Kolkata, Aug. 4 -- The state Higher Education Department has directed all state-aided universities, private universities and aided higher education institutions to admit students to PhD programmes based on scores in national-level entrance examinations, replacing university-level entrance tests from the upcoming academic session.
In an order issued on August 3, the department instructed institutions not to advertise or conduct PhD Admission Tests (PAT), Research Entrance Tests (RET) or similar university-level entrance examinations. Instead, admissions will be based on scores in UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR NET, GATE, CEED and other similar national-level examinations, followed by interviews, in accordance with UGC regulations.
The department said the decision was taken in line with the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations, 2022, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and a UGC communication issued on March 28, 2024. It said the move aims to ensure uniformity, transparency and quality in PhD admissions by eliminating multiple university-level entrance examinations for research aspirants.
The order, however, has prompted questions over admissions in disciplines for which no NET, GATE or equivalent national-level examination exists. Concerns have also been raised over the status of the State Eligibility Test (SET), which has so far been accepted by several universities for exemption from written entrance tests before interviews.
The Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA) said the order does not clarify admissions in disciplines where NET, GATE or similar examinations are unavailable, including some engineering, technology and interdisciplinary programmes. It also sought clarity on filling reserved category seats if sufficient NET or GATE-qualified candidates are unavailable.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.