UGC bans 3 Rajasthan universities from enrolling PhD students for five years

NEW DELHI : The University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided to debar three Rajasthan universities from enrolling PhD students for the next five years. The decision has been taken after the universities failed to comply with the provisions of UGC regulations.

Churu-based OPJS University , Alwar-based Sunrise University, and Jhunjhunu-based Singhania University have been banned from offering PhD programmes from the academic year 2025-26 to 2029-30.

UGC has advised prospective students and their parents not to take admission in the PhD programmes offered by the three universities from now onwards. In the absence of UGC approval, PhD degrees awarded by these universities shall not be treated as recognized or valid for the purpose of higher education and employment.

The commission had constituted a standing committee to monitor whether universities are following the procedure and awarding PhD degrees in accordance with the UGC regulations . One of the mandates of the panel is to suggest corrective measures and recommend action to be taken against erring institutions. The committee found non-compliance with the UGC rules and recommended discontinuation of PhD programmes offered by the universities.

“After analyzing/examining/evaluating the information/data submitted by the Universities, the Standing Committee has found that three Universities did not follow the provisions of the UGC PhD Regulations and also the academic norms for the award of PhD degrees. These Universities were given an opportunity to explain why they failed to comply with the provisions of the UGC PhD Regulations, however, the responses received from these Universities were not found satisfactory. The Standing Committee has, thus, recommended that the UGC may debar these Universities from enrolling PhD students for the next five years,” said UGC.