PHD entrance online & diluted

The University Grants Commission (UGC),in 2009,had made it a must for all universities to conduct PET (PHD entrance test) for admissions to PhD courses

The University Grants Commission (UGC),in 2009,had made it a must for all universities to conduct PET (PHD entrance test) for admissions to PhD courses. The UoP introduced PET in 2010 and in PET 2011 only two foreign students cleared the exam. In 2012,PET was not held conducted and there were no international students.

This year the PET will be held in October/November so that more number of students can apply. We have decided to conduct it online and so students can give the exams from anywhere. We will use an anti-cheating software, said Khare.

On the decreasing number of international students for PHD,Khare said,Most of the universities in the country do not conduct PET for international students. We have even received letters from various countries asking for waiving PET. Still we are conducting it so that only meritorious students can apply, he said.

The UoP move to cut down the number of papers for the test to one has also drawn criticism. From this year,there will only a 100-mark paper comprising English proficiency and general awareness. Officials said this will further dilute the quality of the varsity.

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