UGC announces validity of NET scores for PhD admissions from this year
Previously, many universities conducted individual PhD entrance exams, forcing candidates to take multiple tests. This move aligns with the NEP 2020. By accepting NET scores, candidates will no longer need to appear for multiple exams.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced that starting from the 2024-25 academic session, scores from the National Eligibility Test (NET) will be accepted for PhD admissions. This decision aims to streamline the admission process, as many universities currently conduct separate entrance exams for PhD candidates. By accepting NET scores, candidates will no longer need to appear for multiple exams.
The decision, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, was made in the 578th UGC meeting held on March 13, following recommendations from an expert committee. The UGC-NET, conducted twice a year in June and December, is used to award Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and select Assistant Professors for candidates with master’s degrees.
THE BIFURCATION OF CATEGORIES
According to the official notice, UGC NET qualified candidates will now be eligible for three categories:
-PhD admission with JRF and assistant professor posts;
-PhD admission without JRF but for assistant professor posts;
-and only for PhD programme admission. However, for PhD admissions, 70 percent weightage will be given to the UGC NET scores and 30 percent to interviews in creating the merit list.
THE TWEET
UGC chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar stated that the National Testing Agency (NTA) plans to launch the process next week. "From the academic session 2024-2025, all universities can use NET score for admission to PhD programmes in place of entrance tests conducted by the different universities/HEIs," he posted on X. The UGC NET June 2024 notification is expected to be released soon on the official website at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. The scores of NET remain valid for one year.
From the academic session 2024-2025, all universities can use NET score for admission to PhD programmes in place of entrance tests conducted by the different universities/HEIs. NTA is working on launching the NET application process for June 2024 session sometime next week. pic.twitter.com/IVzKgu56gB — Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar (@mamidala90) March 27, 2024