New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC), in its revised PhD rules notified earlier this week, said students who have completed four-year undergraduate course will be eligible for direct admission to the doctoral programme.
The new PhD rules – “University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations, 2022” – state that a candidate must have “minimum 75 per cent marks in the aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale, Wherever there is grading. System is followed”.
If a candidate does not have 75 percent marks in a four-year bachelor’s program, he/she will have to pursue one-year master’s program and obtain at least 55 percent marks.
The new admission rules further says, “4 years Bachelor’s degree program followed by 1-year Master’s degree program or 3-year bachelor’s degree program followed by 2-year Master’s degree program or qualifications declared equivalent to Master’s degree. Statutory regulatory body, wherever the grading system is followed, with at least 55% marks in the aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale.”
No more publications in peer-reviewed journals
The UGC has removed the mandatory “publishing papers in peer-reviewed journals” clause for Ph.D.
The 2016 PhD rules stated that PhD scholars “must have published at least one (1) research paper in a refereed journal and two paper presentations at conferences/seminars prior to submission of the dissertation/thesis for decision”. “.
Talking about this, Professor M. Jagadesh Kumar, Chairperson, UGC said, “The publication of research papers in peer-reviewed journals may no longer be mandatory, but it does not mean that PhD scholars should stop it completely. .
He continued: “A focus on high-quality research will lead to publication in good journals, even if it is not mandatory. It will add value when they apply for employment or post-doctoral opportunities.”
Permission of part time PhD with clause
For PhD, individual institutes may also conduct their own entrance exams to admit students, the new rules suggest. The candidate is then not required to write the National Eligibility Test (NET) or similar test. “The entrance exam will consist of 50 per cent research methodology and 50 per cent subject specific,” the rules say.
the commission was Plan On reserving 40 per cent seats for students who passed through NET, but that clause did not figure in the final notification as there was no consensus.
In addition, the Commission has also allowed candidates to pursue PhD through part-time mode, “provided all conditions are met”.
As per the rules, the institute will require a “No Objection Certificate (NOC)” from the appropriate authority in the organization where the candidate is employed.
The NOC should clearly mention that he/she is allowed to study on a part-time basis. “His official duties allow him to devote sufficient time to research; if necessary, he shall be relieved of the duty to complete course work,” the new rules say.
The rules come into force with immediate effect from the date of notification. The notification further states that any PhD registered after July 1, 2009 shall be governed by the rules of 2009 or 2016.
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