UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar announced the development, stating that the two admission cycles will be July-August and January-February, starting from the 2024-25 academic session.

To pursue a PhD with or without a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), the candidates will require a minimum of 75 per cent marks or equivalent grades in their four-year undergraduate course.

“Starting from the academic session 2024-2025, universities nationwide will have the opportunity to utilise NET scores for admissions to PhD programmes, replacing the need for separate entrance tests conducted by individual universities and higher education institutions (HEIs). This marks an important step in streamlining the admission process and enhancing accessibility for aspiring doctoral candidates.

Participating in a debate on bills that seek to modify the lists of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Jammu and Kashmir, Trinamool Congress member Jawhar Sircar expressed apprehension that the reservation policy is being nibbled away and is sought to be diluted by the present government.

Commission urges immediate halt to MPhil admissions for 2023-24 academic year