News Patiala: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has proposed to introduce objective written exams for PhD selection, doing away with the interview process. This is part of a set of reforms aimed at increasing transparency and enhancing the quality of research at the institute.
The proposed reforms also include starting 40-50 PhD Institute Fellowships on par with the Prime Minister’s Research Fellows scheme. These fellowships will be funded by a budget of Rs 200 crore.
“The Director, AIIMS, New Delhi is pleased to announce reforms in the selection process for PhD and Award of Institute Fellowship at the institute. These reforms will act as a positive reinforcement for high-quality research and enhance the NRIF rankings in research for AIIMS, New Delhi,” said a press release issued by AIIMS on Tuesday.
The Director of AIIMS, Dr M Srinivas, interacted with faculty, PhD students, and scientists to discuss the need for reforms in the PhD selection process. He identified the need for an in-house funding mechanism to increase the intake of meritorious PhD students and to award institute fellowships to enable high-impact research at the institute.
The approval for the budget proposed for the starting of 40-50 Ph.D. Institute Fellowships will be sought from the Union Government.
The reforms are expected to make the PhD selection process more objective and transparent, and to attract more high-quality research talent to AIIMS.