PG admissions: Ranchi University and DSPMU differ on academic score calculation

RANCHI: Ranchi University and Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University (DSPMU) are following different methods to calculate academic scores for PhD admissions, despite operating under a common selection framework, according to a newspaper report.

Both universities allocate 70 per cent weightage to the academic or qualifying score and 30 per cent to the interview. However, the criteria used to determine the academic score differ between the two institutions, raising questions about uniformity in the admission process.

At Ranchi University, the 70-point academic component is based on marks obtained in the research qualifying examination. DSPMU, meanwhile, calculates academic points using candidates’ marks from matriculation to postgraduate level, along with qualifications such as the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), National Eligibility Test (NET) and PhD-related credentials, the report said.

Different admission schedules at the two universities

Ranchi University is conducting PhD admissions for 331 seats across 29 subjects. The interview process is scheduled for October 22 to 24, and preparations have reportedly been completed, with external experts arriving in Ranchi.

The university is not charging candidates an interview fee, according to the report. External experts invited for the process are eligible for an honorarium of Rs. 5,000 per day.

DSPMU, on the other hand, is conducting admissions for 48 seats across 16 subjects. It is calling candidates for interviews based on its admission criteria, with three candidates to be considered for each seat.

The application deadline at DSPMU is October 25. Candidates are required to pay an application fee of Rs. 600. Interview dates will be announced after the applications have been scrutinised, the report said.

UGC framework and the question of uniformity

The University Grants Commission’s 2022 regulations provide for a selection framework in which the entrance test carries 70 per cent weightage and the interview or viva voce accounts for the remaining 30 per cent.

For candidates qualifying through specified NET categories, including those covered under the relevant provisions for PhD admission, the NET score may be used for the 70 per cent component, with the interview carrying 30 per cent weightage.

The newspaper report highlights the difference between the two universities in translating academic qualifications and examination results into the academic component of the selection score.

Although the institutions are located close to each other, their methods of calculating academic points are not identical. The difference could affect how candidates are assessed, making clarity on the applicable admission criteria important.

Push for common university rules

The report also notes that Lok Bhavan has intervened on several occasions to promote uniformity in university rules and syllabuses.

Following such intervention, a common PhD entrance examination fee of Rs. 2,000 was reportedly fixed across universities, replacing the earlier practice of different institutions charging different amounts.

The differences in academic score calculation at Ranchi University and DSPMU underline the need for transparent admission criteria and clear communication with candidates.

The detailed admission notifications and applicable UGC provisions should be consulted to establish the precise basis on which each university calculates academic points and applies the 70:30 selection formula.