Research, higher studies gaining popularity among Indians

New Delhi: The pursuit of research and higher studies is finding favour among Indians as an increasing number of students are enrolling for Doctorate programmes, the government said.

"The trend of number of students pursuing research (MPhil and PhD combined) during the last three years in the country is increasing," Minister of state in Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry D Purandeswari said.

She said that the UGC had reported that 95,872 students were pursuing research in 2009-09 following which the number increased to 1,17,999 in 2009-10.

The number had further increased to 1,37,668 in 2010-11, Purandeswari said.

In response to another question, the minister said that it was estimated that the number of children who remained out of school had also come down.

A study commissioned by MHRD through Social and Rural Research Institute has estimated that the number of children out of school in the age group 6-13 has come down from 1.35 crore in 2005 to 81.5 lakhs, she said. 

NET exam: UGC extends dates for registration

New Delhi: In view of the last minute rush for registration for NET exam this June and slowdown of server, UGC has extended the last date for online registration as well as submission of hard copies till early May.

"UGC has extended the last date up to May 2, 2012 for online submission and up to May 9, 2012 for the submission of hard copies at the centres," said an UGC statement.

The last date for online registration was to end today. As many as 3,79,000 candidates had successfully registered online till 5 pm.

"However, due to last minute rush, the UGC site seems to have slowed down causing some difficulties to the prospective candidates," the statement said.

The exam is scheduled for June 24.

UGC officials said the server was now functioning fine, and the current registration rate is about 1000 candidates per hour.

UGC has already posted the information about the extension of the dates on its website. 

Calcutta university VC criticises UGC funding pattern

Kolkata: Accusing the UGC of being biased against state-run varsities, VC of Calcutta University Suranjan Das criticised it for splurging money on central universities.

“Universitys finance reflects the national scenario where the UGCs financial commitment for state universities remains grossly inadequate. It is a matter of deep regret that about 65 per cent of the UGC fund is spent for central universities,” Das said during the universitys convocation ceremony.

“If India has to move forward this centrist bias in the funding pattern of the UGC needs to be urgently rectified,” he said pointing out that his universitys finances remain primarily dependent on the state governments assistance.

In 2010-11, the University of Calcutta received Rs 230.41 crore from the West Bengal government as maintenance grant while the UGC sanctioned a development grant of Rs 29.12 crore.

Quoting UGCs latest available annual report of 2009-10, Das said while the 23 old central universities received a sum of Rs 776.42 crore, 107 eligible state universities were allotted only Rs 172.16 crore from the UGC.

Besides, the central universities received a non-plan maintenance grant of Rs 2669.72 crore, whereas the state universities are not entitled to receive any UGC grant under this head, Das said.