Hyderabad: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has proposed the “One Nation-One Entrance” exam for PhD admissions in all state and central universities. This plan aims to create uniform standards across the country. However, many feel it’s not practical at the moment, especially due to opposition from students.
A senior official from the Telangana State Higher Education Department spoke to The Hans India and mentioned that Telangana is already following UGC rules to some extent. For example, students who qualify for the National Eligibility Test-JRF (NET-JRF) are given first preference for PhD admissions. Additionally, the national integration quota for students from Jammu and Kashmir, which was once 4-5%, has been increased to 20% in Telangana state universities. The state is also working to admit students from other states into various colleges.
One major issue is the language barrier. The UGC conducts NET-JRF exams in both English and Hindi. However, many students in Telugu states study in Telugu medium until their undergraduate courses and only switch to English for post-graduate studies. This puts them at a disadvantage compared to students who have studied in English or Hindi throughout.
Because of this, it makes more sense for the Telugu states to continue using State Entrance Tests (SET) or University-Level Entrance Tests (ULET) for PhD admissions. These local exams provide a more level playing field for students in the region. For now, a combination of UGC-JRF scholars and those passing SET/ULET seems to be a good approach, especially as education policies evolve under the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Another issue the UGC should focus on is “in-breeding” in state universities. This refers to the practice of hiring only local PhD holders, which can lower the quality of teaching and research. Central and national universities do a better job of maintaining standards by recruiting scholars from various regions.
When asked why PhD holders from states like Himachal Pradesh or Jammu and Kashmir are not being recruited in Telangana’s state universities, a professor from Osmania University explained that PhD holders with SET/ULET qualifications are rarely hired by central or national universities. However, private universities are starting to hire more candidates with these qualifications.
Furthermore, state universities are struggling with reduced financial support from the UGC, except through the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) scheme. This lack of funding is affecting their ability to improve intellectual capital, research, and innovation.
The NEP-2020 also highlights the need to decolonize education and strengthen ties between educational institutions and industries for innovation. However, there are still many challenges, such as issues with patenting and patent insurance, that need to be addressed by the government to fully benefit from the NEP-2020.
