nagpur the special committee of nagpur university nu senate members has done away with the 60month validity for phd entrance test pet score beside dropping the sixyear registration tenure in its overhaul of the existing norms submitted recently the sixyear validity cap on phd registration threw cold water on scores of theses after researchers exceeded the deadline by even one day by failing to submit them within six years of starting their work hundreds of research work became piece of trash in many cases missing the deadline by a week a month or more among the 28 improvements recommended by the panel the move aims to revive all such theses by deleting the controversial clause compelling researchers to reside within territorial jurisdiction of nu during phd tenure too would no more pose hurdle for candidates from any part of the country the benefits of pet validity and those missing submission on time have been extended in retrospect in the 28point amendments led by rajendra bhoyar the committee comprised omprakash chimankar urmila dabir nitin kongre ajeit jachak niranjan deshkar and mritunjay singhthe committee was formed during discussion on the topic in senate meeting held on march 13 2019 it placed its report on march 7 this year after which the house accepted as it is doing away with the 60month score validity would now enable candidates to register for phd from next session irrespective of the year when they appeared for pet these improvements in the norms are being hailed as major respite beside removal of negative marking in pet and restrictions on guides another major respite has come in the form of keeping reserach recognition committee rrc decision in check as per the existing norms the rrc decision was final and in case of rejection no reasons were recorded now the rrc will have to make suggestions in synopsis and ask for resubmission instead of outright rejecting a topic title of research in fact the committee has gone a step further and recommended total rejection must be avoided timebound action as recommended by the panel will also prove highly beneficial for scholars who are at the receiving end of phd cell officials and external examiners after submission of thesis scholars have to wait for years on end for viva voce and open defence of their work as examiners wouldnt give a fixed date the phd cell will have to arrange this within 30 days and prefer the geographically nearest examinersthe report of referees and external examiners used to languish before the board of examinations and evaluation director who will now have to confirm acceptance within eight days to award phdother reforms plagiarism certificate must be issued within 15 days from the date of thesis submission resubmission of thesis within six months if plagiarism is detected candidate will get only one chance for resubmission deduction of fee in case registration cancellation cut to 10 per annum from 18