Govt rubbishes speculation regarding Phd seats row in JNU

New Delhi: Government today dismissed speculation regarding reduction of seats for research students in JNU as Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar said that under the new provision of the UGC, seats will be increased and quality improved. Replying to a Supplementary during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Javadekar said the government was committed for quality of higher education and UGC has been regularly issuing directions in this regard.

For admission to M Phil and Phd courses there is a provision for entrance examination. Moreover, the ratio between the research scholar and guide has also been changed and this would help in improving the quality of higher education, he said. The Minister said in JNU, there use to be one guide for 25 research scholars. This resulted in students not getting adequate guidelines.

On the other hand about 350 teachers' posts were lying vacant out of them around 200 were of those reserved for SCs and STs. Replying to another question, the Minister said in 2015-16, 24,171 students received P hd degrees, while in 2014-15, 21,830 and in 2013-14 the number of students who received the degree were 23,861. (UNI)