Strict measures against AI and plagiarism in PhD theses; new UGC rules come into effect..

PhD Admission: PhD scholars will now need to exercise greater caution while conducting research and preparing their theses. In light of the rising use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its potential misuse in research activities, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued strict guidelines regarding the scrutiny of PhD theses and plagiarism. Under the new rules, if a scholar's thesis is found to contain plagiarism exceeding the prescribed limits, the thesis will not merely be returned; severe actions—such as a one-year ban or the cancellation of registration—could also be taken. Furthermore, the scholar's supervisor will also face scrutiny in such cases.

UGC’s Strict Stance Amid Rising AI Usage
The use of AI tools in research and academic writing has surged in recent years. Concerns have been raised in several instances regarding the improper use of AI in research work. Addressing this, the UGC has tightened regulations concerning thesis scrutiny to uphold the quality and originality of research. The UGC aims to ensure that PhD research is entirely original and free from plagiarism or the use of unauthorized material.

Thesis to be Returned if Plagiarism is Detected
According to UGC guidelines, if plagiarism ranging from 10% to 40% is detected in a PhD thesis, it will be returned for revision. In such cases, the scholar will be allowed to revise the thesis. The returned thesis must be corrected and resubmitted within six months. Failure to submit the revised thesis within the stipulated timeframe could jeopardize the further progress of the process.

One-Year Ban Imposed
If the scrutiny reveals plagiarism levels between 40% and 60%, the matter will be treated as more serious. In such a scenario, the scholar could be barred from submitting their thesis for one year, meaning they would be unable to advance their PhD process during that period.

**Registration Could Be Cancelled for Plagiarism**

Under the UGC's new regulations, the strictest action is prescribed for cases where a thesis contains more than 60% plagiarism. In such instances, the researcher's PhD registration could be cancelled—effectively terminating the entire research process and causing them to lose the opportunity to obtain the degree.

**Supervisors Also Held Accountable**
The UGC has clarified that the responsibility for ensuring the quality of research work lies not only with the researcher but also with their supervisor. If large-scale plagiarism is detected in a thesis or if such incidents recur, action may also be taken against the concerned supervisor.

**Supervisor's Recognition Could Be Revoked**
According to the rules, in serious cases, a supervisor may be barred from guiding new researchers. In some instances, they could be prohibited from supervising up to nine researchers. If the situation is deemed severe, their recognition as a supervisor could be revoked entirely.

**Mandatory Thesis Upload**
To enhance transparency in the PhD process, uploading the thesis to the 'Shodhganga' portal is being made mandatory. Patliputra University in Bihar has already implemented a new rule in this regard. The university administration has clarified that all researchers must upload their theses to the Shodhganga portal.

**Submission of PDF Copy Required**
According to a notification issued by Patliputra University, researchers must save the PDF file of their thesis on a pen drive and submit it—along with the application form—to the university's PhD cell within one week of their viva-voce examination. The notification regarding the award of the PhD will be issued only after this process is completed.

**Non-Compliance Means No PhD Degree**
The university has made it clear that if researchers fail to follow the prescribed procedure, the notification for the award of the PhD will not be issued. This will directly impact their degree, and they will not be able to obtain the PhD title. Emphasis on Enhancing Research Quality
The primary objective of the UGC's new guidelines is to uphold the quality, originality, and credibility of research work. Amid the rising use of AI, the Commission aims to ensure that researchers base their work on their own studies, analyses, and conclusions. With the implementation of these new rules, both PhD students and their supervisors will need to be more vigilant than ever regarding transparency and originality in their research.

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