Scholars who are in the last leg of their research work and awaiting their viva interviews can now complete the process through video conferencing. As a rule, after dissertations are submitted to the university, the viva interview is to be scheduled within six months. Therefore, to ensure the interviews are conducted within the stipulated time, University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked varsities to hold these interview sessions through video conferencing.
All the norms of the research guides will have to be followed while conducting the viva exams. Talking about the same, Dr NS Umarani, provice chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) said, “While UGC has informed all varsities to conduct the viva examinations online SPPU has a mechanism in place to conduct the viva tests online. The varsity has already held viva tests remotely during extreme conditions.”
UGC has also asked varsities to develop a proper mechanism to ensure that both PhD and MPhil processes are completed within the stipulated time.
As per the instructions given by Rajnish Jain, UGC chairman, universities also need to ensure that the dissertations are evaluated by external experts as is the rule.
