IIT Bombay Sets Eight-Year Cap on PhD Completion
NGTV NEWS | MUMBAI, AUGUST 25, 2026
The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) has introduced an eight-year maximum limit for completing PhD programmes for new registrations, following an internal review of long-pending doctoral research.
The decision comes after the institute found that some PhD registrations had remained pending for more than a decade. IIT Bombay’s review identified several factors behind the delays, including supervisory constraints, candidates moving into jobs and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the revised framework, the eight-year period will serve as the outer limit for new PhD registrations. The institute has also been working to address academic and administrative hurdles that can prolong research.
The move comes alongside a record year for IIT Bombay, which awarded 620 PhD degrees during the 2025–26 academic year, its highest-ever annual tally.
The new time limit is aimed at encouraging timely completion while ensuring that doctoral research does not remain indefinitely pending. The reform could also prompt wider discussion across India’s higher education sector about balancing research quality with academic efficiency.
