The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has announced that the university will accept the scores of the National Eligibility Test (NET) instead of the National Testing Agency (NTA) entrance test as the selection criterion for admission to its Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs of the current academic session i.e. academic year 2024-25.
In an official press release, the JNU said, “The University Grants Commission, in order to facilitate the students with one national entrance test as part of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, has decided in its public communication dated March 27, 2024: that score of the National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by UGC and the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) can be used by the Universities/HEIs for PhD admission in lieu of entrance test.”
The university has decided to use the NET scores for PhD admissions, replacing the entrance test previously administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
“Accordingly, JNU has decided to use the NET score in lieu of the entrance test conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to PhD programs in the university from the academic session 2024-25,” the release said.
The university further clarified that the applications for admission to Ph.D. programs from the following three categories of candidates are accepted:
Category 1: JRF Qualified Candidates (100% Weightage)
Category 2: Candidates are eligible for the university lecturer position without JRF
Category 3: Candidates did not qualify for JRF or Assistant Professorship but are eligible for admission to Ph.D only on the basis of NET score.
However, candidates with a valid JRF are also eligible to apply under the NET Score categories.
Admission under NET Score Categories replaces the entrance exam. The weightage for NET Score and viva-voce will be 70% and 30% respectively, the JUN Ph.D notification added.
“The marks obtained by the candidates in the NET examination conducted by UGC and CSIR are valid for a period of one year for the purpose of admission to the PhD program as decided by UGC. The validity of JRF will be as stated in the JRF award letter,” it further read.
The University may conduct entrance examinations for those PhD programs where NET examinations in the prescribed subjects/disciplines are not conducted by UGC/CSIR.
Meanwhile, the office bearers of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) will meet the Director of Admissions on April 29 to discuss the decision. The JNUSU pointed out that the arbitrary decision to replace PhD entrance exams with NET scores will further alienate many students, especially those from marginalized sections, from research and close the gates of universities to many.
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Published: Apr 28, 2024 6:48 PM IST