In a recent development, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Jagadesh Kumar announced that students with four-year undergraduate degrees are now eligible to directly pursue a PhD and appear for the National Eligibility Test (NET).
Under this new directive, candidates can embark on their doctoral journey regardless of the discipline of their bachelor's degree.
"The candidates with four-year undergraduate degrees can now directly pursue PhD and appear for NET. Such candidates are allowed to appear 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.
Previously, NET candidates were required to hold a master's degree with a minimum of 55 per cent marks. However, under the revised guidelines, candidates must attain a minimum of 75 per cent marks or equivalent grades in their four-year undergraduate course.
"The candidates having passed a four-year or eight-semester bachelor's degree programme should have a minimum of 75 pc marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed," Kumar explained.
Furthermore, Kumar noted that a relaxation of five per cent marks or its equivalent grade may be granted to candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), differently-abled, economically weaker sections, and other eligible categories, in accordance with UGC decisions.
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