Students urge YS Parmar University VC for PhD admission on MSc merit

Solan, June 10

Students seeking admission to PhD in Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, have requested Vice-Chancellor Parwinder Kaushal to consider the merit of MSc for the purpose, as was done last year during the pandemic. The university authorities, however, have decided to give PhD admissions on the basis of the Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR) Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) examination.

The aspiring students, who have represented their case before the VC, say that if they opt for the ICAR-SRF exam, they will be left with little time to prepare for the national-level exam.

They say CSK HP Agriculture University, Palampur, is admitting PhD students on the basis of the merit this year. Students Puja, Monika, Shivani and others contend that they have already proved their merit by qualifying the BSc and MSc entrance exams of the university and their past performances should be considered for admission to PhD, now. The VC says that both options of admitting PhD students on merit as well as on the basis of the ICAR-SRF exam are open. The scores obtained in the ICAR-SRF exam can be taken into account while the university’s own merit criteria can be considered to admit students. “The university has to seek accreditation with the ICAR, which also ranks universities nationally, hence its directions have to be followed. This is also mandated in the National Education Policy,” he adds. — TNS