Sakshi Education

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced a major change in PhD admissions in India, aligning with the National Education Policy 2020. Here's a breakdown:

New Streamlined PhD Admissions Process via UGC NET

Goodbye Multiple Entrance Exams: Previously, universities conducted their own entrance exams for PhD programs. Now, starting with the 2024-25 academic session, the UGC NET score will be used instead! This simplifies the process for students by eliminating the need to take multiple exams.

How Does the UGC NET Work for PhD Admissions?
Three Eligibility Categories: Based on your NET score, you'll be placed in one of three categories:

Category 1: Eligible for both a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and an Assistant Professor position. (This is the most prestigious category.)
Category 2: Eligible for an Assistant Professor position and admission to a PhD program.
Category 3: Eligible for admission to a PhD program only.

How are Categories Determined?
The determination of the eligibility of NET for different categories is summarized below:

Qualified for	Eligibility For
Qualified for	JRF	Assistant Professor	PhD Admission
Category-1: Award of JRF and appointment as Assistant Professor	Yes	Yes	Yes
Category-2: Appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to Ph.D.	No	Yes	Yes
Category-3: Admission to PhD only	No	No	Yes

What about the NET Exam?
The UGC NET is conducted twice a year by the National Testing Agency (NTA). You can find more information and register for the exam at https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in/.

The NET results will be declared in percentiles along with your marks. Universities will utilize these scores for PhD admissions.

Benefits of this Change:

Reduced Burden on Students: No more juggling multiple entrance exams!

Standardized Process: A national test ensures a fair and consistent evaluation for PhD admissions.

Streamlined System: This simplifies the process for both universities and students.

This new system is expected to streamline PhD admissions in India and make the process more efficient for both students and universities. Be sure to keep an eye out for the upcoming UGC NET June 2024 notification for more details.

The notification and Bulletin of Information for the NET June 2024 will be issued by the National Testing Agency shortly at: https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in.