“UGC Secretary Prof. Manish R. Joshi released a notice on January 29, 2024, stating that admissions to M. Phil programs in specified disciplines are allowed only until the academic session 2025-26. A proposed solution suggests continuing the course from 2026-27 under a different name, following UGC guidelines.”
UGC’s Decision of M. Phil Clinical Psychology, M. Phil Psychiatric Social Work According to the recommendation of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, all M. Phil courses were to be discontinued, including M. Phil in Clinical Psychology and Psychiatric Social Work. UGC Regulations, 2022 notified on 7 November, 2022 that the course is not to be offered further.
A clinical psychologist assesses, diagnoses and treats mental, emotional and behavioural disorders in individuals. A Psychiatric Social Worker deals with these individuals and their families, helping them to effectively cope with the challenges that they face. Both of these professions are crucial for effective mental health services being provided to the public. Thus, on 22 November 2023, Dr. Vinod K. Paul, a member of NITI Aayog had written to Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, the Chairman of UGC, to continue M. Phil. Programs in the fields mentioned above. His request highlighted the hiatus in a workspace that would be caused if M. Phil is discontinued in the concerned field. Thus, he proceeded to ask that the course in question be continued for an additional 8 years.
On 26 December 2023, UGC Secretary Prof. Manish R. Joshi, through a public notice, advised students against pursuing M. Phil programs, stating that M. Phil is not a recognized degree. Universities authorities were urged to take necessary steps to stop M. Phil’s admissions for the academic year 2023-24. This notice further stirred apprehension among students in the field about their future educational path.
Taking everything into consideration and following the request of the Ministry of Education, a notice was released on Monday, 29 January 2024 by UGC Secretary Prof. Manish. R. Joshi. It stated that students can only be admitted to the M. Phil programs in the stated disciplines till the academic session 2025-26. The notice offered the students a solution as well. It says that the course might continue from 2026-27 under a different name, per UGC guidelines.
