New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), the top ranked university in the general stream category NIRF 2016, is a dream destination for students for higher study due to its reputation, quality of education and affordability. JNU has notified that the university will effect a change in the structure of PhD Entrance Test for admission session 2017-18. The university said that the changes in PhD entrance test are done in line with the UGC’s new MPhill/PhD regulations.
JNU stated that there will be a three-stage examination pattern in JNU Entrance Examinations for PhD admission for various programmes offered by the university for the academic year 2017-18. These parts are given: Part A- Preliminary Test (OMR Type), Part B- Descriptive type Written Test (Subject Specific), Part C – Viva-Voca. The university has uploaded the clarification note on the changes in MPhill/PhD admission procedure on its official website.
Part-A will be preliminary in nature. The preliminary paper will consist of two sections: Research Methodology (50%) and Domain Knowledge (50%) in the respective subjects/programmes. The questions will be OMR type. JNU informed that the preliminary test will be qualifying in nature. General category candidates will require 50% marks to move to next round of selection (Part B and Part C). OBC candidates will get 10% relaxation over qualifying marks (i.e. 45% marks of total marks of preliminary test). Meanwhile, SC/ST/PwD candidates will get 30% relaxation over qualifying marks (i.e. 35% marks of total marks of preliminary test).
The weightage of marks in Part B (Descriptive type Written Test) will be 80% and Part C (Viva-Voca) will be 20%. The final merit list will be prepared based on the performance in Part B and Part C with other prescribed norms of the university.
The university clarified that if a candidate does not secure the minimum prescribed percentage of marks in the preliminary examination, his/her papers in Part B and Part C will not be evaluated. Hence, such candidates will be ineligible for the subsequent stages of Entrance Test.
JNU has also clarified that the university will adhere to national level reservation policy as the government rules. The intake capacity in MPhill/PhD programmes will be calculated as per the UGC MPhill/PhD admission norms.
JNU is yet to officially release admission notification for its various programmes (UG, PG, PhD, etc.) for the academic year 2017-18. The admission notification is expected to be released this week. More clarity on the PhD Entrance Test will surface once the Admission Prospectus is released.
As per the Annual Report 2015-16 of the university, there were a total number of 8,432 students in JNU as on 31 March 2016. Out of which, research students (MPhil, PhD/MTech, PhD/Direct PhD) represent the largest group with a total number 5,219, which was 62%. The university awarded PhD degree to 601 students, MPhil degree to 555 candidates and graduate degree to 241 students during 2015-16.
