UGC to Relax Admission Norms for SC, ST Students in Ph.D. Courses
UGC relaxes M.Phil and Ph.D. admission norms for reserved categories. The UGC has reduced the eligibility marks from 50% to 45% for reserved categories.
The HRD Ministry has lowered the eligibility cut-off for SC/ ST/ OBC students seeking admission in M.Phil and Ph.D. courses. The decision will minimise the large number of vacant seats in M.Phil and Ph.D. courses in universities under reserved categories.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) is also set to allow universities to launch a special admission drive to fill up vacant seats in M.Phil and Ph.D. courses. UGC will play no role in special admission drive and the universities will be free to prescribe their own eligibility criteria.
At present, candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC categories must score at least 50% marks in the entrance exams conducted by universities for the admission to M.Phil and Ph.D. courses. According to sources, the UGC has reduced the eligibility marks from 50% to 45%. The 5% relaxation will minimise the vacant seats in M.Phil and Ph.D. courses.
Also Read: IITs and IISc M.Tech & Ph.D. Admission Process to be Centralised
If the seats are still vacant in the universities despite relaxation in marks for SC/ST/OBC categories, the universities can conduct special admission drive for these categories within one month from the date of closure of admission of general category.
Academicians hailed the move but were of the opinion that the government could have taken this decision earlier. The government’s idea to safeguard the educational rights of SCs and STs is positive, they expressed.
Also Read: Telangana Government Scraps State-Level Ph.D. Entrance Test
Apart from relaxing eligibility norms, the government will take steps to improve the quality of doctoral education in the country.
Stay tuned to CollegeDekho for updates on Ph.D. admissions in various universities.