The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) had renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in March 2023, with a tenure of ten years. The MoU aims to strengthen research and development activities in the power sector, create opportunities for officers of the Ministry of Power, CEA, NPTI, and CPRI to pursue part-time M.Tech., MBA, and PhD programs at IIT Delhi, and enhance collaboration on policy and technical fronts. Recently, the CEA issued an amendment to the guidelines for implementation, fee reimbursement, and selection norms for these part-time programs, originally released on 13 February 2025.
As per the revised norms, officers selected for part-time programs at IIT Delhi must schedule classes either early in the morning or after office hours to ensure that official duties are not affected. They are required to complete their assigned office tasks satisfactorily, and failure to do so may lead to withdrawal of the No Objection Certificate (NOC). The CEA reserves the right to revoke the NOC if officers fail to comply with the guidelines or neglect official work. However, if the NOC is revoked in the public interest for reasons not related to performance, the reimbursement of fees already provided will not be recovered.
The guidelines also clarify the reimbursement process. Fees and charges, including convocation expenses, will be reimbursed for the minimum duration required to complete the course as per IIT Delhi rules. Any additional expenses beyond this period will be borne by the officer unless prior approval is granted in exceptional cases, such as medical emergencies or official deputations. Officers failing to complete the course within the maximum time specified by IIT Delhi will have to refund the entire reimbursement amount. Furthermore, candidates must serve at least three years in their sponsoring department after completing the course; otherwise, the government will recover the reimbursed expenses with interest.
The MoU also provides opportunities for up to 30 candidates in M.Tech., 20 in MBA, and 10 in PhD programs over the ten-year period, with carry-forward provisions in case seats remain vacant in any academic year. It emphasizes research in emerging areas like electric vehicles, battery recycling, hydrogen economy, carbon capture, thermal energy storage, and energy transition. A CEA Chair Professor has been designated at IIT Delhi to oversee research projects, guide sponsored scholars, and organize at least two workshops annually. Any intellectual property generated under this MoU will be jointly owned by CEA, the Ministry of Power, and IIT Delhi.
To ensure fairness, a merit-based selection process has been outlined. It includes points for service length, academic record, publications, and performance over the past three years, with a maximum score of 100. Preference will be given to candidates with seniority in case of a tie. Candidates are also required to give a written undertaking to abide by all guidelines, including continuing service obligations, attending classes without affecting office work, and accepting reimbursement rules.
This amendment strengthens the framework of cooperation between CEA and IIT Delhi by ensuring accountability and balancing academic opportunities with professional responsibilities. It also underlines the commitment of both institutions to develop technical expertise in the power sector through structured part-time higher education.
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