THE RESEARCH SEER'S RATIONALE

The 2022 UGC regulation

The 2022 UGC regulation is now the talk among the scholars and the supervisors, since it renders a comparatively quick and easy pass to Ph.D admission. This regulation has enacted a very great research transformation, as setting hands on to research, even after a rigorous study of four years, strictly demanded a Master’s degree of additional two years once!!! This boon came into effect because of the change in the curriculum and the credit framework, which are associated with the completion of U.G courses. By the introduction of the Four-Year Undergraduate Program (FYUP), the students are bestowed with multiple entry and exit into and out of U.G courses. enabling them to plan for a Diploma or a Bachelor’s degree with or without honours or research. Such options has influenced the years necessary to pursue a Master Degree, prior to Ph.D admission. As per the 2022 UGC regulation, one seeking Ph. D admission in any Indian universities or colleges has to make clear either one of the following queries.

1. Am I a 3-year bachelor’s degree holder with a 2-year master’s degree, while securing at least 55% of marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale, wherever grading system is followed?

2. Am I a 4-year bachelor’s degree holder with 1-year master’s degree, while securing at least 55% of marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale, wherever grading system is followed?

3. Am I a 4-year bachelor’s degree holder with at least 75% of marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale, wherever grading system is followed?

The first and the second queries demand a master’s degree from the scholars., However, the years to be spent on it highly depends on the years spent on their bachelor’s degree programme and the marks obtained. A scholar lacking a year of study from the FYUP needs a complete 2-year master’s programme in their research domain to make them eligible for pursuing the doctoral research. In contrast, a scholar with FYUP completion with less than 75% of marks, requires a one year of study in master’s programme to make them eligible for their research progression.  The third query might resemble the second. Yet, there is a difference!!! It is an indication that a scholar with 4-year bachelor’s degree and marks equal to or exceeding 75% is well-trained to be a researcher that they deny the need for a master’s programme before seeking Ph.D. admission.

2016 Vs 2022 UGC regulation

Both the UGC regulations 2016 and 2022 have been framed with the intention of creating productive research. Many thanks to the regulations for giving mutual importance to the candidates of SC/ST/OBC, Differently-Abled and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) by enabling a relaxation of 5% of marks or its equivalent grade in any category of the FYUP programme. Yet, the FYUP has caused the 2022 UGC regulation to provide an easy pass to the highly creative and devoted scholars to dwell in research, without having to spent time and money on the master’s degree. Moreover, a new research idea can be executed at an appropriate time to some extent, without having to wait and make the idea outdated!!!

Ways to enhance research

Attaining a master’s degree in a specific research domain is never the goal of UGC’s minimum standard for Ph.D. admission. The objective is to allow the candidates to prepare themselves for achieving their best in their research tenure. So, what can be the ways of enhancing research done by a bachelor’s degree holder. The first way is to show importance on the quality of research being made. Attending coursework and seminars, which are relevant to research, at frequent times can certainly end up in quality research. The second way is to undergo comprehensive exams at regular intervals. In countries like the United States, a series of comprehensive exams are conducted for the Ph.D. scholars before thesis submission, in order to assess their potential of performing quality research.  A similar approach is most welcome to enhance research, rather than to produce an unworthy research outcome.

Hence, The Research Seer’s Rationale on the minimum standards for Ph.D. admissions is:

“Boost Research, Even Being a Bachelor’s Degree Holder”