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Indian Express
a day ago
- General
- Indian Express
Over 1400 professors holding M. Phil degree exempted from NET
Over 1,400 professors across Maharashtra, who are M. Phil degree holders, have been exempted from the National Eligibility Test (NET) as per the relaxation extended by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2022. On Tuesday, the state higher and technical education department issued a government resolution, which came attached with the list of 1,421 professors, who will benefit from the relaxation from the NET qualification, a mandatory criterion for all professors. While all of them are already working professors in various state universities, they will now be eligible for career advancement schemes with this exemption. All these professors are those who were appointed between 1994 and 2009 based on their qualification. A senior professor explained, 'After UGC introduced clearing NET as mandatory qualification for appointment of professors, many who were already appointed based on older qualification criteria were allowed to continue if they fulfilled certain conditions. One of them was if they have an M. Phil degree, such professors were allowed to continue despite having NET qualification. This resolution too was brought after a lengthy struggle by professors affected by the changes. And finally, a blanket order was issued in September 2022 that all such professors who are appointed based on M. Phil degree between specified years will be exempted from the NET. But Maharashtra took the longest time to implement it.' According to information shared by Bombay University and College Teachers Union (BUCTU), the state government insisted on individualised orders for such professors, despite having a blanket order from UGC. 'This process took a really long time as UGC asked the state to provide a list of names of professors who should be exempted. Now, finally, the GR includes a total 1,421 names of professors who are exempted from the NET qualification,' said a BUCTU member.
The Print
a day ago
- Politics
- The Print
KIIT to blame for suicides of Nepalese students, says UGC; orders academic audit
Looking into the suicides, a UGC fact-finding committee led by Professor Nageshwar Rao has submitted the report, concluding that the university's conduct amounted to criminal liability. 'Instead of punishment, they (university) favoured the boy by pushing [for] forced illegal compromise with the girl. Later on, this led to suicide. The suicide case could have been averted. Members of the committee and senior administrative personnel of the university are liable for criminal punishment as per law,' the report has said. The consecutive suicides of two Nepalese students rocked the KIIT campus this year—third-year engineering student Prakriti Lamsal on 16 February and first-year BTech student Prisha Shah on 1 May. New Delhi: A fact-finding report by the University Grants Commission (UGC) has squarely blamed the May suicide of a Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) student, Prisha Shah, on the 'unlawful' actions of the university. The UGC has also called for criminal proceedings against the university administration as well as Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) members involved in handling a sexual harassment case brought to the fore by KIIT student Prakriti Lamsal, who died by suicide earlier in February this year. Following the first suicide, that of Lamsal, Nepalese students protested against the university. However, the university responded to the protests with force, coercing students off the KIIT campus after issuing a 'sine die' closure notice, with no future date fixed for the withdrawal of the notice. Security guards allegedly 'manhandled' the protesting Nepalese students, escalating the crisis into a Nepal-India diplomatic issue. The UGC report, now submitted to the Ministry of Education, investigated the circumstances leading to the suicides of the Nepalese students. It has highlighted grave lapses in crisis management, student welfare, and institutional governance at KIIT, held the university leadership accountable for the suicides, and recommended sweeping reforms. Speaking to ThePrint, a KIIT spokesperson said, 'KIIT-DU (KIIT Deemed to be University) is currently reviewing the contents of the report and analysing it thoroughly in its entirety. As a responsible institution, the university will take necessary steps to implement the recommendations in a time-bound and appropriate manner, in keeping with the highest standards of academic and administrative governance.' Also Read: 'No one can touch me'—Harassment charge against Krishna Kalpit shakes Hindi literary world KIIT's systemic failures The UGC fact-finding panel has stated that the KIIT administration 'needs to learn a lot,' considering its handling of Prakriti Lamsal's sexual harassment complaints preceding her suicide. 'This unlawful action of the university led to the suicide later on,' said the report. Weeks before her suicide, Lamsal had twice reported serious allegations of sexual harassment against her peer, Advik Srivastava. The report has further noted that the failure to address her allegations contributed to the second suicide of Prisha Shah, another Nepalese student at the university. The report has found the university-constituted ICC to have failed in its duty of taking lawful action and conducting transparent investigations into the reported sexual harassment case. Instead, the university had chosen an 'illegal compromise' to settle the two complaints raised by Lamsal in the case, the report has stated, adding that the administration 'prioritised the reputation of the university over regulations, law of the land, and international relations of the country'. The report has also criticised KIIT administration's use of 'brute force' against students protesting Lamsal's death while opting not to engage in dialogue. Calling the issuance of the sine die closure notice that forced Nepalese students out of their hostel 'casual decision-making,' the report noted its adverse impact on India-Nepal bilateral relations. The report also highlighted the gaps in the induction of Nepalese students, noting a lack of institutional protocols for orientation, cultural integration, or crisis support. It has highlighted poor hostel conditions, 'substandard' facilities, and Nepalese and Indian students housed in one room, without any consideration for their cultural sensitivities. The UGC has also flagged a disproportionate student intake relative to available infrastructure. 'The existing hostels, classrooms, and welfare services are inadequate to accommodate the real intake,' its report stated. KIIT's actions & what UGC says The UGC report has not only included the 'action taken report' submitted by KIIT but also the subsequent recommendations by the fact-finding commission. KIIT has maintained that it improved its grievance resolution mechanism, constituted a special grievance redressal committee for international students, and implemented a multi-tiered mental health support system, including partnerships with the Ministry of Education's 'Manodarpan' initiative and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's 'Tele-MANAS' programme. The university has also claimed to have introduced 'strict forensic handling protocols' and mandated 'immediate forensic intervention and evidence preservation'. Furthermore, it has created specialised kitchen zones for international students to get culturally inclusive food. However, the university has failed to satisfy the committee, which noted in its report, 'The reforms appear largely theoretical, lacking timely and practical implementation.' The UGC has ordered an academic audit, calling the 30,000-student population 'excessive' compared to the existing infrastructure. It has called for a formal orientation for international students, the installation of lifts in the multi-story hostels, larger rooms for students, and culturally sensitive housing arrangements. The fact-finding team has also recommended replacing the ceiling fans on the campus with wall-mounted fans, emphasising the need for transparency in handling crises such as suicides. This report has been updated with the KIIT spokesperson's response. (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: Sexual harassment, suicide & gangrape—Odisha's 1st BJP CM battles fallout from rising crime, 'inaction'
News18
2 days ago
- Health
- News18
Student Suicides 7.6% Of All Suicide Cases Across India In 2022: Minister
In 2022, student suicides made up 7.6% of all suicide cases in India, a slight decrease from 8.0% in 2021 and 8.2% in 2020, as per data shared in the Lok Sabha. Student suicides accounted for 7.6 percent of all suicide cases reported in India in 2022. This marks a small drop from 8.0 percent in 2021 and 8.2 percent in 2020, according to official data shared in the Lok Sabha. Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar shared the figures while responding to a written question in Parliament. The data is from the Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) report published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The minister said that the government is taking several steps to address student mental health, including offering psychological support to students, teachers and families. The Ministry of Education's Manodarpan initiative has provided counselling and live interactive sessions to lakhs of students through dedicated helplines. The District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), run by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is active in 767 districts and offers suicide prevention services along with life skills training in schools and colleges. To tackle rising substance abuse among students, the Centre has also increased its focus on anti-drug campaigns alongside mental health awareness. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked colleges and universities to focus on student well-being by promoting sports, physical fitness, emotional health and overall student welfare. Institutes such as IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, and IIT Guwahati have started organising workshops on stress management and resilience as part of the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme, the minister added. Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar also informed that the Ministry of Education is working on a draft legislation to set up the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) — a single regulatory body proposed to oversee the entire higher education sector. In a written reply, the minister said the move is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which calls for a 'light but tight" regulatory system to enhance transparency, efficiency and accountability while encouraging institutional autonomy, innovation and good governance. At present, non-technical education is regulated by the University Grants Commission (UGC), technical education falls under the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and teacher education is overseen by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). The idea of merging these functions under one umbrella body was first proposed in a 2018 draft bill that also recommended repealing the UGC Act. The draft was later opened for public feedback. view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 13:46 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
UGC show cause notice to KIIT over Nepal student suicides
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a show cause notice to KIIT, Bhubaneswar, over the suicide cases of two Nepalese students that occurred on the campus on February 16 and May 1, this year. Raising "serious concerns" regarding the mental health support system, safety protocols and administrative response mechanisms at the institution, the UGC has sought a reply within a week. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Design Thinking Public Policy Product Management Artificial Intelligence MBA others Technology CXO Project Management Data Science Finance Management Data Analytics Healthcare MCA Leadership Cybersecurity PGDM Others Data Science Digital Marketing Degree healthcare Operations Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 22 Weeks IIM Indore CERT-IIMI DTAI Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 25 Weeks IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK PCP DTIM Async India Starts on undefined Get Details The July 21 notice has cited the UGC Fact-Finding Committee report which identified "critical lapses that contributed to the escalation of events". The UGC also said that failure to respond would entail warning and a public notice barring expansion/diversification to new courses or programmes of study or departments and establishment of off campuses or off-shore campuses for three years or as recommended by the enquiry committee.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
IGNOU begins PhD admissions for 2025 at ignou-phd.samarth.edu.in: Apply online by this date, check direct link here
The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has begun accepting applications for its Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes for the 2025 academic session. Interested applicants can submit their forms through the official admission portal — — by October 31, 2025. This admission cycle covers PhD programmes across 24 subject areas such as English, Hindi, Commerce, Education, Management, Public Administration, Political Science, Law, Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences, and several others. A comprehensive list of disciplines, eligibility requirements, and admission guidelines is available in the official prospectus issued by the university. This nationwide admission drive provides aspiring researchers an opportunity to pursue advanced academic work through a structured and recognised doctoral framework. How to apply for IGNOU PhD 2025 Follow these steps to complete your application process successfully: Step 1: Visit Step 2: Click on "New Registration" (or login if already registered). Step 3: Fill in your academic, personal, and research-related information. Step 4: Upload scanned copies of the required documents. Step 5: Pay the application fee through the online payment gateway. Step 6: Submit the form and download the confirmation page for future reference. Direct link to register for IGNOU PhD 2025 is here. If you're a registered user, click here to apply. Key dates for IGNOU PhD 2025 Here are the key details that candidates should take note of before applying: Event Date Start of applications July 19, 2025 Last date to apply October 31, 2025 Entrance exam date January 5, 2026 (Sunday), 2 PM to 5 PM Who can apply for IGNOU PhD 2025? Candidates must hold a Master's degree in the relevant subject area with a minimum of 55% marks. Relaxation is provided for reserved categories (50% for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer/Persons with Disabilities). Even those who have already cleared University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) or Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) must take the IGNOU PhD entrance test. Selection process for IGNOU PhD 2025 Admission to the PhD programme will be based on a two-stage process: Entrance exam: A three-hour test consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) conducted at designated centres across the country. Interview/Viva-Voce: Candidates who clear the entrance test will be shortlisted and invited for an interview round conducted by the concerned discipline-specific research committees. Application fees for IGNOU PhD 2025 Check the application fee structure based on your category below: • General Category: ₹1,000 • SC/ST Candidates: ₹800 Note: Before applying, candidates are advised to carefully read the PhD Information Brochure available on the portal. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
