Ph.D. Regulations

1. Eligibility Criteria for Admission

• A 1-year/2-semester master's degree after a 4-year/8-semester bachelor's degree, or a 2-year/4-semester master's degree after a 3-year bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, with at least 55% marks in aggregate (or equivalent grade).
• Candidates seeking admission directly after a 4-year/8-semester bachelor's degree must have a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate (or equivalent grade).
• Candidates who have completed an M.Phil. programme with at least 55% marks are also eligible.
• A relaxation of 5% marks (or equivalent grade) applies to SC/ST/OBC/Differently-Abled/EWS and other categories as per applicable norms.

Faculty-wise minimum qualification (with at least 55% marks):

2. Duration & Milestones

A maximum of 2 additional years may be granted through re-registration with proper justification by the candidate and Research Supervisor (full-time total not exceeding 8 years). Female Ph.D. scholars may be granted maternity / childcare leave as per MRV norms.

Indicative milestones:

3. Selection & Admission

• Admission is through a two-stage process: an entrance examination followed by an interview, conducted at MRV.
• The entrance examination comprises 50% Current Affairs & Research Methodology and 50% subject-specific content.
• Candidates securing at least 50% marks in the entrance test are eligible for the interview.
• Candidates qualifying UGC-NET / UGC-CSIR NET / GATE / CEED and similar national-level tests are exempted from the entrance examination (interview-based).
• A relaxation of 5% marks is allowed in the entrance examination for SC/ST/OBC/Differently-Abled/EWS and other categories.
• Applications, results and research proposals are reviewed by an MRV-constituted committee that recommends admission in an eligible discipline.

4. Coursework Requirements

Scholars undertake coursework for at least one semester, with a minimum of 12 credits across the following courses:

• The 12-credit coursework must be completed within 12–18 months of registration; certificates are submitted to the Controller of Examinations (COE).
• Scholars must secure a minimum of 55% marks (or equivalent grade on the UGC 10-point scale) to continue in the programme and submit the thesis.
• All scholars shall train in teaching / pedagogy / writing; 4–6 hours per week of teaching / research assistantship may be assigned.

5. Research Supervisor Norms

Maximum number of Ph.D. scholars permissible per supervisor at any given time (including national and international scholars):

• All regular Professors, Associate Professors and Assistant Professors at MRV holding a PhD/MCh are eligible, with the approval of the Board of Studies.
• Each supervisor may additionally guide up to 2 international research scholars on a supernumerary basis.
• Professors in PG departments without a doctoral degree may be recognised if they have 10 years' teaching experience (5 years PG) and at least 4 indexed publications.
• Change of supervisor is normally not permitted; in exceptional cases it requires an NOC from the current supervisor and due committee approval.
• Faculty with less than 3 years before superannuation shall not take new scholars; they may continue existing scholars and act as co-supervisor up to age 70.
• Adjunct faculty may act only as co-supervisors. Co-supervisors may also be drawn from industry and R&D organisations for interdisciplinary work.

6. Research Advisory Committee & Progress

• An RAC is formed for each scholar, comprising the Head of Department/Institution, the Guide (Convenor), Co-Guide(s) and one or two external experts.
• The RAC evaluates and approves the research proposal and reviews progress periodically (preferably every six months); each semester the scholar presents a progress report.
• If progress is unsatisfactory, the RAC records reasons and suggests corrective measures; persistent failure may lead to cancellation of registration.
• The RAC evaluates the pre-submission synopsis and approves the final thesis for submission to MRV.

Research Degree Committee (RDC) review milestones — the scholar's progress is reviewed across eight stages on an indicative six-monthly cadence:

At each stage the committee records its remarks and the scholar submits the corresponding deliverable (acceptance, revised synopsis, progress reports, manuscript drafts, thesis chapters, and the final corrected thesis with plagiarism report).

7. Publication Requirements

Before submitting the dissertation/thesis for adjudication, a Ph.D. scholar must:

• Publish at least two original research papers as first author in National or International SCOPUS / Web of Science indexed journals; and
• Make at least two paper presentations as presenting author at National / International conferences or seminars.
• Produce evidence in the form of presentation certificates and/or reprints.

8. Thesis Evaluation & Viva-Voce

• A synopsis presentation is made before the RAC (open to faculty and scholars), and the final summary—signed by the supervisor and co-supervisor(s)—is submitted to the COE through the Dean at least 3 months before the final thesis.
• The scholar submits three hard copies and a soft copy of the thesis, along with No Due certificates from the HoD, Head of Institution, Librarian and Finance Officer.
• The thesis is evaluated by at least two external examiners (one chosen from outside India wherever possible).
• The viva-voce board consists of the Research Supervisor and at least one external examiner; it is an open defence and may be conducted online.
• The entire evaluation, including declaration of the viva-voce result, is completed within six (6) months of thesis submission.

9. Plagiarism & Research Integrity

• A plagiarism check certificate of the final thesis, endorsed by the supervisor and co-supervisor, is submitted with the thesis.
• The similarity percentage shall not exceed 10%, as determined by plagiarism detection software (preferably iThenticate or equivalent).
• All sourced literature, images, figures and other intellectual property must be duly cited and acknowledged.

Governed by the UGC (Promotion of Academic Integrity and Prevention of Plagiarism in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2018.

10. Compliance & Non-Compliance

To stay in good standing and progress to the award of the degree, scholars must meet the following compliance requirements. Failure to comply carries the consequences listed against each.

A thesis rejected by the alternate external examiner renders the scholar ineligible for the award of the Ph.D. degree (see Section 8).

11. Other Provisions

• Ph.D. is permitted through part-time mode, subject to a No Objection Certificate from the candidate's employer.
• A provisional certificate is issued prior to the actual award of the degree.
• An electronic copy of the thesis is submitted to INFLIBNET for hosting before the award is announced.
• Regulations of statutory bodies (NMC, DCI, PCI, etc.) are considered and implemented as applicable to the respective faculties.

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