NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has barred OPJS University (Churu), Sunrise University (Alwar), and Singhania University (Jhunjhunu) from enrolling students in PhD programmes for five years (2025-26 to 2029-30) due to violations of academic norms and UGC PhD regulations. Immediate suspension of admissions at the three Rajasthan universities was ordered on Thursday.
The UGC, after reviewing compliance with guidelines such as entrance exam protocols, Research Advisory Committee (RAC) formation, and thesis evaluation standards, deemed their practices unsatisfactory.
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Thirty others are under the scanner.
UGC in its notice stated, “After analysing/ examining/ evaluating the information/ data submitted by the universities, the Standing Committee has found that three universities did not follow the provisions of the UGC PhD regulations and also the academic norms for the award of PhD degrees… the responses received from these universities were not found satisfactory.”
UGC chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar emphasised the importance of maintaining PhD programme integrity and revealed that more universities across India are under review. Violations may result in similar punitive actions to uphold the reputation of Indian higher education.
“Universities should be committed to maintaining the highest standards in PhD programmes. UGC will take appropriate action against institutions that fail to follow UGC’s PhD regulations. We are also in the process of checking the quality of PhD programmes in a few other universities. If they are found to violate the PhD regulations, action will be taken against them too. It is necessary to single out such erring institutions and prevent them from admitting PhD students. We should ensure that the integrity and global reputation of Indian higher education remain uncompromised,” said M Jagadesh Kumar, chairperson, UGC.
There are several parameters taken into account such as whether 70% weightage accorded to entrance score and 30% to interview, whether students are making presentation every semester to the RAC, quality of examiners post submission of the thesis and whether the feedback given by experts are included in the thesis, among others.
The UGC plans to evaluate universities in batches of 10 annually to ensure adherence to regulations, signalling its commitment to academic excellence and innovation. Institutions found violating norms are issued a show-cause notice, and punitive action follows if they fail to comply after appeals.
If the Standing Committee detects violations, the UGC issues show cause notice. The universities can appeal and the committee looks into it again. Even after that if it is established that norms are being violated, the committee recommends actions and once the commission approves the names of the higher education institutions are made public. “This is a message that universities need to adhere to the regulations in letter,” said Kumar as he advised students to verify university credentials before enrolment.
