UGC DRAFT: Candidates who desire to begin a Ph.D. program in the following academic year may be required to pass an admission exam administered by the university or by the National Eligibility Test. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has prepared new regulations that make the test mandatory for all candidates, including those who are applying for a Ph.D. after completing their undergraduate or postgraduate studies.
According to P. Duraisamy, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Madras and a member of the committee that drafted the regulations, the laws are expected to be enforced by April. The draft has been made available for public discussion.
The M.Phil degree, which is a year-long study, was also omitted from the draught. Mr. Duraisamy believes that after the UGC implements the new regulations, universities in the state may be unable to award M.Phil degrees.
According to input from college instructors, Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudi said last year that universities would continue to grant M.Phil degrees.
UGC DRAFT: Amendments are no longer being considered
The draft regulations for Ph.D. admission, on the other hand, have provided relief by removing two amendments made in 2016 and 2018. Even if they have not finished their viva-voce or final defense, candidates whose M.Phil dissertation has been examined and approved for the degree will be admitted provisionally to the Ph.D. program.
Candidates who complete a four-year undergraduate program with no outstanding debt and a CGPA of 7.5 or higher are eligible for direct admission to the Ph.D. program. The regulations give women an extra two years to finish their studies.
In addition, candidates who have qualified for the NET will receive 60% of Ph.D. admission, while non-NET takers will receive 40%. Candidates from the other segment may be admitted based on openings in both of these segments.
All-State, Central, private, and deemed universities would be subject to the admissions rule.
More work on the course
Mr. Duraisamy, when asked if the State government would accept the norms, said the UGC has the authority to do so. “The UGC is changing the regulations in accordance with the National Education Policy.” The NEP does not have any specific policies, however, a national level admission exam has been proposed as a way to improve the quality of higher education. They [UGC] intend to add more courses in the future.
Candidates for a Ph.D. would be required to take three courses: research technique, a course on the subject, and a topic on which their study would be based. The Ph.D. advisory committee would prescribe the courses. The three courses are not required for those who have completed their M.Phil. The advisory group will recommend courses for Ph.D. students who are undergraduates.”