IIT Guwahati and CHT Launch New Energy Research PhD Fellowship

The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) has joined forces with the Centre for High Technology (CHT), an agency of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, to launch a specialized PhD research fellowship program focused on petroleum refining, petrochemicals, critical minerals, and advanced energy technologies. Announced in early November, the partnership aims to foster innovation and develop technical expertise for India's evolving energy sector.

Under the new fellowship program, up to three doctoral scholars will be selected annually as CHT-IITG Research Fellows, with a maximum cap of ten active fellows supported at any given time. Selected candidates will receive a financial stipend that is 25 percent higher than prevailing rates from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), University Grants Commission (UGC), and standard institute rates. Additionally, participants will receive house rent allowances, annual contingency grants, and funding for research consumables for up to four years.

Eligibility for the prestigious fellowship is open to candidates who have qualified through examinations such as CSIR-UGC-NET or GATE, as well as those selected through a dedicated test and interview process conducted by IIT Guwahati. Each fellow will benefit from joint supervision, receiving guidance from an IIT Guwahati faculty member alongside a co-supervisor or mentor nominated by CHT or its designated industry partners.

The collaborative research agenda targets several critical areas of the modern energy landscape. Key fields of study encompass green hydrogen, energy storage systems, carbon capture, utilization and storage, coal and biomass gasification, nanotechnology, and digitalization and cybersecurity. Research activities may be conducted at the IIT Guwahati campus or at designated facilities operated by CHT and its industrial affiliates.

In a related scientific development from the capital region, the Supreme Court of India issued directives concerning green firecrackers certified by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). The court permitted the manufacture and sale of specific certified green crackers ahead of the Diwali festival while maintaining strict regulatory oversight.

The judicial bench emphasized that manufacturers must adhere strictly to environmental guidelines, prohibiting the use of barium and series-joined firecrackers known as ladis. Authorities across the Delhi-National Capital Region were instructed to enforce these regulations through mandatory product QR codes, designated sale zones, and regular air quality monitoring by the Central Pollution Control Board.

Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director of IIT Guwahati, highlighted the broader impact of the academic partnership with CHT. "This partnership with the Centre for High Technology connects our doctoral researchers directly with the Oil and Gas and energy industry. Through jointly supervised PhD research, sponsored projects and training programmes, it will help develop solutions to real industry challenges and build the skilled workforce needed for India's energy transition," he stated.

The formalization of the Memorandum of Understanding took place at the Advanced Training Institute of ONGC in Goa. The agreement was signed by Prof. Sukumar Nandi, Dean of Administration at IIT Guwahati, and Shri Sankar Gunasekaran, Executive Director of the Centre for High Technology, in the presence of senior government and institutional officials.