Stricter PhD Admission Rules in Bihar: Only NET-Qualified Candidates Eligible

According to directives issued by Deepak Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary to the Governor of Bihar, a candidate will be considered eligible for the PhD admission cycle of the same year in which they qualify for the NET (National Eligibility Test).

Admission rules for PhD programs in Bihar’s universities are set to become stricter. To maintain research quality and curb irregularities in the admission process, the Raj Bhavan has instructed all state universities to conduct admissions strictly in accordance with the provisions of the new PhD Ordinance and PhD Regulations 2026. Additionally, universities have been directed to expedite long-pending PhD admission processes and ensure that future procedures are completed within a set timeframe. The directive issued to Vice-Chancellors by Deepak Kumar Singh also clarifies the eligibility criteria regarding the NET for PhD admissions; under the new system, a candidate is deemed eligible for the PhD admission cycle of the specific year in which they pass the NET.

For instance, if a candidate qualifies for the NET in 2024, they will be eligible for the 2024 PhD admission cycle. Similarly, in subsequent years, the eligibility of NET-qualified candidates will be determined based on the admission cycle of the respective year. However, the specific eligibility criteria and weightage associated with the NET will be determined solely by the provisions outlined in the PhD Regulations 2026. In other words, merely passing the NET will not suffice; adherence to the new admission rules will also be mandatory.

Pending Admissions for 2024, 2025, and 2026 to be Completed

The Raj Bhavan has instructed universities to issue notifications for the pending PhD admission cycles of 2024, 2025, and 2026 as soon as possible. The objective is to clear the existing backlog and streamline the PhD admission process. The guidelines explicitly state that there should be no unnecessary delays in future PhD admissions; therefore, the entire process—from application to final admission—must be completed within a stipulated timeframe.

No more than one-third of seats to be filled in a single admission cycle

New limits have also been set regarding the number of PhD seats. To ensure research quality and the availability of adequate research facilities for students, admissions in any single PhD cycle cannot exceed one-third of the available vacant seats. However, permission is granted to fill up to a maximum of two-thirds of the total vacant seats by the 2026-27 academic year. Before proceeding with admissions, universities must verify the availability of sufficient research supervisors, research facilities, and necessary resources in the respective subject, in accordance with the regulations.

Research topics to be made public

Under the new system, universities are required to publicly disclose details of ongoing research work on their websites. This will include information on which university is conducting research on specific subjects and topics. The objective is to prevent the duplication of research on the same topic. Additionally, information regarding research guides must be made available online; universities must specify which professors or associate professors are supervising research in particular subjects, as well as the number of researchers registered under them and the specific topics being researched. Furthermore, the directives from the Raj Bhavan mandate strict adherence to the PhD Regulations 2026. Provisions have also been made for taking action against officials in the event of rule violations or irregularities in the admission process.