University Grants Commission (UGC) Releases Notification To Scrap MPhil

The University Grants Commission has issued a notice warning students not to pursue an MPhil degree since it is no longer recognised. In addition, the commission has cautioned universities not to provide the programme, and applications for the 2023-24 academic year are barred. However, the MPhil degree awarded prior to the publication of new legislation in 2022 will be valid. 

UGC Notification on MPhil

• The University Grants Commission (UGC) announced that it has learned that not many universities are accepting new applications for the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree. 
• It went on to say that an MPhil degree is no longer a recognised degree. 
• The announcement stressed the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations 2022, which expressly forbids higher educational institutions from conducting MPhil programmes. 
• The UGC had already ruled the MPhil degree to be invalid, advising higher education institutions not to offer MPhil programmes.
• The notice also advises universities to take prompt action and cease accepting applications for the MPhil programme for the academic year 2023-24. 

What is Mphil?

• MPhil is an abbreviation for Master of Philosophy. 
• It is a two-year postgraduate academic research degree programme. 
• MPhil is very similar to PhD in that it is primarily a research-based programme.  

About the University Grants Commission(UGC)

• The University Grants Commission (UGC) was established on 28 December 1953 by the then Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. However, the UGC was formally established as a statutory body in November 1956 through an Act of Parliament to coordinate, determine and regulate the standards of university education in the country.
• UGC works under the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education.
• It also governs the recognition of forgeries, autonomous colleges, thought to be universities and distance learning institutes.
• The UGC has its headquarters located in New Delhi.
• The UGC has six regional offices:
  • Bengaluru
  • Bhopal
  • Guwahati
  • Hyderabad
  • Kolkata
  • Pune

Functions of UGC

• The University Grants Commission of India (UGC) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Education established by the Government of India.
• Under many initiatives, the University Grants Commission (UGC) provides financial aid to qualifying colleges in accordance with authorised assistance patterns.
• In September 1994, the University Grants Commission (UGC) created the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in Bangalore to assess the performance of the country's universities and colleges.