Department of Guru Nanak Sikh Studies

P.U. Ph.D. Guidelines reproduced as under :  

“Panjab University shall conduct entrance examination as a qualifying examination for admission to Ph.D. once a year in the month of July (With exemption of test to categories mentioned in 5.1(i) to 5.1(ix)). However, to facilitate admission of candidates before the expiry of the validity of entrance examination/JRF offer letter, the application for admission to Ph.D. shall be accepted throughout the year. All accepted applications shall be processed (as per 5.1(ix)) for admission in three cycles in a year (i.e., in the months of January, May and September). However, in case of research fellows employed under any state/central/international research projects, their applications for admission to Ph.D. shall be processed throughout the year provided they fulfill eligibility guidelines given in 5.1(ix)). In each admission cycle, afresh merit list shall be prepared. Panjab University before initiating process of admission in each admission cycle shall :-

5.2.1. decide through the Academic and Administrative committees of the respective Departments and approved research centres a predetermined and manageable number Ph.D. scholars to be admitted during each admission cycle. The number decided by Academic and Administrative committees shall be depending on the number of available Research Supervisors and other academic and physical facilities available, keeping in mind the norms regarding the scholar- teacher ratio (as indicated in Clause 6), laboratory, library and such other facilities;

5.2.2. notify well in advance on the institutional website/through advertisement at least in two (2) national newspapers, of which at least one (1) shall be in the regional language, the number of seats for admission, subject/discipline-wise distribution of available seats, criteria for admission, procedure for admission, examination centre(s) where entrance test(s) shall be conducted and all other relevant information for the benefit of the candidates;

5.2.3. adhere to the National/State-level reservation policy, as applicable taking cumulative number of seats in each admission cycle during over a period of one year.

a) Every department would have to specify, well in advance, for printing in Ph.D Prospectus/posting on institutional website/printing in newspapers the number of seats for Ph.D. students for each admission cycle, irrespective of the fact whether the Ph.D. Entrance Test for that department/subject is to be held or not in the month of July.

b) The reservation of seats of SC/ST/BC/PWD candidates will be department-wise and L-shaped roster would be followed, i.e., if the number of seats in a given admission cycle is less than 7, then the reservation will be given in the next admission cycle when the 7th seat (counting seats of both the admission cycles) becomes available. Similarly, if cumulative number of seats in first two cycles is less than 7, then the reservation will be given in third cycle when 7th seat (counting seats of all three admission cycles) becomes available. At the end of year (i.e., all three cycles), if number of seats is less than 7, then the reservation will be given in the next year when the 7th seat (counting seats of last three and 1st cycle of the current years) becomes available.  

c) The specialisation within the subject for giving reservation will be decided by the department. Reservation policy is to be followed for Ph.D. students working as Project Fellows in various projects also. Every Project In-charge / Principal Investigator would be enjoined upon to ensure that n project fellow recruited under him/her is from the reserved category enlisted for reservation at the nth position, e.g. every 7th project fellow is for SC category and so on.

d) The registration of Ph.D. students should be thrice a year (during January, May and September cycles) except in those departments where there is fixed number of seats advertised on annual basis.

e)  The registration shall be done in the months of January, May, and September.

2.  It has been observed that the JAAC of the department are sending the extension of the students beyond Rule 4.5 of the P.U.Ph.D. Guidelines.  So all the chairpersons/faculty member should adhere to the point 4 of the P.U. Ph.D. guidelines which is reproduced as under :

4.1.  Ph.D. Programme shall be for a minimum duration of three (3) years, including course work, and a maximum duration of six (6) years from the date of admission to the Ph.D. programme.

4.2.  A candidate need not seek any extension for submission of thesis upto 6 years from the date of registration. After 6 years, a maximum of two years extension be granted while giving the justification. Extension may be granted by the Dean of University Instruction on the recommendation of the Chairperson and the concerned Supervisor. A fee of Rs. 35,000/- per year shall be levied from such candidates. It is clarified that however, this fee will not be charged from the women candidates and from the persons with disability (more than 40% disability).

4.3.   The women candidates and Persons with Disability (more than 40% disability) may be allowed a relaxation of two years for Ph.D. in the maximum duration of eight years. However, they will be charged a fee of Rs. 35,000/- per year for this extension (beyond 8 years).

4.4  The women candidates may be provided Maternity Leave/Child Care Leave in the entire duration of Ph.D. for up to 240 days. These 240 days shall be inclusive of the maximum stipulated period as defined in clause (4.3).

4.5. If a candidate fails to submit the thesis in 8 (men)/10 (women or Persons with Disability) years (stipulated period) as per the above-mentioned clauses (4.2 & 4.3); his/her registration will automatically stand cancelled.

The link of the P.U.Ph.D. Guidelines are given below for your information.  All the chairpersons are requested to follow these guidelines strictly.