State Universities In West Bengal To Continue Offering MPhil Programmes, Says Edu Minister Bratya Basu

Bengal education minister Bratya Basu has said that the state has its own policies with regard to MPhil courses in state universities and there is no reason to tinker with that.

State Universities To Continue Offering MPhil Programmes, Says Edu Minister Bratya Basu

Source : twitter.com/basu_bratya

West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu has said that the state will not follow the UGC directive to bar universities from admitting students in MPhil programmes for the 2023-24 academic year, news agency PTI reported. Notably, the response from the West Bengal minister comes following a recent circular by the University Grants Commission (UGC) on MPhil programmes. 

Earlier on December 27, UGC Secretary Manish Joshi said, “It has come to the notice of the UGC that a few universities are inviting fresh applications for MPhil (Master of Philosophy) programmes. In this regard, it is to bring to the notice that MPhil is not a recognised degree."

"Regulation number 14 of the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations, 2022 clearly states that higher educational institutions shall not offer an MPhil programme,” he was further reported as saying. 

Speaking on whether West Bengal will follow up UGC’s directives, Bratya Basu was reported saying to reporters on the sidelines of an event that, "We will not follow the diktat of UGC."

Underlining that the West Bengal Higher Education Department will follow the guidelines earlier framed by the expert committee of academics, Basu was further reported as saying that state universities in West Bengal shall continue offering MPhil courses. "The state has its own policies with regard to MPhil courses in state universities and there is no reason to tinker with that," Basu was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. 

Notably, the University Grants Commission recently issued a circular cautioning students to avoid taking admission in MPhil programmes, citing that the MPhil programme is no longer recognised in the country. Despite the previous cancellation of this course by the university body, some institutions continue to invite fresh applications for MPhil programs.

The UGC also directed universities to stop inviting admissions for MPhil programmes for the 2023-24 academic year. Higher educational institutions were instructed to cease offering MPhil programs.

(With inputs from PTI)