Nagpur University (NU) has found itself in a regulatory vacuum regarding its doctoral programmes following the recent withdrawal of its existing PhD norms. The university currently operates without specific directives governing new admissions and procedures for its highest academic degree.
University Proceeds with Caution, Sets Deadline
Vice-Chancellor Manali Kshirsagar has clarified the situation, stating that a new and comprehensive set of PhD regulations has been drafted and submitted for review to the university's Board of Deans. Speaking about the process, Kshirsagar emphasized a cautious approach to avoid past pitfalls.
The university is meticulously reviewing every provision. Once the draft is finalized, the VC will personally examine it before it proceeds to the Academic Council for final approval. "This will take some time, but we do not want to rush and face problems again," she stated.
Kshirsagar indicated that while the process might extend over several days, the delay is justified to ensure correctness. She set an internal deadline of December 31 to resolve this and other pending academic matters.
Assurances for Current Scholars, But Concerns Linger
Addressing the worries of research scholars already enrolled in the programme, the Vice-Chancellor offered reassurance. She confirmed that students admitted under the previous norms will continue their work under those same provisions. Submission guidelines, which have always adhered to University Grants Commission (UGC) standards, will remain unchanged for them.
However, a significant lack of clarity persists regarding the current governing framework. Senate member Manmohan Bajpai, who initially raised objections leading to the withdrawal, highlighted a critical gap. The withdrawal notification fails to specify which rules now apply to ongoing PhD programmes.
"Ideally, when an old direction is repealed, a new one should be implemented simultaneously," Bajpai pointed out. He added that in the absence of a new notification, the old one might technically revive if it is not older than six months.
Senate Meeting to Address Unanswered Questions
Bajpai further noted that the university's silence on whether any overarching ordinance currently applies to PhD programmes adds to the confusion. This ambiguity leaves numerous questions unanswered for both research scholars and their guides.
Bajpai plans to raise these pressing issues at the adjourned Senate meeting scheduled for Saturday. He also intends to highlight persistent problems faced by students during the ongoing winter examinations, a situation he expected would be resolved by now.
The university administration, while aiming for a thorough and error-free new policy, now navigates a period of uncertainty that affects the planning of future scholars and the academic operations of its doctoral departments.
