UGC Permits Four-Year Undergraduates to Pursue PhD, NET Eligibility Altered

On 22nd April 2024, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman announced that students with four-year undergraduate degrees can now directly pursue PhD and appear for NET.

Key Points

Policy Update by UGC: Students with four-year undergraduate degrees are now eligible to pursue PhD and appear for NET.
Minimum Marks Requirement: Candidates must attain a minimum of 75% marks or equivalent grades in their four-year undergraduate course to pursue a PhD with or without a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF).
Previous Eligibility Criteria: Previously, candidates were required to hold a master's degree with a minimum of 55% marks to appear for the National Eligibility Test (NET).
Flexible Subject Choice: Candidates can now appear for NET and pursue a PhD in any subject of their choice, regardless of the discipline of their four-year undergraduate degree.
Grading System Consideration: Candidates from institutions following a grading system must meet the equivalent grade requirements specified by UGC.
Relaxation for Certain Categories: A relaxation of five per cent marks or its equivalent grade is allowed for candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), differently-abled, economically weaker sections, and other eligible categories.
Decision Flexibility: UGC reserves the right to adjust eligibility criteria for various categories of candidates based on evolving circumstances and decisions.