ACHARYA NAGARJUNA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH RULES AND REGULATIONS PREAMBLE Research Programmes leading to the award of M.Phil and Ph.D. degree are offered in the teaching departments/centres of the University colleges, its affiliated colleges and research organizations recognized by the University as research centres. These regulations will come into force w.e.f. the date of meeting of 67th Academic Senate i.e., 20-10-2012. 1. RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE It is responsible for the promotion of research activities in the University through periodical review and monitoring of ongoing re- search activities. The following members constitute the committee Vice-Chancellor --- Chairman Rector, ANU --- Member Principals of the Campus Colleges --- Members Registrar, ANU --- Member Deans of the Faculties, ANU --- Members Coordinator, Research Cell, ANU --- Convener 2. DEPARTMENT RESEARCH COMMITTEE (DRC) Each department shall have a DRC and all recognized research supervisors of ANU department shall constitute its DRC. The Head of the department is the Convener of the Committee. The minimum number of members constituting DRC shall be 3. If the number of members is less than 3 in any department, the Vice-Chancellor shall appoint Research Supervisors of related disciplines for constitution of DRC. 3. FUNCTIONS OF DEPARTMENT RESEARCH COMMITTEE (DRC) The following are the functions of DRC a) To fix up the number of seats in M.Phil./Ph.D. to be filled every year for research admissions as per the guidelines of UGC/University. 1 b) To assist in preparation of the Academic Calendar for M.Phil./ Ph.D. programmes for the academic year. c) To decide areas or topics of research to be pursued by the M.Phil./Ph.D. students at the time of admission. d) To recommend syllabi for M.Phil./Pre. Ph.D. course work for ap- proval by the BOS. e) To suggest panel of examiners and paper setters for M.Phil./Pre. Ph.D. examinations to the BOS. f) To prepare database of experts for each specialized area which can be used for the preparation of panel of examiners for adjudicating the M.Phil./Ph.D. thesis. The data base may be periodically updated and made available to BOS. g) Any other functions referred to by the Research Advisory Committee or the Vice-Chancellor or any other statutory body. 4. CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY TO RECOGNIZE A TEACHER/ SCIENTIST AS A RESEARCH SUPERVISOR a) All the existing faculty of ANU (including these working at ANU Campus, Ongole) already recognized as research Supervisors will continue to be the research supervisors. (OR) b) Any teacher (including contract) working in ANU or in any affiliated colleges teaching UG/PG courses having 5 years of continuous service with Ph.D. with at least 2 publications in refereed journals. (OR) c) Any scientist/researcher, working as a regular employee in any Na- tional Institute/Research Centre with which ANU has entered an MOU, having 5 Years of continuous service with Ph.D. and with at least 2 publications in refereed journals. 5. PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED BY A TEACHER/SCIENTIST /RESEARCHER FOR OBTAINING RECOGNITION AS A RESEARCH SUPERVISOR. The application for recognition as Research Supervisors can be obtained from the Coordinator, Research Cell, Acharya Nagarjuna University on payment of a prescribed amount by way of Demand Draft drawn in favor of the “Registrar, Acharya Nagarjuna University”. The Teacher/Scientist/Researcher seeking recognition as Research Supervisor should apply to the Head of the Department con- cerned along with supporting documents and he will in turn verifies 2 the eligibility conditions and shall send to the Principal within a week from the date of submission of the application along with his specific recommendations. The Principal in turn puts up the file for the approval of the Vice-Chancellor. Upon approval of the Vice-Chancellor, the Principal concerned shall issue orders of recognition of the Teacher/Scientist/Researcher as Research Supervisor. The application seeking recognition will be considered during the month of March for the next academic year. 6. NUMBER OF SCHOLARS WITH A RESEARCH SUPERVISOR a) The number of Research Scholars under each Research Supervisor should not exceed the number specified below at any point of time. Professor/Associate Professor/Asst. Professor --- 8 Ph.D +5 M.Phil Full- time/Part-time b) Scientists / Researcher who were recognized as supervisors can be allotted only 3 Ph.D. + 2 M.Phil FT/PT Scholars at any point of time. However, the above Research Supervisors shall submit the particulars of research scholars under their guidance allotted by other Universities/Institutions including their parent institution. c) But the total number of research scholars under any supervisor from all the Universities (including ANU)/Institutions shall not exceed the maximum number specified above. Further, they have to give a declaration signed by Head of the Institutions the particulars of the scholars working under him. d) The Faculty members of Acharya Nagarjuna University shall not accept research scholars of other Universities/Institutions without prior permission of the Vice-Chancellor. e) Candidates registered for Ph.D./M.Phil. need not be counted after completion of maximum period for purpose of determining the number of candidates under each guide. However, re-registered candidates shall be considered as new admission and counted for the purpose of determining the number of Candidates under each Guide. f) Any retired teacher willing to continue to guide the candidates 3 already registered under him /her can do so as Guide for a max- imum period of 5 years from the date of superannuation g) Allotment of candidates will be permitted for the retired teachers of ANU upto the age of 65 years with their consent. h) A retired teacher may act as the Research Supervisor, if he/she is appointed as Emeritus Professor and or if he/she has a Major Research Project with Junior Research Fellowship/Senior Research Fellowship. The research scholars so provided with admission shall continue to be under the guidance of such retired teacher till the completion of their research work. The supervisor or the scholar has the option to change the guide with mutual consent. 7. CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION INTO M.PHIL/PH.D. PROGRAMMES Admissions into research studies are ordinarily made once in each academic year. The notification calling for applications will be issued every year at an appropriate time by the University following the guidelines formulated by UGC/APSCHE from time to time. Candidates have to apply in the prescribed form and submit the filled in applications with all necessary enclosures in accordance with the University rules. a) The candidate seeking admission into the M.Phil / Ph.D. course should have passed the P.G. Examination of this or any other recognized University in the concerned or related subject securing 1st or 2nd class with at least 55% of marks. However, in case of SC and ST candidates, a relaxation of 5% marks is given. In the case of related subjects the Boards of Studies concerned have to determine the eligibility for doing research in the related subject and the resolutions of Boards are to be approved in the proper statutory bodies such as S.C. to A.S. or Academic Senate. Before giving admission in the related subject, the Head of the Depart- ment has to check whether proper approval is accorded or not. b) The candidates qualified in NET/GATE/CSIR (Research Fellow- ship only) and FIP (UGC) can be admitted into M.Phil/Ph.D. course at any time of the academic year. In case, there is no va- cancy in the Department, an extra seat may be provided to such candidates. The JRFs and Project Fellows selected through duly 4 constituted selection committee working in Research projects funded by National Research Organizations can also be admitted into M.Phil. / Ph.D. courses at any time during the academic year. Project fellows and Research Assistants in projects sponsored by National / State and Public funding agencies and not selected by a duly constituted selection committee should follow the general rules of research admission. c) For admission into research under part-time programme, a Candidate should satisfy the following conditions: i) A teacher with at least 5 or 3 or 2 years of full-time teaching experience in a recognized Polytechnic/Junior College or Degree College/ Oriental College or Professional / PG College respectively. (OR) ii) An employee possessing at least 5 years of research experience in a cadre not lower than that of research assistant working in a research institution run by the State Government or Central Government or in a recognized institution funded by organizations like UGC/CSIR/CSSR/DST/DAE and such other agencies. (OR) iii) A gazetted officer with PG Qualification and having 5 years of professional experience (OR) iv) An Executive having PG Qualification and 10 years experience in Public Limited Company or quasi Government Organization. Note: Service Certificate issued by the Principal of the College or the Head of the Institution is valid for computing the length of service for the admission into part-time research course of the University. 5 8. ADMISSION PROCEDURE a) All admissions in research programmes leading M.Phil./Ph.D. (F.T./P.T.) shall be made only through an entrance test to be con- ducted by the Director, Directorate of Admissions, Acharya Nagarjuna University except in case of Candidates with JRF of UGC/CSIR/GATE or selected under FIP. b) Candidates with a minimum of 55 % marks (50% in the case of SC/ST candidates) in the subject concerned in the qualifying examination are eligible to take the Entrance Test. c) The Director, Directorate of Admissions, Acharya Nagarjuna University will send the list of applicants and applications received by him along with the ranks obtained by them in the Entrance Test to the respective Principal Office and the respective Principal Office in turn shall send them to respective departments for further scru- tiny regarding eligibility and admission. d) Applications are scrutinized in the departments. The Head of the Department shall prepare a selection list of candidates to be submitted to the Principal. The allotment of candidates to research supervisors will also be indicated in the lists based on the vacan- cies and the consensus arrived at in the meeting. e) Admissions shall be processed as per the schedule and procedure approved by the Vice-Chancellor based on the rules of reservation in vogue and rank obtained by the student in the Entrance Test. f) Admission Fees: At the time of admission, every candidate shall have to pay the prescribed admission fee as given in the schedule of fee. In addition, the candidate shall have to pay tuition fee twice in a year as and when it falls due at the rates given in the fee sched- ule. g) Candidates admitted under Full-time category at affiliated colleges or organizations shall have to process all financial matters includ- ing fee reimbursement/welfare scholarships at the college/the in- stitution where they are working. 6 9. ATTENDANCE a) Full-time research students shall be required to be present during working hours and shall sign in the attendance register on every working day. The Head of the Department shall maintain the attend- ance register and submit to the Principal the monthly statement of attendance of all research students (FT), while circulating a copy of the same to all research supervisors. b) A full-time research candidate may be permitted to be away from the campus on duties connected with his research work such as field work for collection of materials, consultation in other libraries, etc., for a specific period, which should not be more than four weeks at a time. The candidate shall have to take the permission of the Supervi- sor and the Head of the Department. c) A full–time research student whether enjoys fellowship /scholarship or not, shall have to put in at least 75% attendance. They are not el- igible for any vacation. d) A full-time research student shall not be absent, except on medical grounds or with prior permission from the Supervisor and Head of the Department for not more than ten consecutive days in a term. e) Full-time research students have to apply for leave of absence to the Head of the Department through the Supervisor. The leave accounts of the research students shall be maintained by Head of the Depart- ment making the necessary entries from time to time in the register kept for the purpose. All Fellowship / Scholarship-holders shall have their bills and other papers relating to finance / accounts are to be forwarded through the Supervisor and the Head of the Department. The Supervisor's specific recommendation is also necessary for pro- cessing all such bills. f) Full–time research students will not be permitted study leave or for fieldwork for more than two months before writing the Part-I examination. g) The failure to comply with the above attendance rules may lead to any of the following consequences. (i) The Scholar may be denied fellowship/scholarship; (ii) The Scholar may not be allowed to appear in the Part I Examination (iii) The Scholar’s registration may be cancelled. 7 10. VALIDITY OF REGISTRATION AND RE-REGISTRATION The minimum / maximum duration of working period to become eligible for submission of dissertation / thesis under Part – II of the examination is as follows: M.Phil. Ph.D. through M.Phil. Sl.No. Particulars Minimum Maximum Minimum Maximum 1. Full-time 1 year 2 years 2 years 4 years 2. Part-time 2 years 3 years 3 years 5 years Sl. Ph.D. Direct Admission Particulars No. Minimum Maximum 1. Full-time 3 years 5 years 2. Part-time 4 years 6 years If a candidate could not complete his M.Phil./ Ph.D. course even after the stipulated time, his/her case for extension of time can be considered only for a valid reason. Such cases shall be recommended by the Supervisor and forwarded by the Head of Department if it is a valid reason. The Vice-Chancellor may concede his request based on the recommendations of the Principal concerned. With the approval of the Vice-Chancellor, the candidate may be permitted to submit his dissertation / thesis within one year by paying prescribed fee. If he/she fails to submit the thesis within the extended period of one year, he/she shall not be permitted any further extension and shall have to go for re-registration through Head of the Depart- ment and Principal concerned. The Vice- Chancellor is only au- thorized whether to permit any candidate for re-registration or not. In case if one is permitted, such re-registered candidates will be counted under his/her supervisor in determining the vacancy position of the supervisor concerned 8 11. COURSE WORK AND EXAMINATION PATTERN a) M.Phil / Ph.D. programme is divided into two parts. Under Part-I, a candidate shall take course work and appear for the Part-I examination as per the schedule any time after 6 months. b) The Part-I M.Phil / Pre-Ph.D. examination shall be conducted on the same date for all the Departments of Acharya Nagarjuna University, University Campuses, Research Centers of Affiliated Colleges of ANU and other Research Centers recognized by ANU any time 6 months after the closing date of research admissions by the Coordinator, Research Cell. The Coordinator, Research Cell shall issue a schedule for holding seminar. The Seminar examination of the candidate shall be conducted by the individual Research Su- pervisor after the Part-I examinations as per the schedule given by the Research Coordinator. The Seminar should be conducted openly inviting the scholars and teachers of the department/related departments to attend the Seminar. c) Paper–I: Research Methodology (which may include quantitative methods, computer applications and review of literature wherever appropriate) shall be a common paper for all the research scholars admitted in a Department during a particular year. The second paper shall be within the specified areas identified by the DRC. d) Part-II examination will be dissertation / thesis for M.Phil. / Ph.D. respectively. 12. PREPARATION OF SYLLABI AND PANELS OF PAPER-SETTERS/ EXAMINERS: The PG Boards of studies are empowered to deal with the following and make recommendations to the University for approval. a) Preparation of syllabi for papers I & II of M.Phil Part-I / Pre-Ph.D. b) Seminar topics. c) Panel of paper setters / examiners (for Part-I/Pre. Ph.D. examina- tion) comprising teachers in University holding a rank not lower than Associate Professor. The list shall include at least four names 9 of experts in the subject of the concerned paper from A.P. and four from outside A.P. d) Question paper shall be set by the external expert, while valuation of answer scripts is to be done both by the external examiners and internal examiners. e) The Vice-Chancellor will appoint paper setters / examiners from among the panels approved by the local members of the BOS (PG) and submitted by the Chairman to the Coordinator, Research Cell, A.N.U. The Vice-Chancellor may use his discretion to appoint the paper setter/examiners outside the panels recommended by the Board of Studies. f) Board of Examiners for evaluation of performance at seminar: Each Board of Examiners shall consist of three persons with the research supervisor as the Convener, the Chairman BOS (PG) and the Head of the Department. The Board should award single mark’ unanimously. In case of difference of opinion, marks will be awarded based on majority decision. g) The schedule for Part-I Pre. Ph.D. examination for all the candi- dates admitted in a particular session shall be prepared by the Co- ordinator, Research Cell, A.N.U. in consultation with the Heads of the Department and Research Supervisors. h) The examinations shall be held on alternate days. 13. PART – I EXAMINATION Part-I examination for M.Phil / Ph.D. shall comprise two written papers and a seminar. To become eligible to appear for Part-I examina tion, a student shall: a) Pay the prescribed examination fees to the University examination account. b) In case of full-time research scholars put in at least 75% of attend- ance from the date of admission, including the authorized duty leave. c) The processing of paper setting, conduct of examination and evalu- ation are carried out by the Coordinator, Research Cell, A.N.U. He shall get the approval of examiners from the Vice-Chancellor for 10