The University of Mumbai began cancelling long-pending PhD registrations in September 2025 and, in a phased exercise continuing till February 2026, struck off 644 scholars for exceeding the maximum duration permitted under University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations.
Officials said the removals were carried out gradually after individual cases were reviewed and found non-compliant. This is the first time so many PhD registrations have been cancelled within a single academic cycle.
Many affected scholars had remained enrolled for over a decade without substantial progress. Officials said prolonged registrations had blocked seats and prevented supervisors from admitting new candidates, creating a bottleneck in doctoral admissions.
Under UGC norms, a PhD is expected to be completed within three to six years, with a maximum of eight years. Women and candidates with disabilities may receive extensions of up to 10 years. Supervisory capacity is also capped — a Professor may guide eight scholars, an Associate Professor six and an Assistant Professor four.
A senior university official said the action was taken within the UGC framework to restore research discipline. “This was a procedural exercise carried out case by case, not a sudden mass action,” the official said.
Students cry unfairness
The decision has triggered resentment among affected scholars, many citing financial hardship, personal constraints and institutional gaps. “I am a working student… I had family issues and had to change my guide due to disputes. It is unfair,” said one scholar.
Senior academicians said the scale of cancellations points to systemic oversight failures. Dr AD Sawant, former Pro Vice-Chancellor of MU, called the figure “huge” and questioned monitoring mechanisms. “Were progress reports reviewed periodically? What were guides and departmental panels doing?” he asked.
He added that structured attendance tracking, periodic evaluations and conditional extensions should be enforced. Another senior faculty member said timely reviews and warnings could have prevented such large-scale cancellations.
University cites UGC compliance
MU said extensions are granted only upon satisfactory progress, based on recommendations of the Research Advisory Committee and guides. UGC rules allow an additional two-year extension for women and persons with disabilities, taking the maximum duration to 10 years.
The university said registrations not aligned with UGC norms were reviewed by its Academic Council. Scholars whose extension period has not expired or who have submitted their final synopsis have been given a final opportunity to submit theses by March 31, 2026.
“This is not a mass cancellation but a routine compliance exercise under UGC guidelines,” an official said.
Bhadant Vimamsa, a 52-year-old Buddhist monk and research scholar, alleged his registration was deliberately targeted and the broader cancellations were meant to mask action against him. “In a bid to push me out of campus, my PhD registration was cancelled on November 8, 2025. My hostel room was sealed, and I have been protesting on campus since August,” he said. He claimed authorities restricted access to him and his supporters.
The Maharashtra State Minorities Commission held a hearing at MU’s Kalina campus on February 18 and has given the university 10 days to submit an action-taken report, signalling continued scrutiny.
