Discontinuation of the MPhil program under the New Education Policy (NEP) has brought up doubts of Academicians and research scholars in numerous Delhi Universities. According to them, it will not just implicate the integrity of research at the Ph.D. level, but also, leave a question mark over the actuality of degrees of the researchers who are presently following the program.
The discontinuation of the M.Phil Program was announced under NEP by the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry on Wednesday. Now, the students will be permitted to pursue Ph.D. shortly after the completion of a four-year undergraduate degree with research or post-graduation.
As claimed by academicians, a stronger base for Ph.D. can be built by MPhil. An associate professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University’s (JNU) Centre for International Politics, Organization, and Disarmament, Moushumi Basu, stated that MPhil is very valuable in a research-based University like JNU. It furnishes research scholars with breathing space for comprehending abilities. Mostly, students of postgraduate programs are not given the chance to independently write. The bounce from term papers to thesis writing is huge as they generally have term papers. People are helped through MPhil in getting settled into the rigor of research. About 300 MPhil seats in numerous subjects are offered by JNU.
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CHANGES TO BE EXPECTED IN DELHI UNIVERSITY AS PER NEP 2020 (New Education Policy)
As said by an associate professor in the Department of Psychology in Jamia Millia Islamia, Sheema Aleem, many students pursue a Ph.D. without an MPhil. Whereas a Ph.D. with an MPhil makes a huge difference in expanding the knowledge for research. It enables students in understanding the research methodologies better. It acts as a stepping stone for the ones who want to pursue Ph.D.
As of now, the role of the first research-based degree is being played by MPhil. The hierarchy of postgraduate courses will be entirely changed by the Universities now. A research element will be added, at least for the ones who want to go after a Ph.D. in the future. Contrarily, the integrity of Ph.D. researches will be jeopardized in the country, as stated by Rekha Saxena, a professor at Delhi University’s Department of Political Science. Around 200 MPhil seats are offered by DU in different subjects.
SHASHI THAROOR QUESTIONED THE GOVERNMENT FOR NOT INTRODUCING NEP IN THE PARLIAMENT FIRST
According to, a final-year MPhil scholar at Ambedkar University, Kuldeep Singh, the number of job opportunities might get reduce by discontinuation of the program. Students like him who cannot afford to pursue courses continuously will also be affected.
The vice-chancellor of Ashoka University, Malabika Sarkar, said that MPhil is of no importance internationally. Ph.D. should be pursued after completing a master’s degree. Completion of a mini-thesis within five years of their under-graduation and post-graduation before pursuing a Ph.D. should be made mandatory for students.
