Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV) in Indore concluded its PhD admission cycle on Sunday with a disappointing response that fell far below university expectations across most subjects. The final day for registrations passed with application numbers remaining significantly low, creating concerns about potential seat reductions during the allocation process.
Engineering Programs Face Severe Shortfall
In the DET (Doctoral Entrance Test) segment, which encompasses 13 engineering disciplines, the situation appeared particularly bleak. University records indicate that only approximately 80 candidates registered for these programs despite the availability of more than 150 seats.
The affected engineering subjects include pharmacy, computer engineering, information technology, mechanical engineering, applied physics, and applied mathematics. Among these, pharmacy is projected to have the highest number of available seats, while the newly introduced data science program attracted the lowest interest from prospective candidates.
Non-Engineering Subjects Show Similar Trend
The non-DET category, which includes 24 subjects where candidates with NET qualifications from December 2024 or June 2025 can apply without a written examination, mirrored the engineering stream's poor performance. Despite nearly 600 seats being available across these disciplines, only around 290 registrations were recorded by the Sunday deadline.
This category includes diverse subjects such as physics, chemistry, life science, journalism, law, English literature, economics, education, and psychology. Qualified candidates in this segment will now face interviews before the Research Advisory Committee starting January 1, 2025.
Guide Registrations Compound the Problem
Compounding the admission challenges, the university is currently compiling an updated list of PhD guides, which directly influences seat availability. Engineering subjects received only 27 guide registrations this year, a sharp decline from the 44 registrations recorded last year.
The non-DET category also saw a significant drop in guide participation, with approximately 120 guides registering compared to 177 in the previous cycle. Dr. Ashesh Tiwari, Chairman of the PhD cell, expressed concern that inadequate guide registrations may force the university to cut available seats if more faculty members do not complete the necessary formalities soon.
With the admission deadline now concluded, university officials indicated that any potential extension would be brief if considered at all. Faculty members have advised applicants who have registered to begin preparing for interviews immediately, noting that competition in several subjects is expected to remain firm despite the overall lower turnout.
