Delhi University Awaits UGC's Nod for PhD Admissions Amid UGC NET Cancellation

Delhi University (DU) will not hold separate PhD entrance exams following the cancellation of the UGC NET by the Centre. Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh stated that DU is awaiting direction from the UGC, potentially delaying the academic session for PhD admissions by a month.

Delhi University (DU) has decided against conducting separate PhD entrance exams, unlike Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), as stated by Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh on Sunday. Singh mentioned that DU is currently waiting for guidance from the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The uncertainty regarding PhD admissions emerged after the Centre canceled the UGC NET exam, which has been pivotal for PhD program entries. The UGC NET, organized by the National Testing Agency (NTA), is essential for determining eligibility for teaching positions and PhD admissions. 'We have no plans to hold a separate in-house PhD entrance exam. We will follow whatever the UGC suggests. As of now, we have received no communication from the NTA and are awaiting their guidance. We anticipate a one-month delay in the PhD academic session,' Singh told ANI.

Singh's comments addressed inquiries about DU's plans to conduct its own entrance test amidst the controversy surrounding the NTA's UGC NET exam. On June 19, the Centre canceled the exam following concerns raised by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regarding the exam's integrity.

Meanwhile, JNU is contemplating moving away from the UGC NET exam for PhD admissions and returning to an in-house entrance test. This year, JNU decided to accept National Eligibility Test (NET) scores instead of conducting its own entrance test, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. According to a UGC notification dated March 27, 2024, starting with the academic session 2024-25, the NET score could replace entrance tests conducted by various universities and higher education institutions (HEIs) for PhD admissions.

The UGC NET, administered by the NTA in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode since December 2018, determines eligibility for Assistant Professorship and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges. The award of JRF or eligibility for Assistant Professorship depends on the aggregate performance in Paper-I and Paper-II of the UGC NET.

(With inputs from agencies.)