The University Grants Commissions (UGC) has extended the last date for submission of thesis for terminal MPhil and PhD students by December 31, 2021. As per the UGC official notification, “The extension had been given considering a large number of requests and keeping in view the interests of research scholars.” Earlier, in December the UGC extended the last date of submission by six months and allowed the thesis to be submitted by June 30, 2021.
Now it has been extended again to December 31. The extension given for submission of thesis till December 31, is also applicable to students whose submission of MPhil/ PhD thesis date is on or before December 31. This has been done in view of the COVID-19 induced lockdown which restricted students to conduct their researches as university facilities, laboratories and access to libraries were not permitted. However, the tenure of the fellowship has not been extended and will remain upto five years.
“Considering a large number of requests and also keeping in view the larger interest of the research scholars, the extension given for submission of M.Phil/Ph.D thesis till 31st December, 2021 shall also be applicable to all such students whose due date of submission of M.Phil/Ph.D thesis is on or before 31.12.2021,” the UGC notification read.
“However, tenure of fellowship will remain up to five year only,” the notification added. The UGC had extended the deadline for the third time. Initially, the deadline was extended till December 31, 2020, which was again extended to June 30. Now, with the latest announcement, candidates have been allowed to submit their thesis till December 31, 2021.
