As per Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC), students with four-year undergraduate degrees can now directly appear for NET and pursue PhD as well.
Changes in PhD and NET Eligibility Criteria
Notably, in order to pursue a PhD with or without a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), the candidates will require a minimum of 75 percent marks or equivalent grades in their four-year undergraduate course.
Till now, in order to appear for National Eligibility Test (NET), a candidate needed a master’s degree with a minimum of 55 percent marks.
With the tests for all subjects being conducted on June 16, the exam this year shall be conducted in offline mode instead of a Computer-Based Test.
Kumar told that “The candidates with four-year undergraduate degrees can now directly pursue PhD and appear for NET. Such candidates are allowed to appear (for tests) 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”.
Insights and Relaxations in the Eligibility Criteria for UGC-NET
Speaking on the marks or pointer required to appear for examination, he said that “Candidates having passed a four-year or eight-semester bachelor’s degree programme should have a minimum of 75 percent marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed”.
For those who belong to SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), differently abled, economically weaker sections and other categories, a relaxation of 5% marks or equivalent grade shall be allowed.
UGC-NET is an exam to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for the “award of Junior Research Fellowship and appointment as assistant professor”, “appointment as assistant professor and admission to PhD” and “admission to PhD only” in Indian universities and colleges.
