The University of Delhi (DU) will now allow students to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) directly after completing a four-year undergraduate degree. This change, approved by the Academic Council, aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. However, some faculty members have raised concerns about potential issues with admissions and reservation policies.
New PhD Admission Pathway Sparks Debate
Previously, a master's degree was a prerequisite for a PhD. Under the new regulation, eligible undergraduate students can enter PhD programs. This move aims to encourage early research engagement.
Eligible students must have completed a four-year undergraduate program at DU. They need a minimum CGPA of 6.0 for General, OBC, and EWS categories. For SC, ST, and PwBD candidates, the minimum CGPA is 5.5. A key requirement is at least one research publication in a Scopus-indexed journal as the first, second, or corresponding author.
Students may also continue their undergraduate research with the same supervisor, provided the supervisor holds a PhD and has a research laboratory.
Faculty Raise Concerns Over Clarity and Quality
Some faculty members question the clarity of reservation policy implementation. A dissent note argued that four-year undergraduate students are a distinct category. Grouping them with master's and MPhil degree holders could create ambiguities.
Professor Biswajit Mohanty from Deshbandhu College called the decision a "knee-jerk" reaction. He cited potential intense competition between National Eligibility Test (NET) qualifiers and direct PhD entrants.
Abha Dev Habib, a faculty member at Miranda House, believes a master's degree is vital. She stated postgraduate studies build a foundational understanding for doctoral research. This grounding allows for greater flexibility in research domains.
Habib also questioned career prospects for these direct PhD entrants. She anticipates that candidates with both master's and PhD degrees might be favored for assistant professor positions.
Supporters Point to NEP Alignment and Research Motivation
College principals have largely welcomed the change. Ramjas College Principal Ajay Kumar Arora sees it as offering multiple academic pathways, consistent with NEP 2020. He believes the publication requirement will motivate students to research earlier.
Dinesh Khattar, Principal of Kirori Mal College, noted positive outcomes from the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP). He highlighted that 28 students from a previous FYUP batch published research papers, with 10 in Scopus-indexed journals.
Details on Supernumerary Seats
DU Dean of Admissions Haneet Gandhi confirmed that students meeting publication criteria will be considered under supernumerary seats. These are additional seats created for this specific admission route.
Gandhi also mentioned a committee is examining the possibility of increasing seats in the one-year postgraduate program. This matter remains under consideration.
