Lok Sabha Question No. 182 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-25
Subject: Method to Award Ph.D Degree
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: G. HARI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 182 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.04.2016

## Method to Award Ph.D Degree

182. SHRI G. HARI: Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has introduced/proposes to introduce any new method to award Ph. D degree to students in the country; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Government has received any suggestion from any organisation in this regard; and

- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (d): A Ph.D degree can be awarded by a University in the country in compliance with the regulations notified by the University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  for maintenance of minimum standards for the Ph.D degree.  Accordingly, the UGC has notified the UGC(Minimum Standards and Procedure for award of Phil/Ph.D Degree) Regulations, 2009. The  UGC  has  approved  that  women  candidates  and  persons  with  disability (more than 40% disability) may be allowed a relaxation of two years for Ph.D in the maximum  duration  of  the  course.  The  UGC  has  introduced  a  provision  in  the regulations allowing  transfer of research data, in case of relocation of an M.Phil/Ph.D woman  scholar  due  to  marriage  or  otherwise,  to  the  relocated  institution  and  also approved  amendments  in  its  regulations  for  allowing  women  candidates  maternity leave/child-care leave once in the entire duration of M.Phil./Ph.D for up to 240 days. The  Commission  has  further  approved  amendments  to  its  regulations  for implementing  the  report  of  the  Committee,  under  the  chairpersonship  of  Prof.Arun Nigavekar,  former  Chairman,  UGC  to  examine  the  issues  related  to  attracting  and retaining  talented  and  quality  manpower  in  the  teaching  profession.  The  Committee has  reported  that  it  ascertained  the  views  of  various  stakeholders  through  regional consultative meetings and the responses from them to its questionnaire uploaded on

the  Ministry  and  the  UGC  website.   The  Commission  has  approved  that  candidates who have been awarded / registered for Ph.D. degree before the implementation of the  University  Grants  Commission  (Minimum  Standards  and  Procedure  for  Award of    Ph.  D  Degree)  Regulations  2009  shall  be  exempted  from  the  requirement  of the minimum eligibility condition of NET/SLET/SET for recruitment and appointment of Assistant  Professor  or  equivalent  positions  in  Universities/  Colleges  /  Institutions subject to the fulfillment of the following conditions:

- i) Ph.D. degree of the candidate awarded in regular mode only
2. ii) Evaluation of the Ph.D. thesis by at least two external examiners
3. iii)  Candidate  published  two  research  papers  out  of  which  at  least  one  in  a refereed journal from out of his/her Ph.D. work
4. iv)  The  candidate  presented  two  papers  in  seminars/conferences  from  out  of his/her Ph.D. work
- v)  Open Ph.D. Viva voce of the candidate conducted.
- i) to (v) as above are to be certified by the Vice Chancellor/Pro-Vice Chancellor / Dean (Academic Affairs/University Instructions/Studies).

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