CAG Report Exposes Prolonged PhD Delays at Osmania University
A recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has uncovered significant delays in PhD completions at Osmania University in Hyderabad. The audit revealed that it took up to 30 years for 10 students to finish their Doctor of Philosophy degrees, highlighting systemic issues in the university's research programs.
Staggering Statistics on PhD Timelines
According to the report, which was tabled in the assembly on Monday, only 1,222 out of 2,887 scholars completed their PhDs within the stipulated timeline during the 2017–18 to 2022 period. This means that a staggering 57% of students took longer than the allowed time, with completions ranging from seven to 30 years.
Breakdown of Delays:
- 10 students took between 26 and 30 years to complete their PhDs.
- 25 students required 21 to 25 years.
- 86 scholars finished in 16 to 20 years.
- 369 candidates took 11 to 15 years.
These figures starkly contrast with university guidelines, which mandate a four-year tenure for full-time research scholars, extendable by a maximum of two years. For part-time scholars, the tenure is five years, extendable by up to one year.
University Response and One-Time Relaxation
In response to the findings, the government stated in February 2024 that the university had addressed scholars' representations by holding a meeting on January 5, 2022, with deans of all faculties. The resolution extended the last date for PhD submission under a 'one-time changes' policy, citing the Telangana agitation and the COVID-19 pandemic as key factors.
OU Vice-Chancellor Kumar M emphasized that this one-time relaxation was a primary reason why many students who had previously failed to meet deadlines were eventually able to complete their degrees. He noted, "It was a policy decision taken back then. We are now streamlining the process. In the future, we won't see these issues cropping up. In fact, we have already closed the opportunity for the 2017–18 batch to complete their PhDs."
Concerns Over Non-Serious Candidates
University officials pointed out that when the relaxation was introduced in 2022, it was exploited by non-serious candidates. They estimated that hardly 10% of these students might have had genuine reasons for not completing their PhDs on time, raising questions about the effectiveness of such policies in maintaining academic rigor.
This report underscores broader challenges in higher education, including administrative bottlenecks and external disruptions, while calling for stricter adherence to timelines to ensure the quality and credibility of doctoral programs in India.
