Questions Raised Over PhD Offered By Private Universities in State

Concerns Raised Over PhD Admissions at Private Universities in Gujarat

Ahmedabad: 

Reports have surfaced suggesting that several private universities in Gujarat are admitting PhD candidates without proper screening or academic evaluation. Some institutions have been accused of selling doctoral degrees, while others are alleged to be granting PhDs inappropriately, raising serious concerns about the quality and credibility of doctoral education in the state.

According to UGC regulations, universities must follow a structured admission process that includes mandatory entrance examinations, followed by additional stages such as group discussions or interviews. Candidates with an MPhil degree may be exempted from entrance tests, and universities are required to follow reservation norms while admitting students. The UGC also regularly monitors these processes to ensure institutions comply with national guidelines.

A recent investigation by the UGC uncovered multiple violations in the PhD admission procedures of three private universities in Rajasthan. These irregularities were severe enough for the Commission to order the termination of their PhD programmes. As a result, the UGC has imposed a five-year ban preventing these institutions from offering PhD courses.

The universities penalized include:

OPJS University, Churu, Rajasthan

Sunrise University, Alwar, Rajasthan

Singhania University, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan