According to the University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Jagadesh Kumar, students can now pursue a PhD directly after completing a four-year bachelor’s degree and obtaining 75% marks. Previously, candidates for the National Eligibility Test (NET) were required to hold a master’s degree with at least 55% marks.

“The candidates with four-year undergraduate degrees can now directly pursue PhD and appear for NET. Such candidates are allowed to appear in a subject in which they want to pursue a PhD irrespective of the discipline in which they have obtained the four-year bachelor’s degree,” Mr. Kumar stated.

“The candidates having passed a four-year or eight-semester bachelor’s degree programme should have a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed,” the UGC chairman clarified.

He further mentioned that a relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be granted for candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), differently-abled, economically weaker sections, and other specified categories, as per the UGC’s discretion.