The University Grants Commission (UGC) is launching the PhD Excellence Citation to promote excellence in research and identify outstanding PhD work across Indian universities. This initiative aims to foster a strong research ecosystem by recognizing young scholars whose theses demonstrate originality, innovation, and societal relevance.
To ensure fair selection, universities will establish screening committees to shortlist candidates, while UGC will form selection committees consisting of experts from top institutions across India. The committees will evaluate research based on several key parameters, including:
- Originality and Innovation: The thesis must present new ideas or innovative solutions to significant research problems.
- Research Methodology: High-quality research design, execution, and analysis will be emphasized.
- Clarity and Structure: The thesis should be well-organized and coherent in its presentation.
- Presentation: The use of visuals, such as figures and tables, will be assessed for quality and clarity.
- Thesis Defense: The scholar’s ability to defend their research during viva voce or oral examinations will be considered.
Five major academic streams will be eligible for the citation: Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Social Sciences, Indian Languages, and Commerce and Management.
The UGC also encourages universities to seek external funding from government and private sources to support PhD scholars and enhance research standards. Institutions accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and recognized under the UGC Act will be eligible to nominate candidates for the citation.
This initiative aims to improve the overall quality of research in Indian higher education and recognize scholars who make meaningful contributions to their fields.
