In recent years, governments throughout the globe have begun to recognize the importance of highly skilled persons to the economic prosperity of their countries, leading to an increase in funding for higher education and research. A doctorate, often known as a doctorate degree or doctorate, is widely regarded as the greatest level of academic achievement possible. In keeping with this trend, during its 60th convocation event, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay conferred a record number of doctoral degrees. The maximum number of doctoral degrees, roughly 449, were granted on that historic day, a significant increase from the year 2011-2012's total of 181.

 

Explained | New regulations for awarding PhDs 

 

The plot so far: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has revised its policies for granting doctoral degrees significantly. Abolishing the Master of Philosophy degree (MPhil), reducing the number of required courses for a doctorate (PhD), and allowing students to register for a PhD after completing a four-year degree program are all significant changes that have been criticized as potentially lowering academic standards and creating barriers to access in higher education.

 

 The major changes.

 

University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree), 2022, was published in the Federal Register on November 7, 2022. Notably, it removed the requirement that candidates submit a research article for publication in a scholarly journal before receiving their degrees. As suggested by the National Education Policy 2020, this is being done with the outright elimination of the Master of Philosophy degree, which traditionally served as an entry point into PhD courses. After completing a four-year (or eight-semester) bachelor's degree program, or a three-year (or six-semester) bachelor's degree program, with at least 55% marks or its equivalent grade, a candidate may register for a one-year (or two-semester) master's degree program.

 

• There have been major revisions to the curriculum. Courses in research technique were formerly awarded at least four credits in the more thorough descriptions of the coursework applicants required to complete. Candidates were expected to complete this by the end of the first semester or at the beginning of the second. Those who had already earned their MPhil or were in the process of doing so were the only ones spared. Instead of being so prescriptive, the revised rules state simply that all PhD candidates "shall be required to train in teaching/ education/ pedagogy/ writing related to their chosen PhD subject." They may now be given a teaching or research assistantship for four to six hours a week, during which time they will be responsible for grading and facilitating tutorials or lab experiments.

 

•Professor and other experts have voiced concerns that the elimination of the Master of Philosophy degree, as well as the implementation of four-year BA programs and two-year MA programs with multiple exits, will have a disproportionately negative impact on economically disadvantaged groups. He continues by saying that certain students will benefit from a four-year Bachelor's program since they will be eligible to enroll in Master's programs in other countries without having to spend an additional year in school. UGC claims they are doing this to get a younger student demographic to participate in research.There are worries that the number of accessible research supervisors may decrease due to a lack of funding for doctoral students and a significant scarcity of professors.

 

•The awarding of doctorates, their appraisal, and required coursework were all left unregulated until the 2009 rules were announced. PhDs earned on the side were common as well. In 2016, regulations were tightened up and it became required to publish a work in scholarly publications with peer review. However, the recent regulatory adjustments return us to the pre-2009 period.