The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday directed the vice-chancellors and college principals to take necessary steps to implement the revised minimum standard and procedure for the award of PhD.
In a letter to the higher educational institutions (HEIs), UGC said that the new regulations are designed “to encourage research scholars to become well-trained researchers and inquisitive explorers.” “All HEIs are requested to initiate necessary steps to implement the new regulations for the award of PhD,” the letter added. The notification came from UGC on 7 November.
The UGC replaced its rules notified in 2016 and in place came the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations, 2022. The revised guidelines have changed and modified the eligibility, admission and evaluation process. The mandatory requirement of publishing research papers in refereed journals is not required anymore. Earlier, PhD regulations of 2016 said that PhD pursuing scholars “must publish at least one (1) research paper in a refereed journal and make two paper presentations in conferences/seminars before the submission of the dissertation/thesis for adjudication.”
The new regulation states that students who have completed a four-year undergraduate (UG) course will also be eligible for direct admission to a doctorate programme. Further, a candidate should have a minimum of 75 per cent marks in “aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed”, and if the candidate does not have 75 per cent marks in a four-year UG program, they have to pursue a one-year master’s programme and score at least 55 per cent.
UGC Chairperson Professor M Jagadesh Kumar said, “Focussing on high-quality research will lead to publications in good journals, even if it is not mandatory. It will add value when they apply for employment or post-doctoral opportunities.”
As per the official notification, any PHD scholar registered after 1 July 2009 will be governed by the rules of 2009 or 2016.
