Latest news with #JNUEE
Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
JNU to conduct entrance exam for two PhD courses not covered under UGC-NET, check details
Jul 02, 2025 03:25 PM IST Jawaharlal Nehru University will conduct its own entrance exam - JNUEE - for admissions in PhD courses for Korean Studies and Cinema Studies, which are not covered under the UGC-NET, while admissions for all other doctoral degree courses will be based on NET scores. Jawaharlal Nehru University will conduct the JNUEE for admissions in PhD courses for Korean Studies and Cinema Studies that are not covered by UGC NET. (HT file) According to university sources, the decision to hold JNUEE for these two programmes was taken by the respective schools. "All the deans have accepted and signed the process. This decision is their own, not of the vice chancellor or the administration," said a source, adding that the university's structure is decentralised and democratic. The administration noted that exams like NET-JRF and CUET are more inclusive and widely accessible. "Earlier, JNUEE was held at about 80 centres, while NET-JRF is now conducted at over 200 and CUET at around 500," an official said, highlighting that JNU's publication record is increasing by 5 per cent annually. However, JNUSU President Nitish Kumar told PTI, "This is because there are no NET subjects for these two programmes. That is why the administration has to conduct entrance exam for these two subjects." Meanwhile, the JNU Students' Union continues its indefinite hunger strike for the fifth day, demanding the reinstatement of JNUEE for all PhD programmes. A scheduled meeting with the vice chancellor on Tuesday was postponed without further notice. The protest began last Thursday after the release of the PhD admission schedule for the academic year 2025-26.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Amid financial constraints, JNU to hold its entrance exam only for two PhD courses
Only two PhD programmes at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) — in Cinema Studies and Korean Studies — will admit students through the Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Examination (JNUEE) in the 2025–26 academic session. Even as some schools were in favour of JNU conducting its entrance exam, financial constraints emerged as a challenge, The Indian Express has learnt. 'It was communicated to us that it is financially not viable to conduct our in-house examination. The deans then agreed to proceed with going through the UGC-NET mode. This happened in a meeting a few months ago,' Prof Parul Dave Mukherji, Dean of the School of Arts and Aesthetics (SAA), told The Indian Express. Last July, a meeting was held under the chairpersonship of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, where it was conveyed that no financial assistance would be forthcoming from central bodies for JNU to hold its entrance exam. Deans and chairpersons were then asked to consult faculty members and submit proposals, detailing their position on the in-house exam. However, both the School of Arts and Aesthetics (SAA) and the School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies (SLL&CS) had written to JNU seeking a return to the JNUEE model. In a letter dated July 9, 2024, SAA's former dean, Urmimala Sarkar Munsi, argued that the NET-JRF and MCQ format were 'not suited' to the kind of research required in fields like Visual Studies and Cinema Studies. The letter acknowledged financial limitations but proposed collaboration with the administration to work out an affordable model. 'We can discuss it further to ensure the best possible solution…,' it read. Likewise, a Chairperson's meeting at SLL&CS on July 22, 2024, saw a consensus in favour of JNUEE. 'The faculty members are of the opinion that JNU should conduct its entrance exams for all programmes of study… Such a step will help generate funds,' the minutes of the meeting stated. They also suggested that while academics could endorse the entrance model, financial modalities would need to be evaluated by the competent authority. When contacted, Prof Shobha Sivasankaran, Dean of SLL&CS, did not respond to calls or messages. JNU previously conducted JNUEE for all its programmes. However, with the rollout of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and in line with the National Education Policy (NEP), it shifted to relying on UGC-NET scores for PhD admissions. Last year, the university had even formed a committee to explore the feasibility of reinstating JNUEE for certain disciplines not covered under UGC-NET — such as Korean Language, Arts and Aesthetics, and Labour Studies. The push for JNUEE began after UGC-NET was cancelled over paper leak allegations, prompting the Vice-Chancellor to express openness to stakeholder consultations on restoring JNUEE. The JNU Students' Union (JNUSU), in a letter dated June 28, welcomed the idea of dialogue but challenged the university's cost estimates for JNUEE. Signed by President Nitish Kumar, Vice-President Manisha, and General Secretary Munteha Fatima, the letter stated: 'Most Deans and Chairpersons have supported the reinstatement of JNUEE.' It also questioned the ₹5,000 per student figure cited by the Dean of Students and demanded a joint meeting with 'all relevant officers' and representatives from the JNU Teachers' Association (JNUTA). In her reply, Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit wrote:'It is your organisation, JNUSU, and your responsibility to be inclusive whether they agree or not. It is a democratic practice to be inclusive.' She agreed to a stakeholder meeting but said if JNUTA members are included, the JNU Teachers' Federation (JNUTF) along with all 4 members of the students union must also be invited to ensure balanced representation. The JNUSU has since been on a hunger strike — now in its fifth day — demanding reinstatement of JNUEE among other issues. Asked why the ABVP's Joint Secretary Vaibhav Meena had not joined the protest, JNUSU President Nitish Kumar said, 'The Joint Secretary is in favour of doing admissions through the NTA.' ' JNUEE is subjective and is not inclusive. The questions that emerge in the examination are also very biased. This is why the ABVP is not for the inhouse NET is comparatively more inclusive and we noticed a lot more diversity in students coming into the campus. ' said an ABVP source. This is not the first time ideological divides have emerged within the union. A similar split occurred in 2015, when ABVP won a seat in the four-member panel, leading to tensions over collective decision-making.
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
JNU brings back in-house entrance test for 2 centres
New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has reinstated its in-house entrance exam, JNUEE, for its two academic programmes; Korean Studies Programme under School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies (SLL&CS) and Cinema Studies Programme under School of Arts and Aesthetics (SAA). "All Deans have accepted this process and it is signed by them. It is their decision and not VC and her administration's. We are decentralised and democratic. PhD seats are already oversubscribed and 90% Master's (PG) seats are filled in the first round. We have very good response from students from all states and sections of society," official sources said. "JNU Administration is conducting JNUEE for 2 Centres as per the wishes of their Deans and Chairpersons. Administration is open to all options for admitting students. We respect the decisions taken by the Faculty, Centre Chairpersons and Deans," You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Highlighting the shift to national-level entrance exams, the source said, "JNUEE could previously be conducted in around 80 centres and NET-JRF exam (200+ centres) and CUET is being conducted in nearly 500 centres." Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
JNU admin, students spar over meeting invites as hunger strike completes day 4
By Vishu Adhana New Delhi [India], June 30 (ANI): The JNU administration and Students' Union (JNUSU) are at loggerheads over the stakeholders' meeting invite list, even as the students' indefinite hunger strike completes its fourth day on Monday. The protest is set to enter its fifth day on Tuesday. The student body has requested that all stakeholders meet over the demand to reinstate the JNU Entrance Examination (JNUEE) for PhD admissions, as well as a rollback of the university's decision to bar June 2025 UGC-NET aspirants. Vice Chancellor Santishree D. Pandit, in a letter to the students, said the meeting-- originally scheduled for July 1-- stands postponed as several stakeholders would only be available after July 2. While agreeing to an all-stakeholders meeting, she insisted that if JNUTA (JNU Teachers' Association) is invited, then equal representation must be given to JNUTF (JNU Teachers' Federation) as well, since there are 'two teachers' bodies.' 'It is your organisation, JNUSU, and your responsibility to be inclusive. If you want JNUTA, then I will have to invite JNUTF too,' she wrote. This triggered sharp opposition from JNUSU, which accused the administration of selectively legitimising JNUTF--a teachers' group the union describes as aligned with the RSS--while sidelining recognised academic bodies. 'JNUTA is the recognised teachers' union and a permanent invitee to the Academic Council. JNUTF is just an organisation,' the union said in a letter sent Monday evening. Reacting to the development, JNUSU President Nitish Kumar told ANI, 'The administration wants to involve JNUTF, which is an RSS-linked teachers' body. We have asked for an all-stakeholders meeting, and from the teachers' end, JNUTA already represents them. Why especially include JNUTF?' He added that the strike will continue until all demands are met. The union further claimed that the administration's insistence on inviting the Joint Secretary of JNUSU, who has not participated in the JNUEE movement, appears to be an attempt to delay dialogue and cater to 'certain political interests.' 'This deadlock is being deliberately prolonged to avoid addressing the legitimate concerns of the students,' the JNUSU office bearers--Nitish Kumar (President), Manisha (Vice-President), and Munteha Fatima (General Secretary)--wrote. They reiterated their four key demands: reinstatement of the JNU Entrance Examination (JNUEE), rollback of CUET/NET-based admissions, university-led conduct of JNUEE with logistical and financial support, and filling of vacant seats along with resolution of academic delays. The union also reminded the administration that three weeks ago, it had shared the results of a student referendum that overwhelmingly supported the return of JNUEE, but received no response. 'The student community is deeply concerned that these tactics are part of a larger effort to delegitimise JNUSU and weaken the students' movement. However, students remain resolute in their demand for justice and transparency,' the union said. (ANI)
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
JNU students' union launches hunger strike over PhD admission norms, demands bringing back in-house test
Written by Sharmistha Shivhare The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) and the administration are locked in a tussle over PhD admissions. On June 26, the union launched an indefinite hunger strike demanding the reinstatement of the JNU Entrance Examination (JNUEE) for PhD admissions. It has also called for a rollback of the decision to bar those who took the UGC-NET (University Grants Commission–National Eligibility Test) in June from applying. According to the PhD prospectus for the 2025–26 academic session, released earlier this month, only candidates who qualified for the UGC-NET in June 2024 or December 2024 will be considered for admission — effectively excluding those who appeared for the June 2025 exam. The JNUSU claimed the move unfairly disqualifies a large section of prospective applicants, particularly those from the 2023 MA batch. 'Many students had been preparing with the assumption that the June 2025 NET would be valid. The administration made this decision without informing anyone in advance,' said JNUSU Vice-President Manisha. 'Those part of the hunger strike have experienced a drop in blood sugar levels. I've lost 2.5 kg myself. But we won't budge until our demands are heard,' she added. The administration, as per the students, has justified the PhD admission norms by citing a delay in the academic calendar. In 2024, PhD classes began in January instead of July, and the new prospectus notes that the timeline for this year's admissions has been adjusted to bring the calendar back on track. However, students argued that this explanation fails to justify the lack of prior communication. In a written response to the JNUSU, Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit has stated that the administration last year had asked all deans and chairpersons to consider conducting the JNUEE, but none agreed to take responsibility for organising it. She added that many academic units instead preferred using the NET or CUET (Common University Entrance Test). The V-C further said that data presented by the Director of Admissions showed CUET to be more inclusive and accessible, particularly for students from reserved categories. The JNUSU, however, contended that this undermines democratic access to education, especially for students from marginalised backgrounds. On May 24, the union held a campus-wide referendum on reinstating JNUEE, in which 93% of those who voted supported its return, it said. Despite repeated requests, the union claimed the V-C has refused to meet elected representatives unless all central panel office bearers — along with the Joint Secretary from the ABVP — are present. Students have also raised three other demands: -Stop the eviction of PhD scholars from hostels before their thesis submission. -Revoke all ongoing proctorial inquiries against students. -Increase the MCM (Merit-cum-Means) scholarship to Rs 5,000 and abolish the 'Rationalising Committee' reportedly reviewing scholarship norms. So far, a total of eight students have joined the hunger strike near the Administrative Block, including Manish, Nitish Kumar (JNUSU President), and student councillors Antariksha and Krishnapriya. (Sharmistha Shivhare is an intern with The Indian Express)
