JNU announces massive seat-cut for MPhil, PhD courses

JNU announced massive reduction in student intake in MPhil and PhD courses and scrapped fresh admission in some departments for the upcoming academic session, inviting fresh protests by the student community. School of Social Sciences (SSS) has reduced 232 seats, followed by 141 by School of International Studies (SIS) and 73 by School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students raised concerns of reduction in seats after the university announced massive reduction in student intake in MPhil and PhD courses and scrapped fresh admission in some departments for the upcoming academic session, inviting fresh protests by the student community.

JNU announced massive reduction in student intake in MPhil and PhD courses and scrapped fresh admission in some departments for the upcoming academic session, inviting fresh protests by the student community.(MINT)

Democratic Students Federation (DSF) said that according to a draft prospectus, School of Social Sciences (SSS) has reduced 232 seats, followed by 141 by School of International Studies (SIS) and 73 by School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies.

The present strength of SSS is 330, that of SIS is 232 and School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies is 227, the DSF said.

“Only 98 students will be taken in SSS, 91 in SIS and SLL&CS will take 154 students in MPhil and PhD this year,” said Pratim Ghoshal, DSF secretary.

However, JNU registrar Pramod Kumar said that the number of seats available for admission in each department and under each faculty member has been calculated in accordance with UGC guidelines.

“As per UGC, a professor can have eight PhD students and 3 MPhil students. An associate professor can have 6 PhD students and 2 MPhil students, while for an assistant professor the numbers are 4 and 1,” he said.

Kumar also asserted that the rule has existed since 2010 and it wasn’t properly implemented. “We have only uploaded it to ensure it is properly followed,” he said.

DSF said they will undertake a signature campaign addressed to the Visitor of JNU, the President of India, to annul the forged minutes of the academic council meeting which has allowed for the adoption of the UGC gazette.

Former JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) president Sucheta De slammed the move and said, “Students may or may not be admitted in a year. According to this formula, students will have to be admitted so that the API (Academic Performance Index) criteria for teachers are fulfilled and there is no need to create vacancies for teachers now.”