Extend PhD thesis submission date for batches affected by COVID-19: Kerala MP to UGC chairman

NEW DELHI: Kerala Lok Sabha MP ET Mohammed Basheer has written to the University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman Mamidala Jagadesh 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.

The member of Parliament said that the UGC had previously approved an extended time to terminal students for submission of PhD thesis. Thanking the commission for the decision, he said that the "benefit of UGC’s positive decision could be availed by some batches, and not by all the batches affected by the pandemic".

Requesting the UGC to give the extended time of two years for all the batches who were affected by the pandemic, the MP pointed at the lack of and reduced access to infrastructure for research and experiments such as laboratories, libraries, or studios.

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Universities were closed for more than a year during the COVID-19 lockdown period. “Laboratory works were significantly affected as all the preceding tests and experiments went astray due to the elongated period of absence from taking care of the cultivation and maintenance of the equipment, trails and investigations.” The research works were also affected as the prolonged closure of colleges reduced access to libraries, he added.

“Many of our research requires field work that was not possible for two years due to the extended lock down, and other Covid regulations prescribed by central Government and various state Governments,” the letter to UGC chairman read.

The MP further said that the students’ health and that of the supervisors were severely affected. “Also, death of near and dear ones has affected the mental health of many students.”