The University Grants Commission (UGC) in India has taken a significant step to promote and recognize high-quality doctoral research nationwide. In a recent decision, the UGC announced the institution of a PhD excellence citation aimed at acknowledging original research work by scholars annually.
UGC PhD Excellence Citation
The University Grants Commission (UGC) in India has instituted a new PhD Excellence Citation to recognize outstanding doctoral research work. Key points include:
- Purpose: To acknowledge original research by scholars annually.
- Context: Responds to 10% annual growth in PhD admissions across India.
- Eligibility: Open to universities recognized under UGC Act and accredited by NAAC.
- Nomination process:
- Universities can nominate 5 theses, one from each of 5 specified disciplines.
- Theses must be uploaded on Inflibnet.
- Degree should be awarded in the year of recommendation.
- Selection: Two theses will be selected from each discipline by a UGC-constituted committee.
- Timeline: Nominations invited in January, awards distributed by September 5.
- Impact: Aims to encourage high-quality research and innovation in Indian higher education.
This initiative highlights UGC’s efforts to promote and reward excellence in doctoral research across various academic fields in India.
Key Points of the UGC PhD Excellence Citation
- The decision was made during the UGC’s October 3 meeting, as stated by UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar.
- This initiative comes in response to a notable growth in PhD admissions. A UGC study found that overall PhD admissions have been increasing at a rate of 10% annually.
- Between 2010-11 and 2017-18, Ph.D. admissions doubled from 77,798 to 1,61,412.
- Science (30%), engineering and technology (26%), and social sciences (12%) accounted for the largest share of Ph. D.s awarded during this period.
Eligibility and Selection Process:
- Universities recognized under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act and accredited by NAAC are eligible to participate.
- For consideration, the Ph.D. thesis must be uploaded on Inflibnet, and the degree should be awarded between January 1 and December 31 of the year for which it’s being recommended.
- Universities can nominate five theses, one each from five disciplines: sciences (including agricultural and medical sciences), engineering and technology, social sciences (including education and humanities), Indian languages, and commerce and management.
- Two theses will be selected from each discipline for the award.
- A selection committee constituted by the UGC will choose two candidates from each stream.
Timeline of the UGC PhD Excellence Citation
- The UGC plans to invite nominations from universities in January.
- Awards are scheduled to be distributed by September 5.
This new initiative by the UGC demonstrates a commitment to fostering excellence in doctoral research across various disciplines in Indian universities. By recognizing outstanding Ph.D. work, the UGC aims to encourage high-quality research and innovation in higher education.
For researchers and Ph.D. candidates, this presents an excellent opportunity to gain recognition for their hard work and contributions to their respective fields. It also serves as an incentive for universities to maintain high standards in their doctoral programs.
As we await the release of detailed guidelines, this development is certainly one to watch in the Indian higher education landscape. It has the potential to elevate the quality and visibility of Indian research on both national and international platforms.
