The prospectus for PhD admissions in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has sparked a controversy, with students and teachers denouncing the “lack of clarity” about the process and the “decline” in the number of seats. Students have claimed that from the academic year 2025-26, the total number of PhD seats in centres in JNU will drop by 32 per cent and many centres have planned to fill all the seats with students selected for Junior Research Fellow (JRF).
There was no immediate reaction from the administration. JNU had recently released the PhD prospectus for the academic session 2022 and 2023, according to which the admissions will be on merit basis. Candidates seeking admission to PhD programs will have to appear in CBT (Computer Based Test).
Further, teachers and students in the university have raised concerns over the lack of clarity regarding the commencement of the admission process.
They must apply separately under JRF category. Such candidates will be shortlisted and directly called for Viva-Voce. While a section of students is saying that the university should re-take the responsibility of conducting the entrance test from the National Testing Agency (NTA), another section is demanding that the NTA should continue to conduct the entrance test for PhD admissions.
It is to be noted that mere qualifying in CBT does not entitle candidates to be shortlisted for viva-voce. Shortlisting of candidates to be called for viva-voce will be done as per the following criteria, JRF-qualified candidates will be exempted from CBT.
JNUTA demanded that the university authorities immediately apprise the schools and centres, boards of study as well as the Academic Council about the status of PhD admissions for the academic year 2022 to 2023.
The teachers said that the e-prospectus was issued without the approval of the Academic Council, which is the statutory body which has the sole responsibility of all matters related to admission in the university.
32 per cent reduction in PhD seats, zero PhD seats in many centres, 100 per cent seats through JRF category in many centers like Center for the Study of Law and Governance, increased percentage of JRF seats for PhD admissions, read the memorandum.
Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad on Saturday called Vice Chancellor S. Dhulipudi Pandit and said that the PhD admissions brochure, which was released last week “due to our relentless struggle- has many discrepancies.
The JNU Teachers’ Association has also alleged that admissions to prestigious PhD programs of the university are being given in a very poor manner.
Meanwhile, the JNU Students’ Union also held a protest on Tuesday, demanding that the academic autonomy of universities be restored and the responsibility of conducting examinations be given to JNU.
The ABVP has demanded that the JNU administration should rationalize the number of seats for PhD admission through the JRF category and bring it at par with NET (National Eligibility Test) and the percentage of JRF-qualified candidates. Ask NTA to conduct JNUEE at the earliest so that academic calendar is not disturbed anymore.
