UGC NET Scores to be Utilized for PhD Admissions: UGC Chief Jagadesh Kumar

The University Grants Commission (UGC) announced on Wednesday that scores from the National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) will now be accepted for PhD admissions, effective from the academic session of 2024-25.

"Many universities conduct their own entrance tests for admission to their PhD programmes, necessitating students to appear for multiple PhD entrance tests. To streamline this process and implement the National Education Policy 2020, the UGC formed an expert committee to review the provisions of the National Eligibility Test (NET)," stated the official notice shared by UGC Chief, M Jagadesh Kumar.

"Following the recommendations of the expert committee, the UGC decided in its 578th Meeting held on March 13, 2024, that from the academic session 2024-25, the NET score can be used for admission to PhD programmes in lieu of entrance tests conducted by different universities/HEIs," the notice further elaborated.

This change, effective from the 2024-25 academic session, will categorize candidates into three eligibility groups:

- Category 1: Eligible for (i) admission to PhD with JRF and (ii) appointment as Assistant Professor.

- Category 2: Eligible for (i) admission to PhD without JRF and (ii) appointment as Assistant Professor.

- Category 3: Eligible for admission to PhD programme only and not for the award of JRF or appointment as Assistant Professor.

According to the official notice, the result of UGC NET will be declared in percentile along with the marks obtained by a candidate to utilize the marks for admission to PhD.

JRF-qualified students are admitted into the PhD programme based on an interview as per the University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations, 2022.

For students who qualify in Categories 2 and 3, 70 per cent weightage will be given for test scores and 30 per cent weightage for the interview for admission to PhD programmes. The PhD admission will be based on the combined merit of NET marks and the marks obtained in the interview/viva voce.

The marks obtained in the NET by the candidates in Categories 2 and 3 will be valid for a period of one year for admission to PhD.

UGC Chief, M Jagadesh Kumar, also announced that the registration process for UGC NET June 2024 is expected to begin next week.