Validity of PhD from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam University Indore

First of all, here's some important news which you may or may not be aware of: A Ph.D. is required for teaching positions in Universities from July 2021, as notified by the HRD Ministry last year [Reference: TOI, June 13th, 2018].

Secondly, I checked out the official website of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam University, Indore. As per the information provided there, the university does have AICTE approval. I then checked out the UGC website and it seems as per the review of the UGC Expert Committee which visited the University in May 2019, the university is offering Ph.D. programs in different disciplines and the signatures of the members of this expert committee are an affirmation of this. Reference for this is: https://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/0188014_A.P.J.Abdul-Kalam-University.pdf.

Now if you look at page 10 of the afore-mentioned pdf document, which is titled as 'Part IV-Recommendations', the expert committee members have clearly mentioned that the university is still a nascent one and indicates that faculty positions have not been filled in, and the labs and the library need to be upgraded. Note that a Ph.D. means a research-based program and the recommendation states that the institutional policy needs to be in place to promote quality research and publication. More importantly, it states that faculty should be encouraged to apply for Doctoral programs. Now, if the faculty themselves do not have Ph.D. qualification, then who exactly is going to play the role of mentor and Ph.D. guide for you? If there is nobody there with high credentials to be a Doctoral guide, there is no point in your applying for a Ph.D. program. I would also advise you to do your own checks of the university itself and look for reviews of students enrolled in the other courses there.

Thirdly, there are also a lot of things you need to consider in selecting a Doctoral guide. Ask around, and do online searches of reviews of them, even if they are very senior faculty. I have read about Doctoral guides taking undue advantage of students enrolled under them. They may make them do ghost-writing of research papers for which they take the full credit, or even make them run around on personal errands. Then there are guides who will deliberately create delays for you in the procedure to acquire the Ph.D. due to some ego issues. It is thus a big challenge to find the right guide who will guide you properly to the very end to acquire the Ph.D.

Finally, are you really passionate about doing research? Equip yourself, too, with good communication and interpersonal skills and take care not to steal ideas and not to let your own ideas get stolen. Go for a Ph.D. if you are really up to it. It is not as easy as you think. Best of luck!

The following points are very important.
1. As per the AICTE and UGC norms the mentioned university is recognised for doing a doctorate,
2. So Ph D obtained from there will be recognised and you will be eligible to get a teaching post in government or Private college provided you fulfil all other criteria for getting selected to the post.
3. The first and the foremost important point is in which field you want to do your Ph D. Decided on that.
4. Consult the experts in the college where you have done your Ph D . Ask their suggestions regarding the institute and the guide. A known university and a known guide is always better .I prefer doing PhD in the university from which I did my PG. If it is not possible then take the suggestions of known lecturers and your seniors who are doing PhD and then decide about the guide and the university.
5. Then make a small synopsis of the subject in which you are thinking of doing work. The required references and other material should be read before making a synopsis. It should not be very specific and should be a general note only on the area you want to do Ph D.
6. With the above note you go to the professor whom you have selected as your director and show him the paper you made and ask for his consent.
7. Then you have to follow the admission procedure as prescribed by the university. Generally you have to write a written test and a hen a viva voce. Once you are successful you will be given a seat.
8.The prospectus for a person to get a good job mainly depends on the research guide and the papers you published during your PhD wrk.
9. You have to do a lot of networking before you decide on the research guide. Your area of interest and his area of work should match. Otherwise you will suffer a lot
10. If you are getting fellowship, you can directly join for PhD.
11. Otherwise, I suggest with your PG you can join as a Junior Lecturer in Government or private college. While working you can start interacting with the university Department of the subject which you belong in your town and try to get some updates and procure some information about faculty there and select a suitable Guide and start working with him part time.

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam University Indore is a recognised university for PhD and to that extent one can register there for it. Next comes the selection of subject for the thesis and searching a guide. So, one has to find out from the current position of the teaching personnels in the university whether there is a reputed guide available under which one can do this research job. This aspect is important as without a good guide one can not proceed ahead satisfactorily. Once the current situation in the university is assessed in this matter then only it makes sense to join there for the PhD program.

However for a post graduate person there are other ways also to go ahead for making a teaching career in universities or colleges and that is to try for qualifying in NET (National Eligibility Test) which is an all India basis test and after qualifying it one is entitled to apply for the lecturer job in the universities or affiliated colleges. Based on the merit list of NET test one can get opportunity for lecturer position or even Junior Research Fellowship.

If you have secured at least 55% aggregate marks (50% for SC/ST, OBC- NCL, PwD) in Master's Degree then you are eligible to appear in NET. National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the University Grants Commission conducts this test. As per the latest changes, NET exam now comprises of two objective type papers where first paper consists of 50 questions (100 marks) and second paper consists of 100 questions (200 marks).

The first paper contains questions to assess the teaching/research aptitude and will also test reasoning ability, comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness. Second paper contains questions from the elective subjects chosen by the candidate.

While considering the AICTE approval, the same is not compulsorily required for an university, UGC approval will not create any problem while rewarding degrees of different courses. AICTE would be mandatory in case, they introduce the courses of technical nature.
The university in question satisfies the condition in the sense that it has got the UGC approval. However, prior to choosing, Dr. A.P.J. Kalam University for carrying out your Ph.D you will have to look into the following points so that the doctorate programme chosen by you may not pose problem at a later stage.
1) A proper feedback of the department in which you want to do your Ph.D is essential. Look out for the suitable guides, their temperaments and attitudes, their experience in number of years in imparting guidance to the fellow candidates and most importantly their rapports in guiding the interested fellows.
2) It would be better to visit the university in order to look out a competent guide. You may take help of VC of the university to assist you in your task.
3) If there is any written test followed by oral for persuing Ph.D, you will have to clear the same.
4) Once, you clear the test followed by oral, you may meet the professors of the concerned department with your symposium and discuss with some of reputed professor to be your guide in persuing the Doctorate degree.
5) Prior to choosing a guide, get a proper feed back of his caliber and his guiding ability.
6) To move fast with your thesis, you have to look into the library containing enough material for you in the form of journals, Research - papers etc so that you can go ahead with your thesis smoothly.
7) Ensure that your guide is available in the hours of need so as to avoid any dislocation in your Research - work.
8) You need to publish articles of high standard in the journals so that your articles are approved by the renowned professors having enough rapport and expertise in the similar fields.
9) Keeping all the points discussed above, you need to do lot of home - work in searching a proper guide. You may take the help of NET working system or remain in touch with the students engaged for the Thesis work. A helpful guide would save your time in getting your doctorate degree.