Row over derecognition of MPhil course as state varsities admit students despite UGC axe

University of Madras in Tamil Nadu and Gulbarga University in Karnataka are among the institutions that have admitted students to the MPhil course this year even though higher education regulator UGC has derecognised the programme

Basant Kumar Mohanty, TT,  New Delhi, 28.12.23 : Some universities run by state governments have not accepted the National Education Policy’s suggestion to discontinue MPhil degrees.

University of Madras in Tamil Nadu and Gulbarga University in Karnataka are among the institutions that have admitted students to the MPhil course this year even though higher education regulator UGC has derecognised the programme.

The commission on Tuesday issued a notification to reiterate the derecognition of the MPhil course. It asked students not to take admission to any MPhil course.

Experts criticised the Union government for enforcing the NEP without adequate consultations with states and without any discussion in Parliament.

“It has come to the notice of the UGC that a few Universities are inviting fresh applications for M.Phil. (Master of Philosophy) programme. In this regard, it is to bring to the notice that the M.Phil. degree is not a recognised degree,” said the notification issued by Manish R. Joshi, the UGC secretary.

The notice referred to the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations 2022 which bar higher educational institutions from offering the MPhil programme.

“The universities’ authorities, therefore, are requested to take immediate steps to stop admissions to M.Phil. programme for the 2023-24 academic year. Further, students are advised not to take admission in M.Phil. programme,” said the notification.

Former UGC secretary R.K. Chauhan and Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary of the State Platform for Common School System-Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN), which is spearheading a movement for school education reforms, said many states were not accepting the recommendations of the NEP, which were not adequately discussed with them.

“India is a federal country. All the previous education policies were thoroughly discussed with the states and also in Parliament. But the NEP enforced in 2020 was not adequately discussed with the states. It was not discussed in Parliament either. Hence, the tussle between states and the Centre,” Chauhan said.

He said that during discussions, the central government usually accepts some ideas keeping in view the concerns of the states. However, the NEP was prepared by a panel after which it was approved by the cabinet.

Babu said the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments had already set up committees to prepare their own state education policies.

“The Union government wants to push through its policy instead of addressing the aspirations of states,” he said.

Babu said one school of thought is that MPhil is unnecessary as far as the required qualifications for jobs are concerned. But others believe that MPhil provides a training ground for higher research programmes like PhD.