JNU Opens PhD Admissions for 2025-26 as Students' Union Protests with Hunger Strike

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has begun accepting online applications for PhD programmes for the 2025-26 academic year. This development coincides with a hunger strike initiated by the students' union on Thursday night. The protest is against the university's decision to exclude candidates from the June 2025 UGC-NET and not to reinstate the JNU Entrance Examination (JNUEE) for PhD admissions.

The students' union has criticised the admission process, labelling it as exclusionary and undemocratic. They argue that excluding June 2025 UGC-NET aspirants affects many recent postgraduates. "The exclusion affects a significant portion of the MA pass-out batch," stated student representatives. The union demands the reinstatement of JNUEE, considering it a fairer admission method.

PhD Admission Timeline and Process

According to JNU's official schedule, PhD application forms can be submitted online from June 26 to July 7. A short correction window will be available from July 8 to 9. Invitations for viva-voce are expected by July 18, with exams scheduled from July 25 to 31. The first merit list will be published on August 11, followed by pre-enrolment registration and fee payment from August 11 to 13.

Physical verification of documents is set for August 18 to 21. The second merit list will be released on August 29, with registration and fee payment from August 29 to 31, and document verification on September 4 and 5. If needed, a third merit list will be issued on September 15, with fee payment open until September 17 and verification on September 22 and 23.

Student Union's Response

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) has expressed dissatisfaction with the administration's approach. They accuse the Vice-Chancellor of engaging selectively in dialogue and displaying administrative high-handedness. JNUSU office-bearers, including president Nitish Kumar, vice-president Manisha, and general secretary Munteha Fatima, have pledged to continue their hunger strike until their demands are addressed.

JNUSU also alleged that the university administration has refused to engage with elected student representatives. "The administration has refused to engage with elected student representatives," they claimed. The union remains firm in its demand for reinstating JNUEE as a more equitable admission process.

The final deadline for admission and registration across all rounds is September 30. This timeline ensures that all necessary processes are completed before the academic year begins. Despite these arrangements, the ongoing protest highlights significant discontent among students regarding current admission policies.

With inputs from PTI