UGC PhD Regulations 2024 - New Guidelines for PhD Scholars

A doctorate in India is for those who are passionate about deep research. These studies often lead to new discoveries or significant scientific advances. Some findings improve our understanding of the world.

Others spark scientific revolutions acknowledged for decades. In this blog, we explain UGC regulations for pursuing a PhD in India.
The guidelines are called UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2022.

They apply to :

• Universities established by Central, Provincial, or State Acts
• Colleges
• Institutions deemed to be Universities under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956

These guidelines are effective from the date as soon as they are published.To know more, you can even check the link given “REGULATIONS”

What are the Guidelines for Pursuing a PhD Program

The University Grant Commission (UGC) has decided starting in the 2024-25 academic year, that NET scores will be used for PhD admissions. This will replace the entrance exams that universities and higher education institutions used to hold. This change was announced on March 27, 2024 :

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Three criteria are used to group NET scores :

• Award for JRF & Assistant Professor Appointment is the first category : If you meet the requirements, you can be considered for a PhD program, you are eligible for a Junior Research Fellowship, and an Assistant Professor appointment.
• Promotion to Assistant Professor and PhD Admission is the second category : The Junior Research Fellowship is not available to candidates in this category. You are still able to get a PhD and be assigned as an assistant professor, though.
• PhD Admission Only is the third category : Only PhD admission is eligible for this category. It is not possible for you to be appointed as an Assistant Professor or get a Junior Research Fellowship.
• Moreover, 30% of the weight for PhD admission comes from the interview and 70% comes from your NET score.
• For categories 1 and 2, the NET score is valid for a year, therefore you must submit a PhD admissions application within a year of passing the UGC NET.

Who is eligible for a PhD Program?

• 1-Year Master’s Degree : Candidates with a 1-year divided into 2-semester Master’s degree, must have completed an undergraduate of 4 years with at least 55% marks or a 'B' grade on the UGC 10-point scale can apply to a PhD Program.Or you must have an Equivalent degree from an accredited foreign university are also accepted.
• 2-Year Master’s Degree : Candidates with a 2-year divided into 4-semester Master’s degree must meet the same eligibility as above.
• Bachelor’s Degree : Candidates with a 4-year divided into 8-semester Bachelor’s degree are only allowed not with a 3-year bachelor’s degree for Research need a minimum CGPA of 7.5/10. Or a 75 percent mark in the graduation.

M.Phil. Candidates :

• Candidates who completed the M.Phil. coursework with at least 55% marks or a 'B' grade on the UGC 10-point scale are eligible. Equivalent degrees from accredited foreign institutions are also accepted.
• If the M.Phil. dissertation is evaluated and recommended for the award, candidates can be admitted to the Ph.D. program provisionally before the viva voce.

Relaxations :

• Marks Relaxation : A 5% relaxation in marks (from 55% to 50%) or equivalent grade relaxation is allowed for SC/ST/OBC category, Differently-Abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS), and other categories as per the Commission’s decision.
• CGPA Relaxation : A relaxation of 0.5 in the CGPA score (to 7/10) or an equivalent grade is allowed for the same categories mentioned above.

Note : The 55% eligibility marks (or equivalent grade) and the 5% relaxation for specific categories are based only on qualifying marks without including grace marks.

Program Duration

• The duration of a PhD Program is a minimum of 2 years excluding a course work and it can extend up to 6 years.
• Extensions beyond six years are allowed as per the institution's rules, but not for more than two extra years.
• Women and Persons with Disabilities over 40% disability can get an extra two years for their Ph.D. Women can also take up to 240 days of Maternity/Child Care Leave during their Ph.D.
• For student exchanges that help complete the thesis, leave may be granted from the second year onwards
• Short research trips (less than one month) need supervisor and department head approval.
• Longer research missions that last more than one month need department proposals and approval from the Research Advisory Committee for work in National/International Research Labs or Centres of Excellence.

Admission Procedure of a PhD Program 

Ph.D. candidates may apply to any university using the National Eligibility Test (NET), a National Admission Test, or one of their own admission exams. Universities are required to comply with notifications on common entrance exams issued by the Ministry of Education or the UGC.

Colleges and universities that provide Ph.D. programs need to :

• Determine the annual number of Ph.D. candidates to accept based on the facilities and supervisors that are available.
• Publicize on their website and in two national publications (one in the local language) the availability of seats, the entrance requirements, and other pertinent information.

Observe any state or federal reserve laws :

The admissions requirements must take into account state and federal reservation rules, as well as UGC and other legal requirements. A two-stage admissions process utilizing National Level Entrance Exams or comparable exams will be used.

• Those who meet the requirements for the NET and JRF will occupy 60% of the seats, while those who pass the university or common admission exam will occupy 40%. Candidates from the other category may fill open seats in accordance with reservation policies and merit.
• Research, analytical, understanding, and mathematical skills will all be evaluated through an entrance exam. With a 50% qualifying mark (45% for SC/ST/OBC and Differently-abled candidates, it will be held in centers that have been notified. Within a month, a Special Admission Drive will take place if the reserved seats are not filled.
• Candidates will describe their research interests via interview. For applicants who pass the entrance exam, selection will be made in a 70:30 ratio; for JRF/NET candidates, selection will depend only on the interview. There will be distinct merit lists released.

The interview will evaluate :

• The applicant's research proficiency of the candidate.
• The capacity of the organization to fund the study.
•  The study topic's applicable.
• Academic institutions are required to publish a list of all Ph.D. candidates, together with their name, research subject, supervisor's name, and registration date, on their website each year.

Course Work

• The Ph.D. program requires a minimum of 12 credits and a maximum of 16 credits.

• Coursework is a prerequisite for Ph.D. preparation. Four credits must be assigned to one or more courses on Research Methodology, covering quantitative methods, qualitative methods, 3) computer applications, research ethics, review of published research in the relevant field, and fieldwork.

• All Ph.D. students must take courses in teaching, education, pedagogy, or writing related to their subject.

• Other courses will be advanced-level to prepare students for their Ph.D.

•  Experienced researchers with original contributions can choose courses that help monetize their intellectual property.

•  Credits earned from coursework can be transferred between institutions through the Academic Bank of Credits.

• Ph.D. students should gain 3-4 hours of teaching experience per week through assistantships or other knowledge dissemination activities.

• Dissemination activities, including presentations, articles, and research, must be approved by the Research Committee.

• All Ph.D. courses must meet credit hour requirements and be approved by academic bodies.

• The Department, based on the Research Advisory Committee's recommendations, will prescribe courses for the scholar.

• Ph.D. students must complete coursework within the first one or two semesters, with blended learning options in case of pandemics.

• Candidates with an M.Phil. may be exempt from Ph.D. coursework.

• Government-sponsored candidates may also be exempt if they have completed equivalent coursework.

• Course grades will be assessed by the Research Advisory Committee and the Department.

• Ph.D. students need at least 55% marks or an equivalent grade to continue and submit their thesis.

Evaluation and Assessment

• Ph.D. candidates must begin research and prepare a draft dissertation or thesis within a response time frame specified by the university after finishing courses with the necessary grades.
•  Scholars are required to present their work to the Research Advisory Committee and obtain feedback from faculty members and other researchers before submitting their thesis.
• It is encouraged to present research at conferences and publish it in peer-reviewed publications. Universities have the authority to establish standards and should guarantee the caliber of Ph.D. degrees.
•  An originality report generated by anti-plagiarism software must accompany the thesis submission. Managers need to look over this report.
• Institutions need a way to identify plagiarism. A statement of originality from the student and a supervisory certificate must be submitted with the thesis.
• The supervisor and two outside examiners, who are professionals not affiliated with the university, will assess the thesis. Examiners may come from outside India, but at least one must be from outside the state.
•  The supervisor and one or more external examiners will conduct the Interview test. The Research Advisory Committee, academic staff, research researchers, and other specialists are welcome to attend.
• The applicant and supervisor are required to notify the institution if the study findings result in the possibility of intellectual property rights. It is possible to handle the thesis in private and to postpone the public defense for up to a year.
• Only if the examiners approve the thesis only then will the Interview take place. An additional examiner will be consulted if one examiner rejects it. The thesis will be dismissed if the secondary examiner concurs.
• After submission, the Ph.D. thesis assessment procedure should be finished in full within three months.
• It is recommended for Ph.D. scholars to spend a minimum of three consecutive weeks, one to six months, working at different research institutes, including foreign ones.

PhD through Distance or Online Mode

Ph.D. programs cannot be conducted through distance education or online mode. However, candidates in service can pursue a Ph.D. as long as they meet all eligibility conditions specified in the Ph.D. regulations.

Moreover, if you want to pursue an Online PhD, you can opt for its alternative which is an Online DBA. DBA stands for Doctor of Business Administration and it is also a doctorate program and adds up a “Dr” title before your name.

There are various universities offering you an Online DBA. Some of them are mentioned below :

Universities	Fees
Golden Gate University	INR 8,14,000
Rushford Business School	INR 8,12,500
ESGCI International School of Management Paris	INR 8,14,000

Provisional Certificate

Before the degree is officially awarded, the university will issue a provisional certificate confirming that the degree has been granted in line with UGC Regulations.

Colleges Offering a PhD In India

There are various government and private colleges offering a PhD program, Some of them are mentioned below :

Institute	Exams Accepted
Jawaharlal Nehru University	UGC NET- JRF
University of Delhi	NET/JRF
Hidayaullah National Law University	Entrance Exam, UGC NET JRF
Aligarh Muslim University	University Entrance Exam, UGC NET JRF
Mizoram University	University Entrance Exam, UGC NET JRF
North Eastern Hill University	Entrance Exam, UGC NET JRF
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham	GATE
Manipal University	PhD Manipal Entrance Test (MET)
VIT Vellore	VITREE
KIIT University	KIITEE
BITS Pilani	BITS PhD Entrance Exam
Bharathidasan University	University-Level Exam

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Conclusion

Before directly applying to a PhD program, it is a must for you to go through all the rules and regulations by the UGC for pursuing a PhD Program. It will help you to fill in all the necessary information regarding the PhD program such as eligibility, duration, and many more.