JNU to Reintroduce In-House PhD Entrance Exams After UGC NET Cancellation

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is considering bringing back its own entrance exams for PhD admissions after the UGC NET exam was cancelled due to integrity concerns. The JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) announced that Vice Chancellor Santishree D Pandit decided on July 3, 2024, to explore this option.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) had been conducting the exams, but issues raised by students and teachers led to this reconsideration. The decision aligns with demands from JNUTA following the UGC NET cancellation.

In a statement, JNUTA said: “It welcomes the decisions taken in the meeting of the Vice Chancellor and Deans of Schools on 3 July 2024, as well as to refer the matter to the faculty of Schools/Centres for their opinions.”

Over the last year, teachers and students highlighted the problems with the NTA-led examination. Students and teachers have been demanding that the university reassume the responsibility of conducting the entrance examination.

On June 19, the Centre cancelled the exam crucial for entry-level teaching jobs and PhD admissions in universities, following inputs from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that “the integrity of the examination may have been compromised”.