The UGC’s official notification emphasizes that the MPhil degree is not recognized. Regulation No. 14 of the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations 2022 clearly states that Higher Educational Institutions shall not offer MPhil programs.

The UGC has framed the University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of PhD Degree) Regulations 2022, published in the Gazette of India on November 7, 2022.

The notification urges universities to take immediate steps to halt admissions to the MPhil program for the 2023-24 academic year.

Implications for Students:

Students are warned against seeking admission to the MPhil program, as the degree is no longer recognized.

Those pursuing research and higher education are advised to consider alternative academic pathways in line with the revised regulations.

The discontinuation of the MPhil degree reflects adherence to the NEP 2020 and a restructuring of academic programs. Students and educational institutions are urged to align with the updated regulations, and universities are directed to cease admissions to the MPhil program in the current academic year.

This move by the UGC underscores the ongoing reforms in India’s higher education landscape, aiming to enhance the quality and relevance of academic programs.