UGC warns universities against 'outsourcing' PhDs

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all universities to ensure that research supervisors for MPhil and PhD students are allocated from regular faculty members and the services are not outsourced.
"It has come to the notice of the UGC that some universities are hiring the services of the supervisors who do not happen to be regular teachers of those universities or their affiliated PG colleges or institutes for awarding MPhil and PhD degrees.
"This practice is in violation of the UGC (minimum standards and procedure for awarding MPhil/PhD) Regulations, 2009," UGC secretary Jaspal Sandhu said in a communication to Vice Chancellors.

The varsities have also been warned that any violation of the regulations will have serious consequences.
The letter also clarifies that any PhD or MPhil degree awarded by a university under the supervision of a supervisor who is not a faculty member of the university or its affiliated colleges would be in violation of UGC regulations.
"Any violation in this regard will be viewed seriously by UGC," it said.