University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Jagadesh Kumar announced that students holding four-year undergraduate degrees are now eligible to directly appear for the National Eligibility Test (NET) and pursue a PhD. To pursue a PhD, whether with or without a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), candidates must attain a minimum of 75 percent marks or equivalent grades in their four-year undergraduate program.
Previously, candidates aspiring to take the National Eligibility Test (NET) were required to possess a master’s degree with at least 55 percent marks. However, for this year’s examination, there is a notable change: the test will be administered offline instead of the usual Computer-Based Test format. The examinations for all subjects are scheduled to take place on June 16.
“The candidates with four-year undergraduate degrees can now directly pursue PhD and appear for NET. Such candidates are allowed to appear (for tests) in a subject in which they want to pursue a PhD irrespective of the discipline in which they have obtained the four-year bachelor’s degree,” Kumar told PTI.
“Candidates having passed a four-year or eight-semester bachelor’s degree programme should have a minimum of 75 percent marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed,” the UGC chairman said.
A relaxation of five percent marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), differently-abled, economically weaker sections and other categories of candidates as per the decision of the UGC from time to time, he added. UGC-NET is an exam to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for the “award of Junior Research Fellowship and appointment as assistant professor”, “appointment as assistant professor and admission to PhD” and “admission to PhD only” in Indian universities and colleges.
The application process for the exam began on Saturday and will end on May 10