New Delhi:   Doctoral Degree, popularly known as PhD, is one of the highest research degrees practiced in the higher learning system. In India, 69,862 PhDs have been awarded during three year period (from 2013-14 to 2015-16) by various Universities/ Colleges/ Institutions in the country as per The All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) of Ministry of Human Resource Development. AISHE data is available up to 2015-16.

The Minister of State (HRD), Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey inform this today (09 Feb 2017) in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha question. He said that the University Grants Commission (UGC), as per the UGC Act 1956, is responsible for promotion and co-ordination of University education, determination and maintenance of standards of teaching, examination and research in Universities.

In order to maintain the quality of Research and to avoid sub-standard research degrees, UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for the award of M.Phil/Ph.D Degree) Regulations, 2016 have been notified. The UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for the award of MPhil/PhD Degree) Regulations, 2016, inter-alia, lay down detailed eligibility criteria for admission into MPhil/PhD programme, duration of such programme, procedure of admission, allocation of research supervisor, course work requirement, setting up of Research Advisory Committee, etc. to provide a facilitative environment for carrying out quality academic research in Higher Education.