Lok Sabha Question No. 3390 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-16
Subject: Number of Seats for Ph.D
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Sudhakar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3390

ANSWERED ON-16/12/2024

## NUMBER OF SEATS FOR PH.D

3390. Shri Sudhakar Singh:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of Ph.D seats available across the country and whether the Government has any data on the enrollment of Ph.D students, State-wise;
- (b)  the  current  expenditure  on  research  in  social  sciences  and  the  manner  in  which  it  is compared with expenditure on research in other fields;
- (c) the average stipend provided to Ph.D students across the country and the manner in which it is compared with the stipend offered to Ph.D scholars in developed countries like the United States, Germany and China; and
- (d) whether the Government has any plans to increase the number of Ph.D seats, particularly in under-represented fields like social sciences and improve financial support for scholars to promote high-quality research?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR )

- (a) As per All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE),2022-23(Provisional), the total enrolment in Ph.D is 2.33 lakh. The State-wise Enrolment of Ph.D students is available at https://www.education.gov.in/parl\_ques .
- (b) The details of grants released by the University Grants Commission (UGC) on research including, Social Sciences, for the year 2023-24 is given as under:

|   S.No. | Particulars                                          |   2023-24(in Rs. Lakh) |
|---------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|
|       1 | Special Assistance Programme (SAP)                   |                 215.98 |
|       2 | Basic Scientific Research                            |                5177.5  |
|       3 | University &Colleges with Potential for Excellence * |                1659.16 |

| S.No.                                   | Particulars                                         | 2023-24(in Rs. Lakh)                    |
|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| 4                                       | Research Scientists                                 | 120.52                                  |
| 5                                       | Minor &Major Research Project (Science& Humanities) | 114.18                                  |
| 6                                       | Junior &Senior Research Fellowship                  | 164420.47                               |
| 7                                       | Post Doctoral Fellowship for women                  | 73.00                                   |
| 8                                       | Research Awards to Teachers                         | 25.85                                   |
| 9                                       | Research Workshops, Seminars& Conferences           | 0.00                                    |
| 10                                      | Emeritus Fellowship for Superannuated Teachers      | 246.85                                  |
| Total                                   | Total                                               | 172053.51                               |
| * Part of grants was used for research. | * Part of grants was used for research.             | * Part of grants was used for research. |

(c)  &  (d)  The  UGC provides non-NET fellowships to M.Phil/Ph.D. students who have not qualified NET and are not receiving financial assistance from any other source. Ph.D. students receive stipend of Rs. 8000/- per month under the non-NET fellowship scheme. During the financial year 2023-24, UGC-funded Central Universities utilized an amount of Rs. 122.95 cr. approximately for providing non-NET fellowships.

As per AISHE 2022-23 (provisional), the total PhD enrolment is 2.33 lakh which is around 10% more than the Ph.D enrolment of 2.12 lakh in 2021-22. Total Ph.D. enrolment has nearly doubled in 2022-23 (2.33 lakh) from 2014-15 (1.17 lakh).

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