Soon, graduates can apply for direct PhDs in IIMs
What's the story
In what might be a hugely beneficial move for students, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) is expected to give the nod to IIMs allowing them to admit graduates directly into PhD programs, like IITs are allowed to do.
Many of the 20 highly esteemed IIMs had raised the concerns regarding this with the government, and a decision is expected in their favor.
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IIM-Bangalore Director explains their demand
"We have sent a proposal to the HRD ministry to allow direct admission of students to the PhD programme after completing their four-year graduation or their CA/ICAI/CS, apart from those having a Masters," IIM-Bangalore Director G Raghuram told the Hindustan Times.
Consideration
The HRD ministry is considering the IIMs' proposal
A senior HRD official who spoke to HT about the issue said that the IIMs' concerns had been observed, taking into consideration PhD programs offered to graduates directly by some IITs which, like IIMs, are institutes of national eminence.
Notably, under the IIM Act 2017, IIMs have also been allowed to award "degrees, diplomas, and other academic distinctions or titles".
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Such candidates are already allowed as fellows, says Raghuram
"We already admit such candidates to our fellow programs, but are not able to grant them a PhD degree. Now that the IIM Act is in place, the government should allow us to grant them a degree," Raghuram added.
Caveats
However, like IITs, IIMs would have to follow some restrictions
However, the official also added that restrictions followed by IITs would have to be adhered to.
Only graduates with Bachelors degrees spanning four years or more would be eligible for direct admission to PhD programs.
The minimum program duration of such candidates would be three years, while the minimum duration for candidates with a Masters degree or equivalent post-graduate degree would be two years.