JNU PhD admission through NET instead of NTA entrance exam from 2024-25 session

NEW DELHI: The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has decided to use the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) for PhD admissions instead of the entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) starting from the 2024-25 academic session, the university announced recently. JNU may hold entrance exams for those PhD subjects for which NET is not conducted, it said.

The university’s decision comes after UGC gave approval to universities to use NET scores for PhD admissions. “The University Grants Commission to help the students with one national entrance test as part of implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, has decided that score of National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by UGC and CSIR can be used by the universities/HEIs for PhD admission in place of entrance test,” JNU said in an official notice.

Also read JNU Admission Policy: Delhi HC upholds 80% quota in BA (Hons) Foreign languages for freshers

JNU PhD Admission 2024

Explaining the admission process including eligibility criteria, validity, and more, JNU stated the following rules for admission to PhD programmes from the upcoming academic session:

• JNU will invite applications for admission to PhD Programmes from eligible candidates under following categories:

1. JRF qualified category (Category 1) only
2. NET Score categories (Category 1: JRF qualified candidates, Category 2: Candidates qualified for Assistant Professorship without JRF and Category 3: Candidates neither qualified for JRF nor for Assistant Professorship but eligible for admission to PhD only on the basis of NET score).

• Admission under JRF category will be done as per existing norms where 100% weightage will be given to viva-voce. However, candidates with valid JRF will be also eligible to apply under NET score categories.
• Admission under NET Score categories will replace the entrance exam. The weightage for NET score and viva-voce will be 70% and 30% respectively.
• The marks obtained by the candidates in the NET exam conducted by UGC and CSIR will be valid for a period of one year for the purpose of PhD admissions as decided by UGC. The validity of JRF will be as mentioned in the JRF award letter.
• JNU may be holding entrance examinations for those PhD programmes where NET exams in the prescribed subjects or disciplines are not conducted by UGC or CSIR.

Also read Anti-student policy, undermines autonomy of universities: JNUSU on UGC NET for PhD admissions

JNU further informed that e-Prospectus for PhD admissions 2024-25 will be made available shortly on the official website, jnu.ac.in.