IIT Mandi PhD Admission January 2027: Last Date 21 October 2026

IIT Mandi PhD admission January 2027 is open now, but there is no single last date. The School of Chemical Sciences closes on 21 October 2026 at 5 pm, while the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) and a special Economics drive close on 30 October 2026.

This page lists each open IIT Mandi call, its eligibility, fee and selection steps, from the official advertisements, checked on 7 October 2026. To compare with other institutes, open our January 2027 PhD last-dates tracker.

What are the IIT Mandi PhD January 2027 last dates?

IIT Mandi runs school-wise calls. Chemical Sciences takes applications from 28 September to 21 October 2026 (5 pm). CAIR opened on 5 October and its advertisement closes on 30 October 2026 (5 pm). The SHSS reserved-category drive in Economics runs from 24 September to 30 October 2026.

CAIR's advertisement PDF says 30 October 2026, but the table on IIT Mandi's PhD admissions page shows 30 November 2026 for the same call. Until IIT Mandi clarifies, treat 30 October as your deadline.

CAIR's tentative timeline lists the shortlist on 3 November 2026 and interviews on 10 November 2026. Chemical Sciences and SHSS will email shortlisted candidates with the mode and date of interview.

Who can apply for IIT Mandi PhD in January 2027?

You need a master's in engineering or technology, or a bachelor's in engineering, or a master's in science, arts, commerce or management. If you hold a B.Tech or M.Sc-type degree, you also need GATE, NET (including lectureship) or another national test, or two years of work experience after the degree.

These are the general rules in IIT Mandi's PhD Ordinances (2026 onwards). Each school can add its own conditions:

• Chemical Sciences: M.Tech in chemical engineering or allied areas, M.Sc or BS-MS in chemistry, or a B.Tech/B.E./B.S. in chemical engineering or chemistry. M.Sc Physics graduates and those from biology or materials-related subjects are also welcome to apply.
• CAIR: areas such as drone, mobile, underwater, healthcare and humanoid robotics, multi-robot systems, cyber-physical security and vision-language computing. Contact faculty before you apply.
• SHSS drive: a postgraduate degree in Economics and Development Studies with 50% marks or CGPA 5.5, plus UGC-JRF, NET, GATE or an equivalent test.

Final-year students can apply to Chemical Sciences, but must show the degree or at least a provisional marksheet at admission. For how IIT PhD admission works in general, read our our general IIT PhD guide.

Can you get IIT Mandi PhD without GATE?

Yes, if you meet the exemption. A B.Tech, B.E. or B.S. from a CFTI, an NIRF top-100 institute (overall) or a Himachal Pradesh government institution with CGPA 7.5 is exempt. So is a BS-MS or M.Sc from an IIT, IISER, IISc, IIM or NIRF top-100 institute with CGPA 7.5. The SCS advertisement relaxes this to 7.25 for OBC-NCL and 7.0 for SC, ST and PwD.

Also readPhD Admission January 2027: Last Dates at IITs, IISc, IISERs

How much is the IIT Mandi PhD application fee?

The fee is Rs 200 for General, EWS, OBC-NCL, transgender and foreign candidates, and Rs 100 for women, SC, ST and PwD candidates. It is paid online and is not refunded. One fee covers one application.

At CAIR, you need a separate application and fee for each specialisation and each programme. Applicants from earlier CAIR rounds must register with a new email ID.

Does IIT Mandi pay a PhD stipend?

Regular full-time scholars may get the Half-Time Research Assistantship (HTRA) if the selection committee recommends it, subject to funds. Self-sponsored, part-time and industry-sponsored scholars are not eligible. The advertisements do not print a monthly amount, so check it at admission.

CAIR lists separate HTRA conditions. For example, a non-CFTI B.Tech holder needs a valid GATE score. It also offers one full-time PhD seat funded by an ICMR project in healthcare robotics, paid from the project.

How do you apply for IIT Mandi PhD January 2027?

Apply online only, on the Samarth portal at iitmandiadm.samarth.edu.in. Open the PhD admissions page on iitmandi.ac.in, pick the right advertisement and click Apply. Upload documents, pay the fee and save the submitted form.

1. Read the school advertisement and the PhD Ordinances 2026 onwards.
2. Email two or three faculty whose work matches yours, especially at CAIR.
3. Keep ready: photo ID, Class 10 certificate, all marksheets, GATE/NET/JRF proof and category certificate. CAIR asks for these as one self-attested ZIP file.
4. Submit before 5 pm on the last date. IIT Mandi says details cannot be changed after submission.
5. Employed candidates must bring a No Objection Certificate to the interview.

Using GATE 2027 for a later round? Regular GATE registration closed on 5 October 2026 and the late-fee window runs till 12 October. See the GATE 2027 schedule, fees and result date and the GATE 2027 application correction steps.

Also readIIT Delhi PhD Admission January 2027: Last Date 29 October 2026

Final checklist for IIT Mandi PhD January 2027

IIT Mandi PhD admission January 2027 is a set of school-wise calls, so check the advertisement for your area. Chemical Sciences closes first, on 21 October 2026.

• Chemical Sciences: submit before 21 October 2026, 5 pm.
• CAIR: submit before 30 October 2026, 5 pm, one application per programme.
• SHSS Economics drive (reserved categories): submit before 30 October 2026.
• Pay Rs 200 or Rs 100 online and save the receipt.
• Also compare IIT Roorkee's spring PhD round (20 October) and the IISER January 2027 PhD calls.

A research career is open to graduates of many colleges. If you are still choosing a B.Tech college, our guide to colleges for a low JEE Main rank can help.