The method and the steps of a Ph.D. as laid down by the University Grants Commission (UGC), in simple points.
A candidate with a master's degree (a 2-year master's after a 3-year bachelor's, or a 1-year master's after a 4-year bachelor's) with at least 55% marks, or an equivalent grade, can apply. A 5% relaxation is allowed for SC / ST / OBC (non-creamy layer) / differently-abled / EWS candidates. A candidate with a 4-year bachelor's degree needs at least 75% marks. M.Phil. holders with at least 55% marks are also eligible.
Candidates who have qualified for a fellowship in UGC-NET, UGC-CSIR NET, GATE, CEED or a similar national test are called for an interview. Others sit the entrance test of the institution: 50% of the paper is research methodology and 50% is the subject. At least 50% marks (5% relaxation for the reserved categories) are needed to be called for the interview. The final merit gives 70% weight to the entrance test and 30% to the interview / viva-voce.
Every scholar is given a research supervisor (guide) who is a permanent faculty member with a Ph.D. A Professor or Associate Professor needs at least 5 research papers in peer-reviewed journals, an Assistant Professor at least 3. A Professor can guide up to 8 scholars, an Associate Professor 6 and an Assistant Professor 4 at a time. A co-supervisor can be appointed when the topic needs it.
The course work is at least 12 credits. It must include a research methodology course and the course "Research and Publication Ethics". The scholar is also trained in teaching, education, pedagogy or writing related to the subject. At least 55% marks (or the equivalent grade) in the course work are needed to continue and to submit the thesis.
A Research Advisory Committee (RAC) is formed for each scholar, and the supervisor is its convener. The scholar presents the research proposal. The committee reviews it, fixes the final topic and guides the scholar on the study design and the research method.
The scholar carries out the research (reading, data collection, experiments or field work, analysis). Every semester the scholar presents the progress before the RAC and submits a short progress report. If the progress is not satisfactory, the committee records the reasons and suggests corrections; if these are not followed, it can recommend cancellation of the registration.
After the draft thesis is ready, the scholar presents the work before the RAC. This presentation is open to all faculty members and other research scholars and students, who can ask questions and give suggestions.
The institution checks the thesis with plagiarism-detection software. The scholar submits the thesis with an undertaking that it is free from plagiarism, and the supervisor gives a certificate that the thesis is original and has not been submitted for any other degree or diploma.
The thesis is evaluated by the supervisor and at least two external examiners who are experts in the subject and not employed by the institution (where possible, one of them from outside India). The scholar makes the corrections they suggest.
When both external examiners accept the thesis, the scholar defends it in a viva-voce. The board has the supervisor and at least one external examiner, and the viva can be held online. It is open to the RAC members, faculty, research scholars and students. If one examiner rejects the thesis, it goes to an alternate examiner; if that examiner also rejects it, the thesis is rejected.
The institution completes the whole evaluation and announces the viva result within 6 months of the thesis submission. A provisional certificate is issued, and an electronic copy of the thesis is sent to INFLIBNET (Shodhganga) before the award is announced. After this the Ph.D. degree is awarded.
The minimum duration is 3 years including the course work, and the maximum is 6 years from the date of admission. Up to 2 more years can be given by re-registration (8 years in all). Women scholars and persons with more than 40% disability can get 2 more years (10 years in all).
A Ph.D. can be done part-time if all the other conditions are met. The candidate must bring a No Objection Certificate from the employer saying that the work is permitted, the duties leave enough time for research, and the candidate will be relieved for the course work when needed.
As per the UGC regulations, a Ph.D. cannot be offered through distance or online mode. The course work and the research are done with the institution, under the supervisor and the Research Advisory Committee. The viva-voce alone may be conducted online.
Women scholars can get maternity leave or child care leave of up to 240 days during the whole Ph.D. period. A woman scholar who moves because of marriage can transfer the research data to another institution, if the other conditions are followed.
Institutions are not to offer the M.Phil. programme under the 2022 regulations. Candidates who already hold an M.Phil. with at least 55% marks can apply for the Ph.D.
Plagiarism means taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own. Research integrity is a part of every step of the Ph.D., and every thesis is checked with software before it is evaluated.
These points are a plain-language summary of the University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2022, published in the Gazette of India on 7 November 2022. The full text is on the UGC website, www.ugc.gov.in.
Based on the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2022. This page explains the general process; the details of the programme of a particular institution are announced by that institution. See www.ugc.gov.in for the full text.