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Gujarat Government Mandates PhD Students To Pick State's Schemes As Thesis Topics

Gujarat Government Mandates PhD Students To Pick State's Schemes As Thesis Topics
Ahmedabad University students throw their hats into the air as they celebrate their qualifications at a convocation of Ahmedabad University in Ahmedabad on July 18, 2011. Chairman and Chief Mentor of Indian software company Infosys, N. R. Narayana Murthy was the chief guest at the first convocation of the institution in the western India state of Gujarat. AFP PHOTO/Sam PANTHAKY (Photo credit should read SAM PANTHAKY/AFP/Getty Images)
SAM PANTHAKY via Getty Images
Ahmedabad University students throw their hats into the air as they celebrate their qualifications at a convocation of Ahmedabad University in Ahmedabad on July 18, 2011. Chairman and Chief Mentor of Indian software company Infosys, N. R. Narayana Murthy was the chief guest at the first convocation of the institution in the western India state of Gujarat. AFP PHOTO/Sam PANTHAKY (Photo credit should read SAM PANTHAKY/AFP/Getty Images)

The Gujarat government is probably planning to turn all its PhD students into researchers for the state administration.

In a first, the state government has sent a list of 82 topics to Universities asking them to ensure that doctoral students opt for at least five subjects from it, reports Times Of India.

According to the ToI report, the topics include various welfare schemes and programmes of the state and central governments.

Among them are: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet project 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', Gujarat's model schemes like Kanya Kelavani, Gunotsav and MA Yojana and Sardar Patel Awas Yojna.

The students can choose from a range of topics--'Education of minorities — A critical study'; 'Gujarat: Good governance for growth'; and 'Comprehensive analysis of growth of water in seven reservoirs of Saurashtra through SAUNI Yojana' among others.

A U Patel, former vice-chancellor of Gujarat University, believes that the initiative will make students pick "relevant hypothesis" for thesis.

Patel said that PhD students would be able to identify loopholes in a particular scheme or programme.

However, many educationists are unhappy with the state's move. According to them, the state government wants students to do the work of government babus who are responsible for implementation and review of schemes.

Ayesha Kidwai, a JNU professor, criticized Gujarat government's plan and said that this is the reason why there needs to be protest. In a Facebook post, Kidwai wrote: "JNU teachers will be part of #FightbackJNU because if we don't, then this is what lies in store for us."

Kidwai had a funny take on it, mocking the central government.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.