Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) made a big announcement on how it picks students for admission into Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs. Instead of conducting its usual entrance test JNUEE, JNU will now take into consideration the scores of the National Eligibility Test (NET) for PhD admissions, starting from the current academic year. This decision of JNU clearly aligns with the directives laid out by the University Grants Commission (UGC) as part of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
In a Public Notice dated March 27, 2024, the University Grants Commission stated clearly that universities can use the scores of the National Eligibility Test conducted by UGC and CSIR for PhD admissions instead of conducting their entrance exams. UGC withstands that using NET, a national-level test, will provide a fair and transparent evaluation of candidates’ academic aptitude, irrespective of their educational background or the institution they graduated from. Thus, following the UGC directives, Jawaharlal Nehru University will use NET scores instead of its own test for PhD admissions from the academic year 2024-25.
No doubt, the decision of Jawaharlal Nehru University has ignited discussions and concerns among students and the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU). The JNUSU has raised its concerns about the potential drawbacks of this decision, especially its impact on students who belong to marginalised communities. They are arguing that solely relying on scores of NET may disadvantage candidates who lack access to quality coaching and even resources necessary to pass in standardised tests. Also, some people worry that using only one entrance test might make all students seem the same when they apply for admission, overlooking the diverse strengths and backgrounds of applicants.
Following a protest by the JNUSU at the University Grants Commission Headquarters, the Joint Secretary of UGC met with the JNUSU office bearers to address their concerns. During the meeting, the JNUSU reiterated their worries about the potential consequences of replacing PhD entrance exams with NET scores and emphasised the associated risks for marginalising students.
In response, the UGC Joint Secretary assured that the raised concerns would be taken into consideration during an internal meeting. Additionally, it was clarified that universities maintain autonomy in conducting their entrance exams. This suggests that flexibility may exist in how institutions implement the UGC’s directives.
