The academic council of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has approved a series of significant reforms aimed at making the PhD admission process more accessible, transparent, and student-friendly. The meeting was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi.
Screening Test Introduced for PhD Admissions
One of the key proposals passed by the council allows university departments to conduct a screening test before interviews for PhD admissions, if required. Earlier, all eligible candidates could directly appear for interviews. Under the new system, departments will have the flexibility to shortlist candidates through a screening examination before the interview stage. Officials stated that the format and operational details of the screening test will be decided by a university-level committee, whose formation has also been approved by the council.
Combined Merit List for Main and Allied Subjects
Another major reform approved during the meeting provides for the preparation of a combined merit list of main subjects and allied subjects for PhD admissions. Candidates securing positions in the combined merit list will be granted admission to the concerned department, removing the earlier distinction between main and allied subjects. University authorities said this move is expected to simplify the admission process and improve transparency and student confidence.
Category-Wise Seat Information
The council also approved a proposal to provide category-wise seat information to candidates before admissions begin. Reserved seats will now be calculated on the basis of the total seats available across all units of a department, including the main campus, Women’s College, South Campus, and affiliated colleges. According to officials, candidates from reserved categories will then be allocated to respective units accordingly to ensure fairness and smooth implementation of reservation policies.
PhD Admissions Twice a Year
Furthermore, the council approved a proposal to conduct the PhD admission process twice every year. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Chaturvedi said the reforms would help attract talented students from across the country and ensure timely completion of admissions and academic schedules.
