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Ph.D. Admission Procedure (2026-27)

The Department of Plant Molecular Biology, UDSC invites applications for the Full-Time PhD  programme each academic year. The programme has a limited number of seats available in the major research areas of plant molecular biology:

  • Understanding the molecular basis of plant reproduction and its genetic manipulation to develop alternative sources of human nutrition
  • Calcium-mediated signaling, functional genomics of stress signaling, and stress adaptation in plants
  • To understand the complicated regulatory networks composed of various genomic elements (proteins, regulatory RNAs, cis-acting elements, etc.) that interact with each other in response to various developmental and environmental cues
  • Understanding the molecular basis of stress responses and senescence to develop crops with climate change-resilience and higher productivity
  • Exploring the naturally evolved allelic variations for the development of climate-resilient and pathogen-resistant/tolerant high-yielding crop varieties
  • Understand the role of epigenetics and COP9 Signalosome in plant reproduction and adaptation during abiotic stress
Important Dates:
Start of Registration for PhD Program 2026-27              : Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Last Date of Registration for PhD Program 2026-27      :  Sunday, October 18, 2026
Interview to be conducted by the department                 :  Between Oct. 21 and Oct. 31, 2026
Recommendation of DRC and BRS                                :  till November 10, 2026
Late date of Fee payment                                                : Sunday, November 15, 2026
Admission to the PhD program is done online through the DU portal
https://phd2026.uod.ac.in/
Selection Procedure Academic Session 2026-27:

Admissions to Ph.D. Program 2026-27 will be based on the University of Delhi notification; Sub: Amendments to Ordinances V, EC. Resolution 18-7/ dated 30.07.2026

1. Eligibility:
A. As per UGC Notification No. F.4-l(UGC-NET Review Committee)/ 2024(NET)/ 140648 dated 27.03.2024, there will be three Categories for admission to Ph.D.:

 

Qualified for

Eligible for

JRF

Assistant Professor

Ph.D. Admission

Block A

Category-1: Award of JRF and appointment as Assistant Professor

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

Block B

Category-2: Appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to Ph.D.

No

Yes

Yes

Category-3: Admission to Ph.D. only

No

No

Yes
B. The scores of the NET Examination conducted in December 2025 and June 2026 will be considered. An interview is mandatory for all candidates. The interview will be conducted only in person at the respective department. The candidate is advised to make the necessary travel arrangements well in advance. No TA/DA/Accommodation will be given for attending the Interview.

2. Seat distribution:

  • 60% of the total available seats will be sanctioned for Phase I.
  • 40% of the total available seats will be sanctioned for Phase II, and if seats remain vacant in Phase I, these will also be filled in Phase II.
3. Merit list:
  1. For the purpose of drawing the Merit List, 70% weightage must be given to the scores obtained in the Nationalized Test, and 30% weightage must be given to the Interviews.
  2. The above will be applicable for all candidates, i.e. candidates from Block A (Category-I) and Block B (Category-2) and (Category-3).
  3. In each Phase, seats will first be filled by candidates of Block A. If seats remain vacant, candidates from Block B may be considered as per merit.
All announcements will be made on the DU PhD Admission Portal. Candidates should regularly check the website for updates.
 
Note: The department reserves the right not to fill the vacant Ph.D. seats in case of non-availability of suitable candidates. The admission is also subject to fulfilling all other conditions laid down in Ordinance VI of the University of Delhi.