The University Grants Commission (UGC) has given additional six months to research scholars to submit MPhiI and PhD thesis (dissertation). The last date for submission of his dissertation has been extended to June 30, 2021 by MPhil and PhD students. A notice has been issued in this regard on the official website of UGC, ugc.ac.in.

Earlier, in the month of April, the UGC issued a guideline on the examination and academic calendar for universities in view of the Covid-19 epidemic and nationwide lockdown. MPhil and PhD students, who were to submit their dissertations by 30 June 2020, were given a six-month extension. Now releasing the latest notice on its official website, the UGC has said that due to the corona virus epidemic, universities have been closed for the past several months. Therefore, students are not able to conduct their research / experiments in the laboratory. In addition, students are also unable to use library services.

The notice further states that in view of all these subjects and in view of the interest of research scholars, Terminal MPhil / PhD students, who were required to submit their thesis by 31 December 2020, for six months (30 June 2021 Up to), may be provided by universities. The UGC has also stated that the tenure of MPhil or PhD fellowship will be for five years. It has also given an extension of six months to present evidence of publication and presentation in two conferences.

Significantly, a high-level review meeting was also held on 26 November 2020 under the chairmanship of Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ on various schemes and programs of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. In which Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal directed the UGC to ensure all scholarships, distribute fellowship on time and to start a helpline for the same. The Education Minister also directed the UGC to immediately redress the various grievances of all the students.