Give six-month extension to terminal MPhil, PhD scholars: AP MP urges UGC chairman

NEW DELHI: R Krishnaiah, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha has urged the University Grants Commission (UGC) Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar to provide an extension of six months for terminal PhD and MPhil scholars in view of Covid-19. The MP wrote to Kumar saying that covid affected the field and lab work of such students.

“The Covid pandemic and subsequent lockdowns had impacted higher education drastically. PhD and MPhil scholars have been struggling to cope up with the impact of the Covid pandemic. Hence, I request you to provide a six-month extension for terminal PhD and MPhil scholars as the Covid lockdowns affected the field work and lab work,” read MP’s letter to UGC chairman.

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Recently, Kerala Lok Sabha MP ET Mohammed Basheer wrote to Kumar requesting to extend the PhD thesis submission date for all batches affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Kerala MP voiced his support for students of all batches from 2014 to 2020 who faced academic loss during the COVID-19 lockdown and requested the UGC chairman for an extension of two years.

In May, UGC allowed universities and higher educational institutions to give another extension of up to six months beyond June 30 for MPhil or PhD thesis submission on case-to-case basis after reviewing a student's work.

The extension has been granted in view of the study time lost due to COVID-19. The first extension was granted in June, 2020 and extended further every six months due to prevailing the COVID-19 situation.