‘Revoke UGC NET criterion for PhD admission’: Students, professors on disruption of academic cycle

Anu Parthiban and Sanjay
NEW DELHI: With the cancellation of UGC NET 2024, which for the first time was supposed to be used for PhD admissions, universities, teachers and student groups have expressed concerns on the delay in the academic cycle. Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR against ‘unidentified persons’ over the UGC NET paper leak 2024.

The Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan held a press conference yesterday and said a high-level committee has been set up to study the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA). He also informed that the UGC NET paper was leaked on Darknet. “CBI will work in close coordination with the I4C while initiating its own darknet exploration softwares and systems to nail down the perpetrators,” the ministry said yesterday.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) in March decided to use UGC NET score for PhD admission, following which several universities announced to replace their own entrance exams with NET. As per the UGC regulations, 70 percent weightage will be given to UGC NET scores and 30 percent weightage to the interview for admissions.

Also read ‘No transparency in UGC NET 2024 cancellation’, JNUTA demands JNUEE for PhD admission

Admission cycle depends on efficiency of NTA

"Earlier, we used to have our own entrance exam for PhD Admission but now we are taking admission through the UGC-NET exam conducted by NTA. There will definitely be a delay at our university and all other central universities in the country which are taking PhD admission 2024-25 through UGC-NET conducted by NTA. The whole admission cycle of PhD courses will depend upon the efficiency of NTA. We will start PhD admission as soon as NTA conducts the NET exam and announce the results," Madhvendra Nath Tripathi, media head of Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur told Careers360.

"Currently, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, Ayodhya is taking PhD admission to the batch of 2023. The test results have been declared and interviews are remaining. The delay started during Covid and it is still there," said a professor of the political science department.

While public relations officer (PRO) at Central University of South Bihar, Gaya, Mudassir Alam, hoped there will be no delay in PhD admission as they are planning to issue PhD admission notification by July and offer PhD admission through UGC-NET scores."

Also read NEET UG 2024 row: High-level committee to study functioning of NTA, says Dharmendra Pradhan

Revoke NET criteria for PhD admission

Ambedkar Students' Association (ASA) of Hyderabad University batting for restoration of university entrance exam for PhD admission, said: “Given the history of gross violation of reservation policies in PhD admissions over the years, such a decision by the academic units is just another way to escape accountability during the whole admission process. The recent cancellation of the 18th June NET exam exposes the Brahmanical attitude of these units that would go to any extent to avoid responsibility, even at the cost of Dalit-Bahujan lives.”

The students also highlighted the “unusual” increase in UGC NET cut-offs preventing students from securing JRF. It also urged the officials to investigate malpractices related to the NTA NET exam along with the evaluation of the previous session. It also demanded the resignation of NTA chairman and demanded the university to revoke the NTA NET criteria for PhD admission.

Lalbiakdiki Hnamte, controller of admission at Mizoram University, Aizawal, said: "From this year onwards, we are following UGC guidelines and admitting students by giving 70% weightage to their UGC-NET scores and 30% weightage to their interviews at our university. The PhD admission here will depend upon the NET results and that will come when the exam happens again. The last date of PhD admission at our university is 14 August."