Gangadhar Meher University PhD Admission 2026 (July)

Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, Odisha invites online application for PhD admission for the academic session 2026 (July).

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates for admission into the Ph.D. program shall have successfully completed Master’s degree program in the concerned subject with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale wherever grading system is followed.
• The NET candidates will be declared eligible in three categories:
  • Category-1: Eligible for (i) admission to Ph.D. with JRF and (ii) appointment as Assistant Professor.
  • Category-2: Eligible for (i) admission to Ph.D. without JRF and (ii) appointment as Assistant Professor.
  • Category-3: Eligible for admission to the Ph.D. program only and not for the award of JRF or appointment as Assistant Professor.
• A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade is allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-Abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS).
• Candidates who have cleared the M. Phil. program with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent and Research Methodology as one of the papers are exempted from appearing in the Entrance Test provided they have been admitted through a written/ interview (qualifying national tests like NET, GATE, etc) with project/dissertation work. The submission of M. Phil. Mark Sheet is mandatory for such candidates on the date of Entrance Test. A relaxation of 5% marks, from 55% to 50%, or an equivalent relaxation of grade, is allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-Abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates.
• PhD course work is a full-time course and as such a candidate who is employed cannot be admitted or allowed to continue in the program unless he/she has been duly relieved and produces proof to that effect.

Admission Process

• Admission will be done through an entrance exam and interview/ viva-voce subject to the condition of availability of seats.
• The candidates who have qualified NET/ SLET/ GATE/ JEST/ DBT/ INSPIRE/ NFST/ NFSC/ NFOBC/ ICHR/ ICPR/ ICSSR/ ICMR (with valid score) are exempted from entrance test. The submission of the relevant documents is mandatory to claim the relaxation.
• The JRF-qualified students are admitted into the Ph.D. program based on an interview as per the University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2022.
• For students who qualify in Categories 2 and 3, 70% weightage will be given for test scores and 30% weightage for the interview for admission to Ph.D. programs. The Ph.D. admission will be based on the combined merit of NET marks and the marks obtained in the interview/viva voce.
• The marks obtained in the NET by the candidates in Categories 2 and 3 will be valid for a period of one year for admission to Ph.D.

Entrance Test

• The entrance test will be qualifying in nature. A candidate has to obtain 50% of marks in the written entrance test to qualify for selection.
• Entrance test will consist of multiple choice questions (MCQs) in two parts. Part A will comprise of 50% of questions to test the Research Aptitude of the candidate while, Part B (covering rest 50%) will be set as per the syllabi of P.G. courses of G.M. University, Sambalpur.
• Students who have qualified NET/ SLET/ GATE/ JEST/ DBT/ INSPIRE/ NFST/ NFSC/ NFOBC/ICHR/ ICPR/ICSSR/ICMR (with valid score) are exempted from entrance test. However, they should appear at the viva-voce for finalization of the merit list.
• College teachers availing themselves of study leave from Govt. of Odisha, Dept. of Higher Education or from Director, Higher Education will have to appear in the entrance test and the viva-voce and will be treated as regular candidates.
• Admit card for the entrance examination will be issued at the time of submission of application form at the University counter and those who submit their Application Form by post are advised to collect their admit card in the office, half an hour before the commencement of the Entrance Test.
• The merit list of selected candidates will be published in the University website and notice boards.

Application Process

• Candidates should download the Application Form from the university website www.gmuniversity.ac.in and submit the filled-in form with an Original Bank Draft of Rs.1500/-drawn in favor of “The Comptroller of Finance, G. M. University, Sambalpur” and payable at Sambalpur.
• The Application duly filled in along with required documents should reach the undersigned on or before 15.05.2026 up to 5.00 PM either by post or in person. The university will not be responsible for any postal delays in the receipt of application form after the last date.

• Availability of Application form and Brochure in the University website: 28 April, 2026 to 15 May, 2026
• Last date of receiving the hard copy in the University counter or by post: 15 May, 2026 (until 5:00 PM)
• Eligibility List Publication: 29 June, 2026
• Receiving of Queries or Grievances via Email: 30 June, 2026
• Revised List Publication: 1 July, 2026
• Date of Entrance Test/ Interview/Viva-Voce: 8 July, 2026
• Entrance Test: 8 July, 2026 (10:00 AM to 11:30 AM)
• Result publication of Entrance Test: 8 July, 2026 (2:00 PM)
• Interview/ Viva-voce for exempted Candidates: 8 July, 2026 (11:30 AM onwards)

• Information Bulletin
• Application
• Gangadhar Meher University Website