According to the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) updated PhD regulations, students who have successfully completed a four-year undergraduate programme are eligible for direct admission to a doctorate programme.
According to the new PhD regulations, “University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations, 2022,” a candidate must receive at least 75 percent of the possible points in their overall grade, or an equivalent grade on a point scale, in all areas where grading is used.
If the applicant does not receive a grade point average of 75 in a four-year undergraduate programme, she must enrol in a one-year master’s programme and receive a minimum grade point average of 55.
A 1-year master’s degree programme after a 4-year bachelor’s degree programme, a 2-year master’s degree programme after a 3-year bachelor’s degree programme, or qualifications declared equivalent to the master’s degree by the relevant statutory regulatory body, with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale wherever grading system is followed, according to the new admission rules, are also acceptable.
The need that a PhD candidate publish a work in a peer-reviewed journal has been repealed by the UGC.
Prior to submitting their dissertation or thesis for review, PhD candidates were required, according to regulations from 2016, to “publish at least one (1) research paper in a refereed journal and make two paper presentations in conferences/seminars.”
Professor M. Jagadesh Kumar, the chair of the UGC, commented on this issue by saying, “While publication of research papers in peer-reviewed journals may no longer be required, that does not imply PhD academics should cease doing it completely.”
Focusing on high-quality research will result in publications in reputable journals, even if it is not required, he continued. When they apply for jobs or post-doctoral positions, it will be advantageous.
Individual universities may also conduct their own admission exams to admit candidates for a PhD, according to the new regulations. The National Eligibility Test (NET) or other comparable tests would then not be required of the candidate. The guidelines state that the “entrance test shall consist of 50% research methodology and 50% subject specific.”
Since there was no agreement, the committee decided not to include the condition that would have reserved 40% of seats for students who met the NET requirements.
In addition, “if all conditions are met,” the commission has permitted candidates to pursue a PhD in a part-time setting.
The institute will need a “No Objection Certificate (NOC)” from the competent authority in the company where the candidate is employed, in accordance with the regulations.
She is allowed to pursue her education part-time, and the NOC should make that apparent. The new regulations state that a person’s “official duties permit him/her to devote sufficient time for research; if required, he/she will be relieved of the duty to complete the course work.”
As of the notice date, the regulations are in effect right away. The announcement also states that any PhD registered after 1 July 2009 will be subject to the 2009 or 2016 requirements.
