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Ph.D crisis in West Bengal, rest of India: How most UGC-NET scholars have no fellowship support
Ph.D crisis in West Bengal, rest of India: How most UGC-NET scholars have no fellowship support Premium
While the pool of students eligible and interested in pursuing a Ph.D continues to grow, national data reveal a stark mismatch between aspirations and institutional support. According to the most recent University Grants Commission (UGC) figures, over 1.28 lakh candidates qualified for Ph.D admission through UGC-NET 2025, marking a 14% increase from the previous year. Yet, only 5,269 candidates were awarded the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)—the primary source of full-time doctoral funding—amounting to barely 4% of qualified candidates. For the overwhelming majority, no assured funding exists, pushing them into financial uncertainty from the outset.
Data from the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2021–22 show that around 2.02 lakh students were enrolled in PhD programmes nationwide, accounting for roughly 0.5% of total higher education enrolment. While these numbers indicate growth compared to a decade ago, they also expose widening structural gaps. Scholars frequently point to the lack of clarity in Ph.D timelines and completion frameworks, which contributes to prolonged research periods and higher dropout rates.
In West Bengal, the funding deficit has emerged as a major factor weakening the Ph.D pipeline. Dr. Punarbasu Chaudhuri, Head of the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Calcutta, said the department has witnessed a sharp decline in Ph.D applications this year, resulting in low intake.
“The primary reason is the absence of fellowships, especially JRF support. Many NET-qualified candidates ask us about funding, but neither the University nor the department has the capacity to support them. It becomes extremely difficult for scholars to continue without it,” he said. Dr. Chaudhuri added that while Ph.D admission rules are currently under revision, students are still being admitted under older regulations.
For researchers, this funding gap remains the most significant barrier between aspiration and completion. Anuja Saha, a doctoral researcher in International Relations at Jadavpur University, described the financial hardships she faced during her PhD, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Enrolled in 2020, she was initially associated with a RUSA–MHRD-funded project that was discontinued at the onset of lockdown, leaving her without institutional funding.
Although she reapplied for a previously rejected State fellowship, she encountered months of delays, paperwork, and contradictory communication from officials. “My fellowship was approved, but it took several months, and even after that, the stipend was never paid on time. There was always a delay of three to four months,” Ms. Saha said. Now awaiting her thesis defence, she described the Ph.D journey as long and “quite a trapped one,” adding that even modest financial support serves as crucial motivation during extended research years.
Administrative delays further compound scholars' stress. A Ph.D scholar from the University of Calcutta's Reproductive Health Department, who requested anonymity, said she lost nearly two years of funded research time despite securing a JRF. “My JRF was approved in 2023, but my departmental interview was conducted only in September 2025,” she said. Without formal enrolment—which came through in October 2025—she received no stipend during that period. “Even after enrolment, stipends are routinely delayed by two to three months,” she added, describing laboratory conditions at the University as “horrible” and below acceptable research standards.
Scholars attribute these delays to outdated manual administrative systems and internal departmental dynamics. Some allege that a portion of their stipend is withheld by their Principal Investigator (PI). “Departmental politics are evident in how files move—some move faster than others,” said the Calcutta University scholar.
Several researchers have also expressed concern over the growing political influence within State universities. “In politically fragmented states like Bengal, informal alignments often shape academic outcomes,” Ms. Saha said.
Supervisory constraints add to the crisis. Faculty shortages, inadequate infrastructure, and delayed recruitment processes have led to extended research timelines and weakened academic output. Retirements often outpace new appointments, overburdening existing faculty, while numerous sanctioned posts remain vacant.
Compounding the problem, academic employment after a PhD is far from assured. State-aided positions offer low pay and limited benefits, while central university posts remain scarce. Many scholars, exhausted by prolonged uncertainty, abandon research midway and shift to corporate employment.
These challenges extend beyond individual hardship and demand urgent systemic reform. Doctoral research plays a critical role in national development and policy innovation. Addressing the crisis will require a steady flow of fellowships, increased funding, and more transparent, time-bound administrative processes. Without such reforms, pursuing a PhD risks becoming less a scholarly endeavour and more a test of financial endurance.
As India re-evaluates its education priorities, West Bengal's situation raises a deeper question: even if systemic issues are addressed, will young scholars still be willing to invest years in doctoral research amid academic uncertainty and limited job prospects, when alternative career paths promise greater stability?
Published - December 19, 2025 08:54 pm IST
education / West Bengal
Source: TheHindu
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