phd in political science iit

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences

Indian institute of technology madras, ph.d. programme.

The DoHSS has a vibrant research community. Ph.D. admissions are carried out twice a year, in January and July. The range of research topics encompasses fields as diverse as Advertising, Agricultural Policy, African/American/English/Indian Literature, Discourse Analysis, ELT, Economics & Econometrics, German Studies, Health Care, Modern Indian History, History of Science, Technology and Medicine, International Relations, Linguistics, Philosophy, Policy Studies, Science, Sociology, Theatre, Film and Media Studies, Technology and Development, and Science and Technology Education.

Research in HSS – the scholars’ perspective

As researchers from the Dept. of Humanities and Social Sciences situated within the interstices of a technological institute, there is a constant dialogue between questions of technology with those of society and humanity. We as researchers keenly observe critique and act as an interface between these different paradigms. We believe that as a generation of curious Social Scientists and Liberal Humanists, the need of the hour is to establish consilience among diverse academic spaces. As a department, both the members of faculty and research scholars engage in a broad spectrum of research, which is largely interdisciplinary in nature. Being a part of a technological institute of national repute provides us with immense opportunities to witness and evaluate the interaction, transformation and synthesis that occur between technology, society and humanity.

The department of Humanities and Social Sciences, has scholars who pursue research activities in multiple fields including Language testing, Gandhian philosophy, Migration, Public Finance, Development Studies, Alternative education, Film Studies, Environmental evaluation, Sociopragmatics, Dalit and Minority education, European and Chinese studies, Speech and Communication, Ecocriticism, Deep Ecology, Health Economics, Diaspora and Cultural studies.

The department provides opportunities to scholars to work in areas outside of their specific discipline, thereby opening up avenues for innovative researches of interdisciplinary nature. The specially designed courses help the scholars to pursue their specific interests and decide on their research questions. This facilitates the study to evolve over a period of time and lays a sound foundation for the beginning of research. An evaluation of the scholar’s research progress at regular intervals not only facilitates his/her research but also prepares the scholar to engage with greater focus and rigour.

The scholars of the department have been awarded several reputed fellowships like The Fulbright Fellowship, The Erasmus Mundus Fellowship, The Jenesys Fellowship and have visited various countries, with opportunities to pursue research in world class Universities. The institute provides funds for research activities and extracurricular activities and several scholars have also availed these fellowships to attend international conferences during their program of study. The scholars have also published in reputed national and international journals.

The scholars of the department organize a weekly lecture series which serves as a meeting platform for both the faculty and the scholars. This forum allows scholars to share their research interests and outputs, both with members from within the department and also from other departments in the institute. The presentations are followed by discussions.

As a community the scholars also organize informal talks, film/book reviews, seminars and conferences including an annual theater production in collaboration with the post-graduate students of the department.

Being a research scholar in the department of Humanities and Social Sciences is both an enjoyable and enriching experience.

Admission Procedure

Please apply online PhD admission here:

https://research.iitm.ac.in/

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences Room No.: HSB 333 Indian Institute of Technology Madras Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. PIN Code: 600036

Tel-Phone::+91 44 2257 4500 Email: hsoffice[at]iitm[.]ac[.]in

PhD Program in Humanities and Social Sciences at IITs

• April 5, 2022
• PhD Program

  The Department of Humanities & Social Sciences at various IITs offers a Ph.D. program in different academic disciplines such as English, Economics, Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology, Fine Arts, Linguistics, Policy, History, Archaeology, Political Science, Geography, Development Studies, etc. The Department’s curricula aligned with its academic vision aim to cultivate critical and innovative thinking and impart training required to carry out the highest level of multi-disciplinary research. To fulfill its teaching and research goals, the Department has competent faculty members in diverse areas who keep pace with the current developments in their fields of specialization.

Apart from the facilities made available to all students at the Institute level, at the department level, the students have access to the resources available in the Department’s Library, Computer Labs, etc. The departments also house teaching laboratories such as Language laboratory, Behavioural and Cognitive Science laboratory, Econometrics laboratory, Psychology laboratory, and more. These laboratories help students improve their language and communication skills, train students in subjects like psychology and other allied behavioral sciences, etc. A good library is always the nucleus of a vibrant research ethos. These Departments have their own library with an outstanding collection of books and journals that help strengthen the research of students and faculty members.

Research Areas in Humanities & Social Sciences at IITs

Research in Humanities & Social Sciences at IITs covers all the areas of English, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, Fine Arts, etc. The core areas of research are:

Cognitive Linguistics, Pragmatics, American Literature, Critical and Literary Theory, Postcolonial Theory and Literature, Indian literature and literary theory, Translation Studies, Literary Censorship, Postmodern Theory and Literature, The Anthropocene Literature, Climate Fiction, and Cli-Fi Films, Cyberpunk and Biopunk, Critical Theory, Cybercriticism, Ecocriticism, Language Documentation And Description, Linguistic Typology, Historical Linguistics, Postcolonial Literature, Indian Writings in English, Life Writings, English Language Teaching, Applied Cognitive Linguistics, Curriculum, and Syllabus Design, Linguistics, Language Variation, History of Film Theory, Aesthetic Politics, World Cinema, Critical Theory

Visual and Media Arts, Design, Visual Culture, Frugal Innovation, Visual thinking, Art history, Graphic Art, Painting, Studio Art practices, Art History, Art Appreciation, Visual Culture, Cinema Studies, New-Media & Mixed-Media Art, Calligraphy, Oil Painting, Sculpture

  Philosophy

Logic, Formal Epistemology, General Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Cognitive Science, Aesthetics, Philosophy and Literature, Phenomenology, Existentialism, Hermeneutics, Gandhi Studies, Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Evolutionary Epistemology, Philosophy of Science (Biology), Cognition, Creativity

Health Psychology, Social Representations, Illness Narratives, Social Cognition, Organizational Cognition, Cognitive Neuropsychology, Affective Processes, Psychological Assessment, Trauma Psychology, Applied Social Psychology, Disaster Mental Health, Qualitative Methodology, Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Science, Cognitive Science, Embodied Cognition, Action, Agency, and Self

Social Demography, Rural Development, Social Statistics, Sociology of Science and Technology, Sociology of Development, Social Movements, Human Rights, Social Movements, Law and Governance, Sociology of Religion, Sociology of Law, Economic Sociology, Sociology of Work, New Media Studies (identification, everyday use), Social Geography, Sociology of Money, Environmental Sociology, Social Network Analysis

The Department of Humanities & Social Sciences at the Indian Institutes of Technology in Delhi , Bombay , Madras , Kanpur , Kharagpur , Roorkee , and Guwahati provides an outstanding research environment complemented by excellence in teaching. All other IITs also offer excellent research programs in Humanities & Social Sciences.

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Doctoral Programme

About the programme.

The Ashank Desai Centre for Policy Studies (ADCPS) at IIT Bombay was conceived as a centre for research, education, training, and practice. In order to meet a growing need and demand for policy professionals in India, it was thought necessary that ADCPS have a Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) programme as well as a PhD programme. ADCPS launched its PhD in Public Policy (MPP) programme from the Autumn semester of 2017.

ADCPS envisions myriad ways in which its PhD and MPP programmes and graduates from these programmes can contribute to IIT Bombay’s intellectual expansion as well as to India’s polity and society. The aim is to produce professionals or academics who seek to serve or lead in the interest of the public. These academic programmes will reflect the changing dynamics in today’s world and the need for policy to keep up with technological advancements, globalization, nuanced and complex public debates, and the growing trend of building rights based democracies. Policy can no longer be contained within the realm of government and bureaucracy; it has percolated into civil society, academic institutions, and the private sector. Through the programmes, ADCPS aims to give its students tools which are applicable in diverse situations and teach students how to adapt to various fields, contexts, or situations. Students of the programmes can then find themselves fitting into and contributing to the public or private sectors, working within the government, or in the not for profit/NGO sector. They may choose to work for large corporations as analysts or lobbyists, or may do policy research in IOs, think tanks, or universities. Finally, ADCPS in its academic programmes aims to capitalize on IIT Bombay’s existing institutional strengths and build a department that can be a hub for public policy research and expertise. ADCPS’s academic programmes integrates public policy, social sciences, and technology.

We encourage international students to apply for the IIT Bombay institute TA fellowships for our PhD programs. More details about this can be found here

During the first two semesters, the focus is on classroom courses. This includes compulsory core and electives courses. Details of the course structure can be found below. Additionally, PhD scholars are expected to complete an eight-week internship at a relevant organisation after Semester II. This field exposure is expected to help students refine their research approach and build networks for their projects. The rest of the PhD programme is dedicated to conducting research towards the PhD thesis.

The Ashank Desai Centre for Policy Studies (ADCPS) at IIT Bombay is inviting applications for its PhD  programme in Public Policy f or  the Autumn semester of  2022 . Please visit the IIT Bombay website here for detailed advertisement, application form, information brochure.  The application must be submitted online

Programme Structure

The programme is structured to keep half of the credit load in the Policy area, and the other half is to be divided between (i) the courses in the sectoral area of interest e.g. water, energy, gender, communication etc. and (ii) Institute electives which would complement the policy courses and the domain courses, taking into account the student’s background. The credit load will be designed to suit this requirement.

Each student will have to indicate the domain area e.g. water, energy, gender, information economy and others, in which s/he wishes to carry out doctoral research on policy related aspects. Ideally the student will have a guide and a co-guide–one having expertise in the policy arena and the other in the concerned domain. Candidates are strongly encouraged to identify relevant faculty members in any research area that they are interested in.   

Research Areas

A candidate must identify either one or two of the following areas of APCPS Policy research and indicate as such in the research proposal (please carefully read www.cps.iitb.ac.in/research for elaboration):

i. Digital Societies and Governance ii. Social Policy (Education, Ageing, Identity) iii. Technology and Policy  iv. Urban Policy v. Water, Sanitation, Energy, Climate Change

Pahi Saikia

Associate Professor, Political Science, IIT Guwahati

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 91-361-258-2573 (O)

About Dr. Pahi Saikia

Pahi Saikia is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati. She did her MA and MPhil from CPS, JNU, New Delhi. She completed her PhD in Political Science from McGill University, Canada. She is a recipient of the Canadian Commonwealth Fellowship. Her major areas of specialization are Comparative Politics and International Relations. Prior to joining IIT Guwahati, she was a Sessional Lecturer in the Department of Political Science, University of Victoria, BC, Canada. She was also associated with the Center for Asia and Pacific Studies, University of Victoria, Canada. She was a Visiting Academic at Murdoch University, Perth, Australia. In 2018, she was awarded the Indo-Shastri Mobility grant to conduct research at Carleton University, Canada.

Her first book, Ethnic Mobilization and Violence in Northeast India (Routledge, 2011) discusses the relationship between movements for autonomy and statehood by marginalized tribal ethnic minorities (also referred as indigenous peoples) and violence in Assam, in northeast India.

The book addresses some of the reasons for the failure of ethnic conflict management and for the frequent emergence of violence in the region. The book offers research data based on comparative analysis of different trajectories followed by three important movements among Assam’s ethnic minorities, particularly the Bodos, Dimasas and Misings. While the pieces of the argument are based on the existing literature on ethnic violence and contentious politics, they are effectively connected to materials drawn from northeast India.

Furthermore, the book raises concerns on the debates on crafting of decentralised institutions and executive opportunities that may facilitate ethnic accommodation thereby reducing the likelihood of such groups to pursue their goals through channels that are radical or extreme.

Her research interests include: International Relations; Foreign Policy between India and neighbouring countries; Ethnic identity politics, tribes and indigenous people in Northeast India; Governance & political development in developing areas; Security issues in borderlands Asia; Social movements and conflict prevention.

Upcoming Events New

ICSSR, Delhi sponsored seminar on Revisiting Partition: concepts, dynamics and manifestations with special focus on north east India, February 9 - 11, 2017 , New Conference Hall, IIT Guwahati in association with Institute of Social Change and Regional Development (ISCARD), Assam.

The details of the course can be obtained from: http://www.gian.iitkgp.ac.in/ccourses/approvecourses2

The course brochure is available for download: Download Brochure

Interested participants need to register using the link below: http://www.gian.iitkgp.ac.in/ccourses/approvecourses2

News & Events

News & events new.

National seminar on Sub-regional Cooperation: BIMSTEC and Northeast India in Perspective February 19 - 20, 2020 , Conference Hall, IIT Guwahati in association with Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Kolkata Chapter. Supported by the ICSSR, New Delhi

New book on "India and Myanmar Borderlands: Ethnicity, Security and Connectivity" , Routledge, 2019.

IIT Guwahati has signed MOUs with the Department of Political Science, Hiram College, Cleveland, Ohio, USA and the Department of Political Science, Emory University, Atlanta, USA for joint research and exchange of researchers. For further information, please contact Dr. Pahi Saikia at [email protected].

ICSSR, Delhi sponsored conference on India-Myanmar Bilateral Ties: Ethnicity, Security and Connectivity , September 25 - 26, 2016, New Conference Hall, IIT Guwahati in collaboration with Observer Research Foundation, Kolkata Chapter.

GIAN course (May 16 -20, 2016) at IIT Guwahati, entitled: "CAMPAIGNS, MEDIA AND INFLUENCE" under the MHRD program called, The Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) in Higher Education. Professor Holli A. Semetko, Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Media and International Affairs and Professor of Political Science at Emory University in Atlanta, United States of America co-taught the course with Dr. Saikia.

Dialogue on Strengthening Community Engagement in Higher Education 17 - 18 September, 2014 at IIT Guwahati

Conference on North East in India’s Look East : Issues and Opportunities 28 - 30 October, 2014 at IIT Guwahati

Continuities and Discontinuities of Asian Engagement: Borders, Mobility and Identity in Northeast India and Asia: 17 - 18 October, 2013 at IIT Guwahati

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PhD Eligibility and Application

Eligibility for Admission

   i. M.Phil. (awarded by IIT Bombay or equivalent 2-year degree) in any of the disciplines pertaining to the research areas in the Department, with First Class or 60% marks (55% marks for SC/ST) as specified in the General Eligibility Criterion.    ii.  M.A. or equivalent degree in Humanities & Social Sciences subjects, with 55% marks (50% for SC/ST).  OR  Master’s degree in Commerce with 55% marks (50% for SC/ST).   OR   M.Sc. or equivalent degree in Science, with First Class or 60% marks (55% marks for SC/ST) as specified in the General Eligibility Criterion.   OR   B.Tech./B.E. or equivalent degree in Engineering/Technology, with First Class or 60% marks (55% marks for SC/ST) as specified in the General Eligibility Criterion.

Candidates with degrees in Science, Commerce, Design, Architecture, Management and Engineering/ Technology or candidates with two years of PGDM from recognised Govt. Institution will be considered for research areas consistent with their academic background. Candidates having UGC-NET Lectureship (LS)/ GATE are also eligible for Teaching Assistantship in addition to other academic qualifications.

A minimum of 2 years of professional work experience for Sponsored or External Category (EX) and Self Financing Category (SF) is mandatory. To be considered for the Institute Teaching Assistant-ship (TA), the applicant must possess a valid GATE score or have qualified the CSIR/ UGC/ ICSSR/ ICPR/ MET/ an equivalent qualifying examination.

  Research Areas : 

Psychology ­:- Only in Autumn Semester 2024 : Organizational Psychology, Health Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, and Social Psychology

Sociology :-  ­only in Autumn Semester 2024 : Urban Studies; Development Studies; Rural/Agrarian Sociology; Law and Governance; Legal Pluralism; Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change; Gender and Development; Disaster Studies; Ethnicity and Multiculturalism; Sociological Theory; Anthropology of corruption; Constitutional Law; Sociology of Higher Education; Sociology of Religion and Kinship; Conversion; Christianity in India; Caste today; Religious Institutions; Hierarchy/Stratification; Sociology in/of India; Contemporary Karnataka; Sociology of Development and Environment; Natural Resource Conflicts; Issues of Livelihoods and Problems of Marginalized Class; Resource Rights; Subaltern Resistance and Movements and Political Ecology; Sociology and political economy of Finance; Political Economy of Development; Indian Political Economy; Theories of Money; Classical Political Economy; New and Old Institutionalism and History of Economic Thought; Issues of Gender and Sexuality; Medical Anthropology; Anthropology of the Body and Embodiment; PostColonial Studies; Post-Modern Feminist Studies and Southern Theories; Caste: Civility and Democracy; Civil Society, Ethnography Studies; Inclusion and Exclusion; Environmental Sociology; Social and Environmental Movements; Environmental Politics with a focus on Social inequality and Natural Resource Conflicts especially in Rural India; Issues of Livelihood and Problems of Marginalized Class and Political Ecology; Science and Technology Studies; Sociology of Medicine and Public Health.

  Philosophy :-  ­ Only in Autumn Semester 2024 : Classical Indian philosophy (orthodox and heterodox systems), Abhinavagupta, Non-dual Śaivism, Philosophy of Indian Aesthetics, Contemporary Indian Philosophy, Philosophy of Cognitive Science, AI Ethics, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Language.

Cell for Indian Science and Technology in Sanskrit ­­  :-  Autumn and Spring Semester 2024 : Indian Science and Technology; Indian Philosophy; Logic and Epistemology; Sanskrit language; Panini and Grammar; Philosophy of Language. 

History : Archeology :-  Only in Autumn  Semester 2024 : Archaeology, Modern History- Subaltern history, migration history, maritime history and histories of anticolonialism and decolonization.

Linguistic- Autumn and Spring Semester 2024 : Applicants are required to submit a Research Proposal along with the application. The format, content and other details needed for the proposal is available here .

English – No intake in all areas of Literature and Performance Studies.

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Minimum Qualifications for admission to Full-time PhD Programmes

Table 1 defines the minimum qualifications required for admission to full-time Ph. D. programmes at IIT Delhi. Please note:

These are Institute minimum requirements and any Department/Centre/School operating through their DRC/CRC/SRC can specify higher short-listing criteria than what is specified here.

This table includes most of the degrees, but each DRC/CRC/SRC is free to specify the qualifications and disciplines acceptable for admission to their programmes.

Candidates in the final year of their programmes and who expect to complete all their qualifying degree requirements before the date of registration are also eligible to apply for admissions. For short-listing purposes, their performance until the preceding semester (preceding year if their programmes are year based) would be considered but their admission would be provisional, subject to their meeting the minimum eligibility criteria after their final qualifying examination results are announced. In any case, all admissions are provisional at first and it is confirmed only after all certificates and previous records are duly checked and verified, a process which may take a few weeks into the starting semester.

Table 1: Minimum Qualification for Admission to full-time PhD Programmes

Exemptions, relaxations and clarifications:

For SC/ST/PwD category candidates , the minimum performance in the qualifying degree (S. No. 1 & 2 in Table 1) is relaxed from 60% to 55% (CGPA relaxed from 6.00 to 5.50).

For SC/ST/PwD category candidates , the minimum performance in the qualifying degree (Sr. No.3 in Table 1) is relaxed from 70% to 65% (CGPA relaxed from 7.00 to 6.50).

Qualifying degree performance is computed by aggregating performance over all the semesters/years of the qualifying degree, as per the credit or weightage system approved in the institution/ board where the degree has been completed.

Requirement of qualification in GATE / National Exam is waived for the following categories of applicants:

Currently registered students in Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs) pursuing B.Tech./B.E./ Integrated M. Tech/ Integrated M.Sc. Programmes (or any other programme of minimum four year duration, admission to which is on the basis of JEE), who have completed 6 semesters or more, and have CGPA of 8.00 or above (on a 10 point scale). Such students must obtain a CGPA of 8.00 or above at the time of graduation, and before they formally register for the Ph.D. programme (80% aggregate marks, if marks are the primary mode of evaluation);

Graduates of CFTIs (in the programmes marked under (i)) with a final graduation CGPA of more than 8.00 (80% aggregate marks, if marks are the primary mode of evaluation);

M.A or M.Sc. graduates from IITs with CGPA 8.00 or above.

For purposes of shortlisting, the primary method of evaluation (i.e., CGPA/CPI, or aggregate percentage, whichever is appropriate) followed by the institution where candidate has obtained his/her qualifying degree will be used by IIT Delhi for determining whether the candidate meets the final shortlisting requirements.

For assistantship purposes only (and not for qualification), candidates with M.B.B.S. qualification will be considered equivalent to M. Tech., for admission to Ph.D. programme in Centre for Biomedical Engineering;

For candidates with M.A. degree in English, a 5% relaxation in marks or 0.5 relaxation in CGPA may be permitted for admission to the Ph.D. programme in Humanities and Social Sciences;

Candidates holding an MBA degree are eligible for applying to the Ph.D. programme in the Department of Management Studies.

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• Roorkee 247667, Uttarakhand, India

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Humanities and Social Sciences

Integrating human values and social concerns with technical education

Prof. S. P. Singh

Welcome to the department! The department is involved in several teaching and research activities all round the year. We encourage motivated students and faculty members to join our department.

Events & Announcements

• Selected Ph.D. Candidates for 2024-25 Autumn Session
• REVISED Shortlisted Ph.D. Candidates for Interview (2024-25 Autumn)
• Call for Book Chapters: Transformations and the Politics of Environmental Change in India
• Workshop: Social Determinants of Lifestyle Related Chronic and Non-Communicable Diseases Among Adult Women in India (10 Jan, 2024)
• Accommodation during PhD Interviews
• PhD Interviews (2023-24 Spring Session) -- Schedule & Candidates
• Digitalisation and Inclusive Banking: Vision for the Next 25 Years (Aug 3-4, 2023)
• Advertisement: Project Associate (Economics)
• National Seminar on Revamping Indian Tradition and Culture Through NEP 2020 (Aug 18-19, 2023)
• National Conference on Tribal Development in India: Prospect and Retrospect (Feb 03-04)
• End Semester Exam Schedule for 2021-22 Autumn Session (UG Yr-I)
• Department Lecture Series (Jan 31, 2022 - 3pm) Speaker: Padma Shree Prof. Michel Danino (IIT Gandhinagar), Topic: The Harappan civilization and the problem of sustainability
• Congratulations to Mr. Vaibhav Mohare (M.Sc. Economics, 2017-19) for being selected for Indian Economic Service.
• 62nd Annual Conference of Indian Society of Labour Economics (Apr 11-13, 2022)
• Timetable for 2021-22 Spring Session
• Capacity Building Programme on Quantitative and Qualitative Methods for Research in Social Sciences (Postponed due to COVID)
• Celebrating Unheard Voices of Charismatic Women in Indian Writing in English (Dec 3-4, 2021)
• Workshop on Econometric Methods for Economic and Business Research
• Prospectus of newly launched BS-MS (Economics) Programme
• Approved Program Structure of BS-MS (Economics) Programme
• Ph.D Admission for 2021-22 Spring Session - Guidelines

Disciplines

The department is broadly organized into following discipline areas, and encourages inter-disciplinary studies.

Agriculture, Banking & Finance, Development, Ecology, Health, Labor, Migration, Productivity, ...

Culture & Gender, Indian writing in English, Linguistics, Literature (British, Folk, Postcolonial, South Asian), Translation Studies, ...

Cognitive Psychology, Organizational Behavior-Quality of Work, Social Psychology, Visual Attention & Memory, ...

Agrarian Studies, Gerontology, Political Ecology, Political Sociology, Sociology of Health & Work, Sociology of Tribes, ...

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Research Scholars

Courses (UG, PG, Pre-Ph.D)

Students' Satisfaction

A vibrant community

Situated in a green campus, the department encourages various activities for students' all-round development.

Explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and we will give you a complete account of the system.

Documents & Opportunities

Admissions Necessary forms, during admissions and other general purposes, will either be sent by email or be made available on the department/institute homepage (check for updates). Forms for any specific purposes can be collected from the department office .

M.Sc. Economics Semester 3 Seminar Paper Form , Guide Master Project Form , Guide

Internships IIT Roorkee offers SPARK fellowships ↗ for summer internships to students from IIT Roorkee and other universities and institutes.

Scholarships The website of the Senate Committee for Scholarships and Prizes ↗ contains information on awards, scholarships, and fee waivers by IIT Roorkee.

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PhD (Doctorate of Philosophy) Political Science Colleges, JNU Admission, Syllabus, Salary 2024

Sushil Pandey

Senior Content Specialist

PhD in Political Science or Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science is a 1-3 years duration doctoral-level course in India. But probably, this duration gets extended for Part-time Political Science scholars up to 5 years. For regular, it is a maximum of 3 years.

The basic eligibility to take up a Doctoral in Political Science is holding a PG degree in allied arts discipline since Political Science comes under the aegis of Arts.

The candidates should also have a minimum of 55% in PG from a recognized institution in India with a good academic record if needed.

The PG course graduate candidates could get admission to these courses by taking up national or institute level entrance exams, counselling or interviews as made valid by the affiliated university.

Some institutions prefer to track the candidate’s academic records and other related info after entrance exam qualification. NET is the most common entrance for this doctoral course. CRET, RET, and PET are the common entrance exams conducted by a variety of institutions in order to admit the candidates.

Few familiar subjects taught under this PhD course are Research Methodology, State and Politics in South Asia, Governance and Politics in India, Decentralisation and Development in India, and India and International Political Economy.

The cost of this doctoral in Political Science spans in the range of INR 25,000 to 5,00,000 depending upon the admitting university and institution.

After completing this course, the highest salary offered to the candidate is expected to be around INR 10,00,000 per annum. The minimum starting PhD Political Science salary for candidates is expected to be around INR 4,00,000 per annum.

After completing this course, a candidate can work in fields like education, media and journalism, civil services, political firms, along with various government sector offices.

Most familiar posts that any PhD Political Science scholars are offered are Political Scientist, Market trend Research Analysts, Professor, Public Relations Specialists, and Survey Researchers.

PhD Political Science: Course Highlights

PhD in Political Science: What is it About?

PhD in Political Science covers all the aspects of the political science area in which the candidate has chosen to do the research. The overall description of the course is given below:

• This course demands a detailed knowledge of Indian politics and the political whereabouts of other related countries with reference to Governance, Community Empowerment, Economy, Decentralisation and Development in India.
• These subjects will be distributed yearly depending upon the chosen mode of education like regular or part-time.
• The candidates will have to decide on which topic they want to do the research. The candidates will be provided more guidance on the chosen topics.
• The students will have to conduct case studies on Indian Economy and politics and showcase the results of these case studies in their thesis.
• After completing this course, the candidates could apply for the post-doctorate degree under Political Science.

Why Study a PhD in Political Science?

Majority of the PG graduates have their choice towards the PhD Political Science because of the following reasons:

• Research Opportunities: PG candidates tend to have their passion and interest towards the Indian Politics, economy and its development. Thus, a doctoral degree will be giving them ample research opportunities and the expertise in their interested discipline.
• Scope for funded projects: The doctoral holder in Political Science increases their chances of getting governmental and non-governmental funding to undertake the research.
• Good Annual CTC: Usually, PG graduates in Political Science receive lesser CTC annually because of the lack of research skills and expertise. But, PhD Political Science holders tend to receive better CTC annually of around 10 Lakhs since they have a variety of research skills and expertise pertaining to the politics and Indian Economy.
• Scope for Abroad studies: Because of holding one of the most reputed degree in the discipline and exposed to continuous knowledge gathering in many countries’ politics, these doctoral holders have chance to get placed or work in many foreign countries.
• Scope to work in polling companies: Because of being the experts in Indian and other countries’ politics, these candidates could work in the polling companies that decide the leadership in some countries.

PhD Political Science Admission Process

As PhD is expected to be a very tough course, many educational institutions prefer entrance exams-based admission over the merit-based admissions.

• Institutions like IIT, Gandhinagar and Amity University, Noida take personal interviews of the candidates even after entrance exams and scrutiny of academic track records.
• Some Institutions have their own entrances like Delhi University (DU), New Delhi . While others prefer common entrance exams like RET and PET.
• NET and JRF qualified candidates will not have to appear for any individual institution level entrance exams. But, they will still have to appear for a personal interview round if required.

Entrance Based Admission Process

• Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, University of Hyderabad [UOH], Hyderabad, and Banasthali Vidyapith University, Jaipur conduct the entrance exam alone and shortlist the candidates based on that score.
• After the results of entrance examinations are announced, candidates will have to go through the counseling process to finalize their seats.
• The minimum academic eligibility required to appear in the entrance exam and get admitted to the course is 55% marks at masters level.
• Universities like Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), New Delhi conduct a personal interview round even after the entrance exams and counseling process.
• These institutions never consider academic performances during the whole admission process of a doctorate degree in Political Science. The admission is given solely on the basis of marks scored in the entrance exam.
• But in certain institutions like IIT Gandhinagar and Amity University, Noida, both previous academic records and the entrance exam scores are given equal importance.
• These institutions designate the minimum marks in PG/UG to be around 80% per cent or 8.0 CGPA towards the admission of PhD. Political Science degree.

Basic steps towards the PhD Political Science 2024 admission are listed below:

• Create the account and login ID through the official website of the institution/ exam conducting body with the correct contact number and email ID.
• Download and read the course/entrance brochure to be aware of the important dates.
• Keep all the scan copies of the mandated documents handy.
• Apply to the colleges and entrance exams by filling the application forms correctly with genuine details. Your application may get rejected later if you fill false details.
• Post qualification of the entrance exam and academic background verification, candidates will be called for a personal interview.
• Those who qualify all the steps will be granted admission to the course.
• PhD is also aided/funded under a variety of funded schemas/fellowships. Hence, the candidates needing financial assistance should apply for the same.

Read the full list of top political science colleges in New Delhi.

PhD Political Science Eligibility

Majority of the art institutions have plenty of selection criteria/basic eligibility for admitting the candidates into PhD Political Science. These eligibility criteria include:

• The candidates facing their PhD Political Science admission should possess at least 55% in PG/UG from any of the recognizable institutions in the nation.
• Central universities and other esteemed arts colleges set the minimum eligible marks in PG/UG to be around 80%.
• Academic excellence and research expertise are the factors considered by some institutions in India towards the PhD Political Science admission.

PhD Political Science Entrance Exams

Majority of the institutions consider entrance-based admissions in place of merit-based admission. Common entrance exams in many Indian institutions include:

• RET 2024: RET could be abbreviated as Research Entrance Test. This entrance exam is being administered by the University of Calcutta, Kolkata towards the admission of research scholars in Political Science.
• PET 2024: PET could be abbreviated as PhD Entrance Test. This entrance is conducted for the PhD admission by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU), Aurangabad.
• UGC NET 2024: UGC NET stands for University Grants Commission (UGC) National Eligibility Test. This entrance exam is conducted by UGC under the Government of India towards the admission process of many courses including PhD in Political Science. Qualification of this exam alone can exempt you from many entrance exams conducted all over the nation.
• CRET 2024: CRET stands for Combined Research Entrance Test. This entrance exam is conducted every year by  Assam University, Silchar towards the admission of MPhil and PhD programs.
• DUET 2024: DUET stands for Delhi University Entrance Test. DUET exam conduct is done every year by Delhi University, New Delhi towards its research program related admissions.

How do you strategize your Preparation for the PhD Political Science entrance exams?

Anyone who wishes to clear the PhD political Science entrance exams should be aware of the following sections like:

• English Language
• Reasoning and quantitative parts if needed
• Major technical parts in social studies and politics in India.

Points to recall before the entrance exams:

• Be ready for the Advanced level of the English Language including the UG level.
• Practice the numerical well enough to gain expertise in solving the numerical sections wholly.
• Many complex levels of reasoning skills could be improved after analytical skills thorough.
• Go through the major political events including both pre and post era of independence in India.
• Go through the Constitution of India, article by article, with reference to its enforced purpose.
• Update yourself with all notifications from the taken-up entrance exams.

How to get admission in a good PhD Political Science college?

The points that might help you are listed one by one below.

• Download the admission and application info documents of the preferred college/university where the admission is sought.
• Do strategize your action plans for the entrance exams well before the intended entrance exam.
• Be aware of all the sections of the opted entrance exams.
• Do remember that some institutions make the PhD Political Science admission, a very critical one. So, match with your academic soundness.
• Be keen on the time taken for the numericals since the candidates who will do good in the mathematical sections will have higher chances of success.
• Practice mock tests to get familiarized with the actual exam pattern.

PhD Political Science Syllabus

Subjects in this PhD Political Science get distributed across the whole duration as listed below.

PhD in Political Science Books

Following reference books cover the 5 major subjects in the PhD Political Science.

PhD Political Science Colleges

There are 213 institutions (110 Governmental and 103 Private institutions) that offer political Science specialized doctoral courses in India. Out of these 213 institutions, 47 of the institutions come under the 2021 rankings of NIRF released everywhere by MHRD to recognize top most governmental and private educational institutions.

Thus, we tabulate both the top governmental and non-governmental institutions below.

Source: College Websites

PhD Political Science College Comparison

We make the comparison below pertaining to the topmost colleges providing PhD in Political Science in India.

Source: College Websites and NIRF database

PhD in Political Science Course Comparison

We depict a comparison between PhD Political Science and PhD Engineering below.

Source: College Websites and Payscale

PhD Political Science Job Prospects and Career options

Research scholars, after successful completion of PhD Political Science, get placed majorly in the industry wherein the knowledge of Indian Economy, Politics, developments are perquisites.

Most common roles that PhD Political Science holders can have are Market trend Research Analysts; Political Scientist; Public Relations Specialists; Survey Researchers; and Research Analysts. The average earned by these doctorate holders ranges from INR 5 LPA to 15 LPA.

Political and research/analyzing associated roles are offered from firms like NDTV, Transoplanet, Times of India, Pollstar |, QuisLex, India Today, Oxynello, etc.

Some favourite job roles for PhD Political Science and its respective salary are given below.

Source: PayScale

PhD Political Science Scope

Some of the futuristic scope that PhD Political Science could be benefited are as follows:

• Further Research: PhD Political Science candidates can take part in further research both in India and abroad.
• Political analysts and leadership: Since the political natures and economies of Indian and other countries are dealt under this discipline, the doctorate holders gain immense knowledge and skills related to leadership that might trigger and aid them in becoming a political analyst, and sometimes even political leaders in future.
• Scope for Civil Services in India: Since plenty of historical events pertaining to Indian Economy and Politics are gained through PhD Political Science, the candidates could fancy their chances to crack the Civil Services exams like UPSC because of few similarities in the syllabus of it.
• Economic Strategist: Any country strives to improve its economy in some way or other. Thus, it creates the demand for PhD Political Science holders all over the globe.
• Market requirements: PhDs in Political Science become expertise in the majority of the top economies through their research experience, thus it becomes usual for them to get placed in the market trend investigating firms.

PhD Political Science FAQs

Ques. What does a PhD Political Science stand for?

Ans. PhD Political Science stands for Doctorate of Philosophy in Political Science coming under the aegis of arts.

Ques. Which is the topmost institution offering PhD Political Science?

Ans. Presidency College located at Chennai is the topmost ranked (NIRF 2021) institution offering PhD Political Science.

Ques. What are the common entrance exams for PhD Political Science admission?

Ans. CRET, RET, and PET are the common entrance exams for PhD Political Science admission.

Ques. Which sectors are paying well for PhD Political Science?

Ans. Markets trending analyzing, teaching, and polling sectors are the sector that is paying the PhD in Political Science with good compensation.

Ques. What is the significance of taking PhD Political Science courses in India?

Ans. The significance of pursuing a PhD Political Science degree in India is that it makes one expert and leader in the arena of Politics and Economy.

Ques. What are the options after does PhD Political Science?

Ans. PhD Political Science holders could get placed globally, get placed in Indian Civil Services, market trend analyzer in markets, and Professor in the educational institution.

Ques. Which eligibility test exempt the candidates from appearing in many entrance exams?

Ans. National Eligibility Test (NET) is the national level entrance exams that exempt the candidates from appearing in majority of the entrance exams conducted by the India institutions.

Ques. List some top governmental institutions offering PhD Political Science?

Ans. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), and University of Hyderabad [UOH] are the top governmental institutions offering PhD Political Science.

Ques. List some top private institutions offering PhD Political Science?

Ans. Amity University and Banasthali Vidyapith University are the topmost private institutions offering PhD Political Science

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2 Reviews found

University of Hyderabad : A natural campus full with academic rigour

Loan/ scholarship provisions.

There is no specific rate of hike. But in the last three years, they have increased the fees by 500. So it's almost 5000 per semester. In total, it's 25,000 per semester including food charges. One scholarship for master's students: 1000 per month. For PhD if you JRF then it's done or you will get 8,000 per month. There are good placements.

Campus Life

The name of the big annual fest is Sukoon. But there are many other cultural fests that happen during the whole year. Liberation is very rich. The online database is also so big. Classrooms have projectors and speakers and screens. Sports infra is so well maintained and huge. Many social groups and clubs are here including reading circles.

Student's Review On Ravenshaw University - [RU], Cuttack

This is one of the best University of Odisha.Everybody wants a good university for his/her pH.d course. So I thought that this university will definitely give me a perfect platform. Feeling so proud to be a part of this university.

Placement Experience

In pH.d course,no placement is there.one must complete the required qualifications to get into the job.Campus selection is there in Ravenshaw.But not for those with pH.d in arts subjects.Many notable alumni are there

Ph.D. (English)

Ph.d. (economics), ph.d. (history), m.phil. (english), ph.d. (hindi), ph.d. (political science) colleges in india.

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Amity University

Jamia Millia Islamia University-[JMI]

Banaras Hindu University - [BHU]

Acharya Nagarjuna University - [ANU]

Jawaharlal Nehru University - [JNU]

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• Apr 25, 2023

Among the top Engineering institutions in India , the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are nationally recognized for their quality programs in Science and Technology. There are 23 IITs in India out of which IIT Kharagpur is the oldest one. For a research-oriented degree like PhD , IITs can be an ideal choice as they can provide you with the suitable exposure and opportunities required. Pursuing your doctorate under globally recognised faculties in IITs can also equip you with the right guidance and mentorship for your research thesis. Through this blog, we will look at the key details of studying a PhD in IIT, the eligibility criteria, and the institutes you can choose from.

This Blog Includes:

Why pursue phd from iits, indian institute of technology, madras, indian institute of technology, roorkee, indian institute of technology, bombay, indian institute of technology, kharagpur, indian institute of technology, gandhinagar, iit dharwad, iit guwahati.

Owing to a large number of science students planning to pursue their PhD from an IIT, the eligibility criteria and admission procedure of the institutes is quite rigid and complex. In order to apply for your PhD in IIT, the prerequisites can differ from one institute to another along with the admission procedure. However, GATE is an essential exam that you need to qualify in order to apply for any of the 23 Indian Institutes of Technology. Moreover, the specializations offered might also vary thus it is advised that students go through the website of their chosen institute thoroughly before sending their application for their doctorate degree.

Also Read: All About PhD After Btech

Best Options for PhD in IITs

Below we have elaborated some of the top IITs and their prospective P hD courses that you can choose from:

Established in the year 1959, Indian Institute of Madras always grabs its notable mention for its renowned engineering degrees. IIT Madras is not only famous for its PhD program but also for its bachelor’s and master’s programs. The institute also offers interdisciplinary PhD degrees and the central eligibility requirement for doctoral degrees is that candidates require a bachelor’s degree in a related field of their doctoral program as well as an MSc degree. The application procedure for PhD in IIT Madras is completely online and after the submission of the application, the admission committee calls up shortlisted candidates for a written test and/or interview. Further, provides a wide scope through which students can carry out the research. The main departments for doctoral and MS (Research) degree are:

Founded with the vision of attaining “ a global level of excellence in education and to create a sustainable and equitable society through innovative research in science”, the university aims to provide students with a balanced exposure into the world of scientific knowledge through its research-oriented degrees. Especially to the ones wanting to pursue a PhD in IIT, it can be a sure shot option as the institute provides world-class research facilities with its remarkable faculty. To enrol into a program you first need to have attained any of the CSIR/UGC/DST fellowships along with a masters degree in a related field with a minimum of 60%. Further, PhD degrees at IIT Roorkee are offered in the following disciplines:

Being one of the most prestigious IITs, the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay was founded in the year 1959 and offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in the varied specializations of Humanities & Social Sciences, Engineering and Sciences. The Institution offers par excellence opportunities for doctorate scholars. Extensive research methodologies are taught to the candidates enrolled under the research programs and they are guided by a nationally renowned faculty at every step of their doctoral thesis. To get enrolled under PhD in IIT Bombay, students must have a masters degree in Engineering or Technology with minimum 60% marks. Here is a list of departments in IIT Bombay that offer PhD degrees:

IIT Kharagpur offers a unique integrated PhD program, i.e. joint master’s and PhD in which students can study their postgraduate and doctorate degree together. After 1st year of Mtech/MCP, students can enrol themselves into PhD in IIT Kharagpur. The necessary requirement for this program is that candidates must possess a Btech degree.  Further, you would also have to clear the GATE exam to apply for PhD at the completion of your master’s degree. Here is a list of departments that offer these Joint Master’s and PhD courses at IIT Kharagpur:

IIT Gandhinagar has introduced a special doctorate program called Start Early PhD Fellowship after comprehending the significance of creating more opportunities for emerging young learners to venture into the vast domain of scientific research. This full-time fellowship is curated to provide budding engineers with the opportunity to pursue PhD in IIT Gandhinagar. For general PhD degrees, the departments of IIT Gandhinagar are listed in the following table:

IIT Dharwad offers admissions for PhD courses in various disciplines. The aim of the university is to provide students with the correct exposure to the world of scientific knowledge through its degrees. For students wanting to pursue a PhD in IIT, it is definitely one of the best options as the institute provides world-class research facilities with its excellent faculty. To enrol into a program you first need to have attained a master’s degree in a related field with a minimum of 60%. Further, PhD degrees at IIT Dharwad are offered in the following disciplines:

IIT Guwahati is another great option for students planning to pursue PhD in IIT. PhD courses at IIT Guwahati are offered in the following modes -regular, sponsored, part-time, and self-financed modes. The candidates are shortlisted on the basis of their applications and scores followed by interview rounds. To enrol into a program you first need to have attained a master’s degree in a related field with a minimum of 60%. Further, PhD degrees at IIT Guwahati are offered in the following disciplines:

IIT Bhilai offers admission to candidates after completion of an undergraduate (UG) or Post-Graduate program subject to fulfilling the other eligibility criteria defined by the Institute. Further, the PhD program is offered under two different modes with the nominal duration mentioned as below. 1. Full-time 2. Part-time. To enrol into a program you first need to have attained a master’s degree in a related field with a minimum of 60%. Further, PhD degrees at IIT Bhilai are offered in the following disciplines:

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering with at least 75% marks/7.5 CPI on a 10-point scale and a valid GATE score. GATE is not required for candidates with a bachelor’s degree from a Centrally Funded Technical Institute (CFTI).

Candidates must have received at least 60% (or 6.5 GPA out of 10) on their Master’s degree. Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree (BE/B. Tech.) (or MSc) in a relevant discipline with at least 65% marks (or 7.0 GPA out of 10) and a valid GATE/UGC/CSIR/NET score.

IITs are adaptable in giving doctoral degrees to a variety of students through programmes such as full-time research scholars with their own fellowship (from any funding agency like as CSIR/UGC/DBT/DST, etc.) or with institute assistantship.

We hope that this blog has provided you with the major features of PhD in IITs. If you are exploring doctorate degrees and are looking for the varied specializations offered across the globe, take the help of Leverage Edu ’s AI tool to browse through a wide range of PhD programs as well as universities and find suitable combinations that align with your interests and aspirations.

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• Political Science (Minor)

The Minor in Political Science will strengthen your understanding of local and global institutions, politics, and public policy, while also teaching you valuable research and policy analysis skills.

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At Illinois Tech, political science is more than a theoretical discussion, it is an applied discipline that will give you the practical skills to identify and analyze real-world problems through the use of quantitative and qualitative research methods and policy analysis. At the same time, you will gain an understanding of the major concepts and the workings of political institutions, and learn about international relations, comparative politics, urban politics, and public policy.

Program Overview

Gain the practical skills to identify and analyze real-world problems through the use of quantitative and qualitative research methods and policy analysis, while also learning about political institutions, international relations, comparative politics, urban politics, and public policy.

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A Minor in Political Science is a strong complement to a variety of career paths. The knowledge and skills you will gain through this minor are an asset in a broad range of sectors, including:

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Political Science professor stresses civic engagement

While Dr. Bennion was invited by conference organizers to share her research with participants from across the nation, and globe, one characteristic that all the meetings had in common was that the participants did not wrap up the session with the hubris that they had arrived at all the answers. To the contrary – this work is an ongoing process.

An abiding principle that runs throughout Bennion’s activities is summarized in a line from psychologist-philosopher John Dewey: “Democracy needs to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife.” The quote serves as the epigraph of Teaching Civic Engagement Across the Disciplines , one of three books Bennion has co-edited on the topic.

“The public purpose of higher education, when it began, was to educate citizens for democracy,” Bennion says. “Regional campuses have limited resources, and we could use more public and donor support, but in the meantime we are using the resources we have and working hard each day to prepare students for meaningful careers and to create the next generation of informed and engaged citizens.”

Younger voters often succumb to general apathy, which can lead to them not voting at all. Voters of all ages can fall prey to misinformation that can lead to them voting against their own best interests. Bennion’s extensive activities center around equipping citizens with critical information such as how to contact elected officials, how to distinguish real news from fake news, how to organize a peaceful protest, and how to make a push for legislative change. Key to her work is the inclusion of student leaders and participants from diverse ideological and partisan backgrounds. Also critical is her emphasis on staying civically engaged both during and between election cycles.

“We know that voting is habit-forming, so if we can get students registered and starting to think of themselves as voters who remain actively engaged between elections, they’re much more likely to stay engaged throughout their lives,” Bennion says. “My work at Indiana University has allowed me to integrate teaching, research, and service. I teach about representative democracy, study civic education and engagement in my research, and promote civic and electoral engagement in my work outside of the classroom. My work with student Democracy Fellows allows me to pursue a civic mission through all the threads of my work as a faculty member.”

The Democracy Fellows are participants in the American Democracy Project, a non-partisan initiative of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Bennion is IU South Bend’s ADP director, and the position allows her to combine classroom teaching and non-partisan grass-roots advocacy. She advocates for all students to make their voices heard through voting and other forms of community action.

“In my civic leadership class, students identify a public policy problem or an opportunity in a particular community and then work through what to do about it,” Bennion says. She has created webinars for ADP and hosted ADP’s Civic Leadership Academy.

Most recently, Bennion partnered with Saint Joseph County Clerk Amy Rolfes to recruit IU South Bend students as poll workers at the spring 2024 primaries via a “Work the Vote” grant from the United States Election Assistance Commission.

On local public television station WNIT, Bennion has hosted the program “Politically Speaking” since 2013. Bennion also serves as the vice president of the League of Women Voters, and she stresses the importance of the League’s website, vote411.org, which provides pertinent information about candidates, platforms, and policies.

“It can be difficult for people to find information about the candidates on their ballots, and that’s why we host candidate forums and debates and do a lot of the behind-the-scenes work on the VOTE411 voter guide,” Bennion says. “Candidates from four different political parties will be invited to share their policy views with voters this fall, as we work to educate students – and the broader community – about their choices on Election Day.”

To explore the VOTE411 guide from League of Women Voters, visit vote411.org .

To find out more about the American Democracy Project, visit clas.iusb.edu/centers/adp .

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Arvind, longtime MIT professor and prolific computer scientist, dies at 77

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Arvind Mithal, the Charles W. and Jennifer C. Johnson Professor in Computer Science and Engineering at MIT, head of the faculty of computer science in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), and a pillar of the MIT community, died on June 17. Arvind, who went by the mononym, was 77 years old.

A prolific researcher who led the Computation Structures Group in the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), Arvind served on the MIT faculty for nearly five decades.

“He was beloved by countless people across the MIT community and around the world who were inspired by his intellectual brilliance and zest for life,” President Sally Kornbluth wrote in a letter to the MIT community today.

As a scientist, Arvind was well known for important contributions to dataflow computing, which seeks to optimize the flow of data to take advantage of parallelism, achieving faster and more efficient computation.

In the last 25 years, his research interests broadened to include developing techniques and tools for formal modeling, high-level synthesis, and formal verification of complex digital devices like microprocessors and hardware accelerators, as well as memory models and cache coherence protocols for parallel computing architectures and programming languages.

Those who knew Arvind describe him as a rare individual whose interests and expertise ranged from high-level, theoretical formal systems all the way down through languages and compilers to the gates and structures of silicon hardware.

The applications of Arvind’s work are far-reaching, from  reducing the amount of energy and space required by data centers to  streamlining the design of more efficient multicore computer chips .

“Arvind was both a tremendous scholar in the fields of computer architecture and programming languages and a dedicated teacher, who brought systems-level thinking to our students. He was also an exceptional academic leader, often leading changes in curriculum and contributing to the Engineering Council in meaningful and impactful ways. I will greatly miss his sage advice and wisdom,” says Anantha Chandrakasan, chief innovation and strategy officer, dean of engineering, and the Vannevar Bush Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

“Arvind’s positive energy, together with his hearty laugh, brightened so many people’s lives. He was an enduring source of wise counsel for colleagues and for generations of students. With his deep commitment to academic excellence, he not only transformed research in computer architecture and parallel computing but also brought that commitment to his role as head of the computer science faculty in the EECS department. He left a lasting impact on all of us who had the privilege of working with him,” says Dan Huttenlocher, dean of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and the Henry Ellis Warren Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Arvind developed an interest in parallel computing while he was a student at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, from which he received his bachelor’s degree in 1969. He earned a master’s degree and PhD in computer science in 1972 and 1973, respectively, from the University of Minnesota, where he studied operating systems and mathematical models of program behavior. He taught at the University of California at Irvine from 1974 to 1978 before joining the faculty at MIT.

At MIT, Arvind’s group studied parallel computing and declarative programming languages, and he led the development of two parallel computing languages, Id   and pH. He continued his work on these programming languages through the 1990s, publishing the book “Implicit Parallel Programming in pH”   with co-author R.S. Nikhil in 2001, the culmination of more than 20 years of research.

In addition to his research, Arvind was an important academic leader in EECS. He served as head of computer science faculty in the department and played a critical role in helping with the reorganization of EECS after the establishment of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing.

“Arvind was a force of nature, larger than life in every sense. His relentless positivity, unwavering optimism, boundless generosity, and exceptional strength as a researcher was truly inspiring and left a profound mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him. I feel enormous gratitude for the light he brought into our lives and his fundamental impact on our community,” says Daniela Rus, the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the director of CSAIL.

His work on dataflow and parallel computing led to the Monsoon project in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Arvind’s group, in collaboration with Motorola, built 16 dataflow computing machines and developed their associated software. One Monsoon dataflow machine is now in the  Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California.

Arvind’s focus shifted in the 1990s when, as he explained in a 2012 interview for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), funding for research into parallel computing began to dry up.

“Microprocessors were getting so much faster that people thought they didn’t need it,” he recalled.

Instead, he began applying techniques his team had learned and developed for parallel programming to the principled design of digital hardware.

In addition to mentoring students and junior colleagues at MIT, Arvind also advised universities and governments in many countries on research in parallel programming and semiconductor design.

Based on his work on digital hardware design, Arvind founded Sandburst in 2000, a fabless manufacturing company for semiconductor chips. He served as the company’s president for two years before returning to the MIT faculty, while continuing as an advisor. Sandburst was later acquired by Broadcom.

Arvind and his students also developed Bluespec, a programming language designed to automate the design of chips. Building off this work, he co-founded the startup Bluespec, Inc., in 2003, to develop practical tools that help engineers streamline device design.

Over the past decade, he was dedicated to advancing undergraduate education at MIT by bringing modern design tools to courses 6.004 (Computation Structures) and 6.191 (Introduction to Deep Learning), and incorporating Minispec, a programming language that is closely related to Bluespec.

Arvind was honored for these and other contributions to data flow and multithread computing, and the development of tools for the high-level synthesis of hardware, with membership in the National Academy of Engineering in 2008 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2012. He was also named a distinguished alumnus of IIT Kanpur, his undergraduate alma mater.

“Arvind was more than a pillar of the EECS community and a titan of computer science; he was a beloved colleague and a treasured friend. Those of us with the remarkable good fortune to work and collaborate with Arvind are devastated by his sudden loss. His kindness and joviality were unwavering; his mentorship was thoughtful and well-considered; his guidance was priceless. We will miss Arvind deeply,” says Asu Ozdaglar, deputy dean of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing and head of EECS.

Among numerous other awards, including membership in the Indian National Academy of Sciences and fellowship in the Association for Computing Machinery and IEEE, he received the Harry H. Goode Memorial Award from IEEE in 2012, which honors significant contributions to theory or practice in the information processing field.

A humble scientist, Arvind was the first to point out that these achievements were only possible because of his outstanding and brilliant collaborators. Chief among those collaborators were the undergraduate and graduate students he felt fortunate to work with at MIT. He maintained excellent relationships with them both professionally and personally, and valued these relationships more than the work they did together, according to family members.

In summing up the key to his scientific success, Arvind put it this way in the 2012 IEEE interview: “Really, one has to do what one believes in. I think the level at which most of us work, it is not sustainable if you don’t enjoy it on a day-to-day basis. You can’t work on it just because of the results. You have to work on it because you say, ‘I have to know the answer to this,’” he said.

He is survived by his wife, Gita Singh Mithal, their two sons Divakar ’01 and Prabhakar ’04, their wives Leena and Nisha, and two grandchildren, Maya and Vikram. 

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