A candidate needs to score a minimum of 75% or an equivalent grade during his or her undergrad program to be eligible to pursue a PhD directly.
New Delhi: Here’s a good news for PhD aspirants: Jagadesh Kumar, the head of the University Grants Commission (UGC), recently broke game-changer news for students having a four-year bachelor’s degree under their belts. Under the new rule, students who have the following qualifications can also attempt the National Eligibility Test (NET) directly. To consider yourself eligible for the PhD, even if you don’t have a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), all you need is to score a minimum of 75% or an equivalent grade during the undergrad program.
Current Situation For PhD Aspirants
So far, a candidate for the National Eligibility Test (NET) needs a master’s degree with a minimum of 55 per cent marks. The exam this year will be conducted in offline mode instead of a Computer Based Test. Tests for all subjects will be conducted on June 16.
“The candidates with four-year undergraduate degrees can now directly pursue PhD and appear for NET. Such candidates are allowed to appear (for tests) in a subject in which they want to pursue a PhD irrespective of the discipline in which they have obtained the four-year bachelor’s degree,” Kumar told PTI.
Qualifications For PhD Degree
“Candidates having passed a four-year or eight-semester bachelor’s degree programme 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,” the UGC chairman said.
A relaxation of five per cent marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), differently-abled, economically weaker sections and other categories of candidates as per the decision of the UGC from time to time, he added.
UGC-NET is an exam to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for the “award of Junior Research Fellowship and appointment as assistant professor,” “appointment as assistant professor and admission to PhD” and “admission to PhD only” in Indian universities and colleges.
The application process for the exam began on Saturday and will end on May 10.
(With inputs from agencies)
