Best Universities for PhD in Chhattisgarh for 2026

Pursuing a PhD from Chhattisgarh has emerged as a promising choice for research scholars seeking quality academic guidance, growing research infrastructure, and diverse study opportunities. The state is home to several reputed central, state, and private universities that offer doctoral programs across disciplines such as science, engineering, social sciences, humanities, management, and agriculture. With increasing government support for higher education and research, Chhattisgarh provides a conducive environment for scholarly inquiry, innovation, and interdisciplinary research. Competitive admission processes, availability of fellowships, and collaboration with national research institutions further enhance the scope and prospects of pursuing doctoral studies in the state.

What is a PhD program?

A Doctor of Philosophy or a PhD is regarded as the highest level of academic degree. The PhD is usually earned after masters degree. The doctoral program is focused on creating original knowledge in your chosen field. The doctoral journey may involve intensive research, presenting your findings, and preparing a thesis. 

The degree holders will acquire skills throughout their doctoral journey, such as research, academic writing, analytical skills, presentation skills, and domain knowledge. They can pursue their career as a college professor, researcher, post-doctoral researcher, analyst, or other governmental or non-governmental jobs. 

However, earning a PhD degree is a longer journey, requiring 5 to 7 years to complete and earning the ‘Dr’ title. Individuals can now earn their doctoral degree in three years by opting for a part-time PhD program or an Online Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA). An Online DBA is considered equivalent to a PhD that can be earned from an accredited foreign university without relocating. 

Duration of PhD from Chhattisgarh

To earn a doctoral degree, the program involves in-depth research, presenting the findings, and submitting the thesis. The duration of the program usually ranges from 5 to 7 years, depending on the subject and the specialization. 

Top Universities offering a PhD in Chhattisgarh

Here are the top universities mentioned that offer a PhD in Chhattisgarh - 

Universities offering a PhD in Chhattisgarh
SNo	Universities	University Type	Specialization	Entrance examination	Stipend (After qualifying for the required exam)
1.	National Institute of Technology, Raipur	Public/ Government	Civil Engineering Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering Electronics & Communication Engineering Computer Science & Engineering Architecture & Planning Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics Humanities & Social Sciences	GATE / UGC-NET / CSIR-NET Institute-level written test (if applicable) + interview	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
2.	IIT Bhillai	Public/ Government	Computer Science & Engineering Electrical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Data Science & Artificial Intelligence Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics Liberal Arts / Humanities	GATE / UGC-NET / CSIR-NET / JRF Institute screening + interview	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
3.	Kalinga University, Raipur	Private	Engineering & Technology Management & Commerce Law Education Science (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) Arts & Humanities Computer Applications	University PhD Entrance Test NET / JRF / GATE candidates may be exempted Interview & research proposal presentation	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
4.	IGKV, Raipur	Public/ Government	Agriculture Horticulture Forestry Agricultural Engineering Veterinary & Animal Sciences Agricultural Economics	ICAR-NET / University Entrance Test Interview	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
5.	AAFT University of Media and Arts	Private	Journalism & Mass Communication Film & Television Production Fashion Design Fine Arts Media Studies	University-level PhD Entrance Test Interview/portfolio review NET-qualified candidates may get an exemption	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
6.	Amity University, Raipur	Public/ Government	Engineering & Technology Management Law Psychology Journalism & Mass Communication Education Biotechnology Humanities & Social Sciences	Amity PhD Entrance Test UGC-NET / JRF / GATE candidates are exempted from the written test Interview	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
7.	Atal Biharai Vajpayee Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur	Public/ Government	Arts & Humanities Social Sciences Commerce & Management Science (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Botany, Zoology) Education	University PhD Entrance Test UGC-NET / SLET / JRF candidates may be exempted Interview	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
8.	CSVTU, Bhilai	Public/government	Engineering & Technology Pharmacy Architecture Management Applied Sciences	CSVTU PhD Entrance Test GATE / UGC-NET candidates may receive an exemption Interview	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
9.	IIIT Naya Raipur	Public/government	Computer Science & Engineering Electronics & Communication Engineering Artificial Intelligence & Data Science	GATE / UGC-NET / CSIR-NET Institute-level test + interview	INR 37,000- INR 42,000
10.	IIM Raipur	Public/government	Finance & Accounting Marketing Human Resource Management Operations & Supply Chain Economics & Public Policy Strategy & General Management	CAT / GMAT / GRE / UGC-NET / JRF Research aptitude test + interview	INR 37,000- INR 42,000

Note: To know more about the universities offering specific specializations and the required entrance examination to take admission, individuals must visit the official website of the university.  The stipend given to the individuals depends on the entrance examination they have qualified for. 

The Universities in Chhattisgarh offer a PhD in various fields. In their doctoral journey, the individuals will learn domain knowledge and skills like research, academic writing, presentation skills, and analysis. Based on these skills, degree holders can pursue careers as postdoctoral researchers, associate professors, professors, analysts, researchers, or other roles. Candidates who are interested in pursuing senior-level management job roles through flexible doctoral programs can opt for an Online Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA). An Online DBA program that is equivalent to a PhD is offered in various specializations that are modern-day job market.  Here are a few specializations offered by the Online DBA program mentioned below- 

Specializations Offered By the Online Doctorate of Business Administration
Online DBA in Generative AI	Online DBA in AR & VR	Online DBA in Machine Learning
Online DBA in Artificial Intelligence	Online DBA in Business & Data Analytics	Online DBA in Blockchain
Online DBA in Robotics & Automation	Online DBA in Cyber Security	Online DBA in Business & Data Analytics

Eligibility criteria of the PhD program from Chhattisgarh

The basic eligibility criteria to be eligible for the PhD program from Jharkhand are as follows- 

• Candidates with a master’s degree in a relevant specialization from an accredited university. 
• In their master’s degree, the individuals must have an aggregate of 50% to 55% to be eligible for the PhD admission. 
• To apply for the PhD program at the university, the candidates must have academic qualifications, along with qualifying for any one of the entrance examinations such as UGC NET, CSIR NET, GATE, or even a university entrance examination, followed by an interview
• Candidates with a four-year bachelor’s degree in a relevant field are also eligible for the PhD program. 

 Note: The eligibility criteria for the PhD program at the particular university may vary. To know more about the eligibility criteria, the candidates may visit the official website of the university. 

Entrance Examination for Phd from Chhattisgarh

The candidates are also required to qualify for any one of the entrance examinations, along with the academic qualifications that could be UCG NET, CSIR NET, GATE, or even the University entrance examination. Based on the scores and the university’s admission criteria, the candidates are shortlisted for an interview that is held at the university level. 

Candidates who do not qualify for any of the entrance examinations or do not wish to give one can still earn the doctoral degree. Such candidates can opt for an Online Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA).  An Online DBA program is equivalent to a PhD that can be earned in three years. On earning the degree through Online DBA, the individuals will have wider career options as a senior level positionsin top organizations. 

Admission Process for PhD from Chhattisgarh

Here is the general admission process for a PhD from Chhattisgarh- 

1. Application Submission: Select a university based on its accreditation and the required criteria. Fill in the application for the PhD program and the specialization based on your preference. 
2. Entrance Examination: The individuals are required to qualify for any one of the entrance examination such as UGC NET, CSIR NET, GATE OR the required entrance examination.   
3. Interview / Viva-Voce: The candidates are selected based on their scores in the entrance examination. The shortlisted candidates are then asked for the interview held at the university level. 
4. Final Selection:  The candidates are seleceted based on the entrance exams, interviews, academic background, or research aptitude, the candidates will be selected. 

Career options after a PhD from Chhattisgarh

The PhD program comprises intensive research, preparing a thesis, and presenting the work. The doctoral students learn numerous skills throughout their doctoral journey. Upon earning the ‘Dr’ title, the degree holders can pursue their career as a professor, associate professor, researcher, post-doctoral researcher, analyst, or other jobs. 

Furthermore, individuals who wish to learn management-based skills that are based on the modern-day industry can opt for an Online Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA). An Online DBA is considered equivalent to a PhD that can be earned in three years. The individuals will earn the ‘Dr’ title and learn the domain-specific skills required in the modern-market. On earning the degree, the individuals can get wider exposure in job opportunities and may get senior-level job roles in management in top organizations or institutions.  Here are the top career opportunities mentioned that an individual can pursue upon completing their PhD- 

Job roles after a PhD	Average salary
Professor	INR 16 LPA
Research Scientist	INR 15 LPA
Consultant	INR 8 LPA
Research Assistant	INR 3.1 LPA
Legal Assistant	INR 4 LPA
Postdoctoral Researcher	INR 5 LPA
Entrepreneurship	INR 8.25 LPA

Note: The job roles and the average salary depend on the individual's academic qualifications and working experience. 

Challenges faced while pursuing a PhD in Chhattisgarh 

Individuals may face certain challenges while pursuing a PhD from Chhasttigarh, some of them may be- 

• Limited Research Infrastructure
  Some universities have restricted access to advanced laboratories, research equipment, and digital libraries, which can affect high-end or experimental research.
• Restricted Availability of Research Guides
  In specialized or emerging fields, the number of experienced supervisors may be limited, narrowing research topic choices.
• Funding and Fellowship Constraints
  Not all scholars receive national fellowships, making it difficult for self-funded students to manage research and living expenses.
• Fewer Industry Collaboration Opportunities
  Compared to metro cities, industry-academia partnerships and applied research projects are relatively limited.
• Access to Research Resources
  Limited subscriptions to international journals, databases, and patents may restrict exposure to global research developments.
• Geographical and Connectivity Issues
  Some campuses are located in remote areas with limited transport and fewer academic events or conferences.

Earn your doctoral degree through flexible doctoral programs

To pursue a doctoral degree through a traditional PhD program, the candidates are required to qualify for any one of the entrance examinations that may include UGC NET, CSIR NET, GATE, or even the University Entrance examination. The shortlisted candidates are then asked for an interview, which is held at the university level. As the traditional PhD program journey requires more dedication and full attention from the individuals, the doctoral students in this setup are not able to have other commitments.  However, now individuals can earn a doctoral degree through more flexibility by choosing a part-time PhD. Although to pursue a part-time PhD, the candidates are still required to qualify for an entrance examination. 

For the working professionals who do not wish to appear for any entrance examination and still want to earn a doctoral degree, they can opt for an  Online Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA). An Online DBA is equivalent to a PhD, which can be completed in three years. Through the Online DBA program, the degree holders will learn industry-related skills that are required in modern business.