The University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken a significant step to simplify the admission process in line with the National Education Policy. Starting from the academic session 2024-2025, students seeking admission to Ph.D. programs will no longer need to appear for multiple entrance exams. Instead, they can utilize their National Eligibility Test (NET) scores for admissions.
This decision was made in the 578th UGC meeting convened on March 13, 2024, following scrutiny of recommendations from an expert committee tasked with reviewing the UGC NET exam provisions. Currently, the NET validates eligibility for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and facilitates appointments to the esteemed position of assistant professor. The National Testing Agency (NTA) administers the NET twice a year, in the months of June and December. Check the official post below.
From the academic session 2024-2025, all universities can use NET score for admission to PhD programmes in place of entrance tests conducted by the different universities/HEIs. NTA is working on launching the NET application process for June 2024 session sometime next week. pic.twitter.com/IVzKgu56gB
— Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar (@mamidala90) March 27, 2024
UGC NET Categories
It is pertinent to note that the NET Score now serves as a valid criterion for admission to PhD programs, effectively replacing the need for separate entrance tests conducted by various universities and Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs).
The statutory organization in the official notice has mentioned 3 categories in which NET candidates will be eligible for admission:
Category 1: Eligible for (i) admission to PhD with JRF and (ii) appointment as Assistant Professor.
Category 2: Eligible for(i) admission to PhD without JRF and (ii) appointment as Assistant Professor.
Category 3: Eligible for admission to PhD programme only and not for the award of JRF or appointment as Assistant Professor.
UGC NET Categories Summary
The determination of the eligibility of NET for different categories is summarised below:
| Qualified For | Eligible for | ||
| JRF | Assistant Professor | PhD Admission | |
| Cateogary-1: Award of JRF and appointment as Assistant Professor | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Category-2: Appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to PhD | No | Yes | Yes |
| Category-3: Admission to PhD only | No | No | Yes |
UGC NET PhD Admission Key Points
- The National Eligibility Test (NET) results will be declared in percentiles, along with the marks obtained by candidates.
- These marks can be utilised for admission to PhD programs.
- JRF-qualified students will be admitted to the PhD program based on an interview, following the University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations of 2022.
- For students qualifying in Categories 2 and 3:
- 70% weightage will be given to test scores.
- 30% weightage will be assigned to the interview for Ph.D. admission.
- The final merit for admission will be determined by combining NET marks and interview/viva voce scores.
- NET marks obtained by candidates in Categories 2 and 3 will remain valid for one year for PhD admissions.
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