New Regulations For Awarding PhDs

Why in the News?

Recently, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has made changes in its regulations governing the award of PhDs.

Key Points:

• It notified the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations, 2022.

What are the key changes?

• • Waived mandatorily publish paper: It has waived the need to mandatorily publish a research paper in a peer-reviewed journal. 
  • Completely abolishing MPhil:  It has been a gateway for PhD programmes, in line with the recommendation in the National Education Policy 2020. 

• Course Work: all PhD scholars “shall be required to train in teaching/ education/ pedagogy/ writing related to their chosen PhD subject.” 

• They can also now be assigned 4-6 hours per week of teaching/research assistantship for conducting tutorial, or laboratory work and evaluations.

• Allows part-time PhDs: The UGC now also allows part-time PhDs, a practice that was disallowed under the 2009 and 2016 regulations.

• Allowing candidates to register for a PhD after finishing four years of a graduation programme.

Concerns

• However, experts fear that the discontinuing MPhils, along with the introduction of four-year BA course and 2-year MA course with multiple exits will hurt socially disadvantaged groups who may not be able to pay for longer-duration courses.

Source: TH