “quite a trapped one,” adding that even limited financial support plays a vital role in sustaining researchers over extended periods.

Administrative delays further disrupt research timelines. A PhD scholar from the University of Calcutta’s Reproductive Health Department, who asked not to be named, said she lost almost two years of funded research time despite being awarded a JRF.

“My JRF was approved in 2023, but my departmental interview was conducted only in September 2025,” she said.

Without formal enrollment, which came through in October 2025, she did not receive a stipend during that period.

“Even after enrollment, stipends are routinely delayed by two to three months,” she added, describing laboratory facilities at the university as “horrible” and below acceptable research standards.

Scholars link many of these issues to outdated administrative processes and internal departmental practices. Some researchers allege that portions of their stipend are held back by their principal investigator.

“Departmental politics are evident in how files move; some move faster than others,” the Calcutta University scholar said.

Several doctoral candidates have also raised concerns about political influence within state universities.

“In politically fragmented states like Bengal, informal alignments often shape academic outcomes,” Saha said.

Supervisory capacity remains another structural constraint. Faculty shortages, delayed recruitment, and inadequate infrastructure have extended research timelines and diluted academic output.

Retirements frequently outnumber new appointments, increasing the workload on existing faculty while many sanctioned posts remain unfilled.

Uncertain career prospects after a PhD compound the problem. State-aided academic positions offer modest salaries and limited benefits, while openings in central universities are limited.

As a result, many scholars leave their doctoral programs midway and transition to corporate roles. Education experts say the challenges point to the need for systemic reform.

They argue that strengthening doctoral research will require a sustained increase in fellowships, higher funding commitments, and transparent, time-bound administrative mechanisms to ensure that research careers are viable and academically productive.