The neglect of India’s researchers during the pandemic Inside the lives of JNU’s research scholars Alamu R,Yangchen Roy,and Somashree Das

Abstract This report discusses the main findings of a survey on the impact of the pandemic on the research work, finances and mental health of over 500 research scholars of one of India’s premier universities.

Authors can be reached at [email protected] Contents Introduction ...... 2 A brief background ...... 3 Survey Demographics ...... 4 “Online research” is a myth ...... 7 Stalled fieldwork and the work progress predicament ...... 10 The abysmal state of fellowship disbursal ...... 13 Research scholars’ grim mental health ...... 16 In desperate need of research period and fellowship extensions ...... 20 Research scholar dropouts likely ...... 23 Recommendations ...... 25

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The neglect of India’s researchers during the pandemic Inside the lives of JNU’s research scholars

Alamu R1,Yangchen Roy2,and Somashree Das3

Introduction

“First, the University has to give more time which has been lost in the pandemic. Secondly, the University should disburse fellowship on time to the students. These two demands should be a priority of university administration. I guess, finance and time are the two most important aspects of most of the research scholars or those who are engaged in higher studies.”

-a PhD second year research scholar

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has, across the world, jeopardised people’s lives in unprecedented ways. It has simultaneously ensured acute distress to health care systems1, negatively impacted economies 2 and successfully disrupted the functioning of education systems3. The International Labour Organization's (ILO) Global Survey on Youth and COVID- 19 finds a disproportionate and systematic impact of the pandemic on young people, those aged between 18 and 29, with 73% having experienced educational institution closure4. Those from low-income countries are particularly affected.

Higher education, including that in India, is no exception to these disruptions. Research scholars, who partake in the bulk of research work in our educational institutions, are a vital national resource, contributing to our development goals. With the closure of many educational institutions, the impact on higher education has been manifold and we are already witness to a significant shift in the way higher education is now accessed, apart from who have access to it. The impact of the pandemic on research work and research workers in higher educational institutions, however, may only become evident in the years to come.

1 PhD scholar, Centre for Political Studies, School of Social Sciences, JNU. 2 PhD scholar, Centre for Linguistics, JNU. 3 PhD scholar, Centre for the Study of Regional development, School of Social Sciences, JNU. 2

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is a premier research university in India, with 48.3% (4251) of its 8805 enrolled students being in MPhil or PhD programmes5. Research in JNU includes two years of MPhil and MTech study, and four years of PhD study, with an option of no more than a year’s extension (called the “9B clause year” in JNU).

An online survey was administered between 27th June and 6th July 2020 to understand the impact of the pandemic on the status of JNU student’s research and thesis work, finances and mental well-being. Its respondents were 530 of JNU’s research scholars, i.e. about12.3% of total research scholar population6.

This is a preliminary research report of findings from the survey.

A brief background

In 2014, with 24,300 PhD graduates, India had the fourth highest number of doctoral graduates in the world7. In 2018, 1,69,170 students were enrolled in PhD programmes in India8 and yet research studies and publicly available data on the lives, work and pay satisfaction of research scholars in India seems invisible9. But this could be because PhD enrolment comprises only 0.5% of total higher education enrolment10 in India, and is perhaps also why discussions on the ramifications of the pandemic on higher education have primarily focused on programmes involving coursework or classroom-teaching, which include undergraduate (Bachelors) and post-graduate (Masters) students, leading to the paradigm of debate hovering only around the pros and cons of the digital mode of teaching-learning and evaluation.

The plight of India’s research scholars during this pandemic, with the exception of their finances, have not figured in public discourse. It is imperative to note that while research scholars do have shared concerns with students in coursework, they also have concerns unique to them owing to the nature of research-work in general, the length, design and purpose of their programmes, and the source and extent of their finances11.

Surveys and studies exploring the impact of the ongoing pandemic on the lives of university students have begun to emerge, with some done in other countries focusing on the lives of research scholars. Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) Consortium conducted a survey from May-July 2020 in 10 US public research-intense universities to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and university closures on research scholars. The SERU COVID-19 Survey assesses five areas of the student experience for bachelors’ masters and research students12, impacted by the pandemic and campus closures: (i) the transition to remote instruction, (ii) the financial impact of COVID-19 on students, (iii) student health and

3 wellbeing, (iv) belonging and engagement, and (v) future plans. A study funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the US surveyed 4000 research scholars at 11 institutions across the country to comprehend the experiences of research scholars during the pandemic13. The surveyed scholars have reported concerns on food and housing, mental health, delays in degree completion and change in career plans. Few studies have emerged in India too but their primary focus was not research scholars14.

Survey Demographics

The survey comprises of 58.1% female and 41.5% male research scholar participants. The largest share of participants in the survey are from the age group 26 years to 30 years (63.2%). The next most represented age-groups are those between 21 years and 25 years (19.4%) and 31 and 35 years (14.2%).

Out of the total respondents, 31.5% identified as Share of JNU Share of Survey's Other Backward Class (OBC), 14.7% as MPhil/PhD scholars Mphil/PhD scholars Scheduled Caste (SC), 7.2% as Scheduled Tribes (ST) and 1.7% as Persons with Disabilities (PwD). 44.9% of the population identified as belonging to none of the above stated four categories.

Unreserved+ Foreign national 41.5% 44.7%

SC 15.1% 15.2%

ST 8.1% 7.2%

OBC 32.1% 31.1%

PH 3.1% 1.8%

Figure 1: Social representation of the survey compared to that of JNU’s research scholar population. Calculated using figures from JNU data on ‘category-wise student enrolment as on 01.09.2019’. MTech students represented in the survey are excluded asJNU does not provide exclusive figures for them.

Of the total 530 respondents, PhD scholars constituted 80 percent of the total responses. MPhil and MTech students made up 18.5 percent and 1.5 percent of the sample respectively.

The survey covered a diverse share of participants ranging across 25 States and 5 Union Territories, apart from 1.5% of international students. The three highest representations of participants are from Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar comprising 44.5 % of the total share.

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The University has thirteen Schools and seven Special Centres. Out of the Schools, three have multiple Centres (or “departments”); these are the School of Social Sciences, the School of International Studies and the School of Language, Literature & Culture Studies. The rest of the schools, function as a single unit, and do not have departmental divisions.

The adverse impact of displacement from the JNU workspace

“One of the hindrances to the research work is the environment at home. Since we have been living in the hostel our homes do not have the space or environment for studies. You also have to contribute in the household chores, especially if you are a woman. I also felt that most of the material that I need for my research was not available online. ...Since I was on fieldwork before the pandemic started and University closed, I had to return home and was not able to carry any of my research material.”-

- a clause 9B research scholar

“In my opinion, the university should now open with some strict rules regarding COVID protection, because we can't complete our research work at home as there is better facility and better environment in the university.”

- a clause 9B research scholar

Before it closed, the largest share of JNU’s research scholars (79.3%) used to reside in the accommodation provided by 3.0% Have gone back home 6.0% the university. After the JNU Campus university closed, the highest 7.8% NCR residents share of scholars (61.6%) was

8.2% Living temporarily with those who had moved back friends/relatives in Delhi 61.6% home. Such was the sudden 13.5% Rented Accomodation outside campus and abrupt nature of the Rented a place outside campus for the time-being university’s closure that nearly till JNU reopens Figure 2: Current Location of Scholars 4 out of 5 (78.1%) research scholars could not carry adequate research related resources (books, photocopies, readings, notes) from their hostels, library lockers and laboratories back home with them.

Initially, the university authorities treated this closure as an emergency measure, leading to expectations that the university would reopen soon. Classes in JNU were suspended on 13th

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March 2020, with students being advised to leave for home on the 16th, but the suspension was slated to come to an end on 31st March. JNU was declared closed only on 1st April, after the stoppage of railway and flight services and the declaration of the nation-wide lockdown. The closure was renewed 4 times at intervals of two weeks before being closed for a month for the first time on 1st June. Currently JNU has been shut for 6 months and no re-opening date has been announced yet. The JNU library too was shut within just a few hours of informing students of its imminent closure.

“I am helpless and worry about my research, because all primary resources are in my hostel room, I am now in my home Jammu, and want to come to JNU to get my primary research resources. Please do something otherwise, this pandemic will spoil our all planning the we plan about our future. Do something for us, allow us to come JNU just for one day to collect primary research resources. Thank you in anticipation”

- a PhD third year research scholar

There are several such instances of scholars urging the university to allow them to enter and collect the resources required for the research.

Problems pertaining to accommodation is a cause of anxiety for nearly 30% of the respondents. Scholars from remote areas are also additionally disadvantaged with a lack of consistent electricity supply, which is indispensable for scholars to work on laptops/desktops. Only half of the scholars (50%) have regular electric supply Figure 3: Scholars’ access to electricity at their place of residence, with 38% facing 0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% frequent power cuts, and about 10% having no electric supply is 50% regular electric supply for 4-6 hours a day. The SERU there are frequent COVID-19 Survey too found that the majority of 38% power cuts both first-generation students (61%) and there is no electricity 10% continuing-generation students (54%) had a lack of for 4-6 hours a day access to an appropriate study space, or a others 2% distracting home environment, with first generation students being worse off in every aspect. University libraries and work spaces are the minimal infrastructure that research scholars require in order to be able to do their jobs.

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“Online research” is a myth

The pandemic has constrained the access research scholars had to the resources they use for their work. JNU’s research scholars are dependent on a variety of resources including libraries, human populations, archives, science laboratory, plant population, animal populations, among other resources. Of those who participated in the survey, 46.4% are dependent on human populations, 13.5% need access to laboratories and close to forty percent (39.8%) require access to archives. 71% cannot do without libraries.

With the displacement of scholars from university spaces, large amounts of thesis-work related

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% material left behind, and the increased

No required material promotion of online modes of learning during 21% available the pandemic, one would expect a mass Only some required 68% material available expansion in the ambit of online resources of

Most of the required public libraries/archives, including the 9% material available University’s library. The survey, however, All required material 2% available reveals the appalling state of the availability of required research material online, including Others 1% that of the JNU e-library. 89% find none or only few of material relevant to their research Figure 4: Availability of required research material on JNU e-library in the JNU e-library. As one third year PhD

scholar urged, “Increase the subscription to number of journals and books in particular…Provide access to previous theses and dissertation online which is now limited to campus Wi-Fi only.”

More than three-fourth (80.9%) of the All required material 4% research scholars who require resources available from libraries/archives located outside Most required material 15% available JNU, find none or only few of the research

Only some required material for their thesis/synopsis on the 61% material available internet. Further, 84.4% of respondents No required material is 19% available those who work with human populations cannot access these populations online 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% mode. Amongst those who engage in Figure 5: Online availability of research material from libraries/archives outside JNU laboratory work, 75.9% cannot work

7 digitally. Thus, access to the internet can assist research but cannot replace the integral nature of fieldwork to original research.

Further, resource access is contingent on the minimal requirements of reliable internet connectivity and steady electric supply. Considering the disproportionate access to internet connectivity in rural and urban areas, as unveiled by the National Statistical Office15, internet speeds in India are bound to be a chief barrier to online resource obtainability. Like the study at the University of Hyderabad16, our survey too exposes disproportionate access to High-speed internet connectivity amongst research scholars. The largest share of respondents, over one- third of them (35.8%), has access to 4G data speed and another 14.9% only have 3G, or 2G speeds. One MPhil first year student reports, “Most of the time I don't get even 2G speed during the day due to heavy internet traffic.” Another PhD scholar writes, “I can use only on (the) roof not inside the room.” Those who do not have access to internet services on an everyday basis constitute 8.1% of the sample.

Nearly 60% scholars, therefore, do not have access to internet on their laptops, with many 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% facing unworkable internet speeds on their have university wifi/public 11% phones. While 19% own personal wifi speed

have personal broadband connections, i.e. paid broadband, it is 29% speed unclear what download-upload speeds have only 4G phone data 36% speed these connections may have. Further, have only 2G or 3G phone phone data and broadband connections are 15% data speed known to be expensive and permit limited do not have access to internet 8% on an everyday basis megabytes/gigabytes of download/upload.

Figure 6: Scholars’ access to internet speeds For more than three-fourth (77%) of the scholars, expenses towards internet data costs have increased after JNU has closed. Of the scholars who reported having increased- expenses towards the internet, more than half (53.5%) said that the costs have increased significantly.

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During the course of their research programme, scholars, their supervisors and research advisory committees meet regularly to discuss work-

Others, progress and improvements. Without discussions on work 10% progress, it is hard to chart out the future course of action. Given the high-level of inconsistency in internet Yes, No, 34% 56% accessibility, it is unsurprising that a majority (56%) have not been able to have regular phone/video meetings with their supervisors. Another 10% reported to have been in occasional contact, some only via email, phone and Figure 7: After JNU closed, whether been able to have regular WhatsApp. phone/video meetings with supervisor

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Stalled fieldwork and the work progress predicament

Respondents to the survey assess themselves as showing a steep decline in work efficiency, to an overall tune of 94.5%. Of these, 53.2% Yes, I have been able to 5% report only being able to work work regularly intermittently, while 41.3% stated that they Yes, I have been able to work, but only 53% have not been able to work at all. For 88.2% intermittently of the research scholars, this decrease in No, I have not been able 41% to work at all work efficiency was a consequence of the closure of the University in March 2020. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Figure 8: Whether able to work on research (reading or writing or data collection)

Nearly three-fifth (67.2%) of the respondents to our survey reported that they needed to access resources outside JNU, including in Delhi-NCR, places outside of Delhi-NCR and places outside India, with only 32.8% scholars asserting that the resources available in JNU were adequate for their research. With the pandemic having occasioned a large scale disruption in travel, it is only to be expected that research scholars’ research work has come to a standstill.

32.8 % Ordinarily, work on a PhD roughly involves the following: coursework, reading secondary sources and doing a pilot 67.2 % study (if working with primary data) for writing one’s proposal, writing up one’s research proposal/synopsis,

Those dependent on resources collecting secondary data, collecting primary data (if any), outside JNU analysing primary and/or secondary data, writing up one’s Those dependent only on resources within JNU findings, although these need not be in order. Researchers Figure 9: Location of may need to go back and forth between these depending on theses/synopsis related material the field and type of research.

A core component of research programmes is the need for data collection (both primary and secondary). In terms of an overall picture of progress, our survey shows that only 20% of scholars have completed more than 75% of their primary data collection. 15% scholars are still in course work and 26% scholars have not yet started their data collection. Further, 26.5% have

10 completed less than 50% of their data collection. This is entailed by the architecture of the research programme itself, as for most disciplines, primary data collection is usually begun and between years II and IV of the PhD programme and Year II of the M. Phil. programme. Such collection can only begin after research synopses are approved, i.e. in PhD second or third year.

2% 1% 2% 2% 2% 6% 2% 13% 12% 7% 17% 6% 13% 4% All primary data collection 3% 5% 8% 42% complete 38% 12% 17% 13% 38% Above 75% primary data collected 23% 26% 51-75% primary data collected 90% 44% 25% 81% Below 50% primary data collected 55% 29% 22% 40% Primary data collection yet to 25% start/ I am still in coursework 2% 21% 8%

Figure 10: Status of primary data collection

At the time of the survey, more than 80% of research scholars in the first year of research programmes, had done no primary data collection when the pandemic struck. Of the mid- programme research scholars, more than half (55%) of research scholars in PhD II year were yet to begin fieldwork (while 42% of them had completed less than 50% of their data collection). Of those in PhD III year, 70% had completed less than 50% of data collection. Only students close to submission (i.e.) in PhD IV year (57.3%), 9B (89.8%) or MPhil second year (50%) had completed more than 50% of primary data collection.

Primary data collection often requires fieldwork with access to human, animal or plant populations. 46% of respondents reported working with human/animal/plant populations. Amongst these respondents, 70.4% also reported that the population they work with is vulnerable, i.e. disadvantaged socio-economically or physically as humans or endangered/threatened as animal/plants. This vulnerability implies that at least for the duration

11 of the pandemic, research scholar’s access to the populations they work with will be restricted for a large part of the duration of the degree.

Research scholars were of the opinion that given the ongoing nature of the pandemic, and therefore a continuing difficulty in doing fieldwork, a flexible approach was needed. When asked if they think they may need to change the title of their thesis or modify its scope, considering the ongoing pandemic, about one-third (32.5%) said that they may require to change one of these two.

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The abysmal state of fellowship disbursal

The fellowship disbursal rate of JNU scholars paints a financial horror story:

“It has been stopped for the last 8 months due to no JRF SRF upgradation”

– a PhD second year research scholar

“I haven't received fellowship in past 10 months”

- a PhD second year research scholar

“It hasn't come since Aug 2019” – a PhD second year research scholar

JNU students avail UGC scholarships/fellowships 17 , Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) scholarships/fellowships, state government fellowships, and other fellowships which are operated by external agencies and departments (like the ICSSR fellowships). In 2017, the UGC and CSIR ones were moved under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Scheme of the Public Financial Management System with the intention of efficient and transparent disbursal of fellowships 18 . The Non-NET fellowships of UGC are, however, disbursed via the universities where the fellow is enrolled19.

Figure 11: Participant scholars’ fellowship

Financial types Percentage of scholars JRF/RGNF & equivalents (Rs 31,000) 28.8 Non-NET Rs 5000 23.5 Former fellowship holder (do not 20.5 receive any fellowship currently) SRF equivalent (Rs 35,000) 9.3 Non-NET Rs 8000 9.1 ICSSR fellowship (Rs 20,000) 3.8 Others 3.8 Foreign national (Self-financed) 0.9 Foreign national (home govt. financed) 0.4

There are large differences in the monthly stipend amount of these fellowships. Apart from fellowship amounts varying vastly from type to type, fellowship from these bodies are known to be disbursed erratically.20 A news report from June 2019 noted that the then new CSIR grievance cell was inundated with messages from aggrieved students21. The most frequent grievances were about fellowship delays, and non-revision of payment of stipends which came into effect in January 201922. Over the years, there have also been delays in revision of

13 fellowship amounts with respect to inflation rates and delays in notifications for Minority and SC/ST fellowships23.

The issue of untimely disbursal of stipends seems to have been exacerbated across universities in the context of the pandemic. There are a series of news reports from every month since the beginning of the lockdown, from April24, May25, June26, July27, and during the period after the administering of the survey until the writing of this report, i.e. from August28 reflecting the distress scholars are being subjected to with regards to finances. Students report having had to buy expensive tickets to reach home before transportation halted in March, apart from not having received fellowships since July and August 2019. Students note that their fellowships are the minimum source of survival, many using them to support families. Scholars from marginalised backgrounds, many having also lost family incomes during the lockdown, are particularly vulnerable. Some have not got money since July-August 2019 while others have had to even take loans in order to meet expenses during the lockdown. There are reports of students being bankrupt, with mental health being affected. In May, having not been paid in six months, a pan Indian group of research scholars even wrote to the Prime Minister 29.

Figure 12: Last Received Fellowship

3 months ago 4.3% 2 months ago 6.5% Last month 24.6% More than 3 months ago 64.7%

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0%

While JNU research scholars’ fellowships are not known to be disbursed regularly as a salary, with around three-fourth (77.7% former fellows and 70.5% current fellows) having got fellowships erratically in bulk before the pandemic as well, things have worsened since the onset of the pandemic. In June-July 2020, most current fellowship holders from JNU (64.7%), had last received their fellowship more than three months ago. In fact, a majority of current fellows (66.2%) had not received any money since the pandemic began, indicating a significant discontinuity, in the disbursal of fellowships.

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To make matters worse, the pandemic has caused more scholars to extend financial support to their families. An already significant share of 70.0% 60% current fellowship holders from JNU (40.1%) 60.0% I used my 53% fellowship were using their fellowship money to support exclusively for 50.0% 47% my research their families30, besides using it for research 40% work and daily- 40.0% expenses work and daily expense before the onset. With

30.0% I used my the arrival of the pandemic this share has fellowship for my climbed to 52.8%. 20.0% researchwork, daily expenses With significant irregularity and delay in 10.0% and to support my family fellowship disbursal present across fellowship 0.0% Before the After the types, Non-NET fellows, who get money via pandemic pandemic's arrival JNU, and ICSSR fellows are clearly worse off. Not only is their fellowship amount Figure 13: Expenses of current fellows before and after the arrival of the pandemic significantly lower than that of JRF (and other equivalents) fellows, 85% of them have not got money in more than three months, as opposed to 45% of JRF fellows. However, what is also noteworthy is that nearly half of the JRF scholars had received their fellowships no sooner than three months ago and are thus not benefitting from the DBT scheme, which was introduced with the sole aim of automating and regularising fellowship disbursal. During a pandemic, when people are more vulnerable financially than ever, with the potential loss of family incomes and emergency medical expenses right around the corner, research scholars are left without their livelihood.

Figure 14: When DBT (Direct Bank Transfer) and Non-DBT(Non- NET and ICSSR) current fellows last received their fellowships 4%

DBT 41% 10% 45%

Non DBT 8% 85%

3% 4%

Last month 2 months ago 3 months ago More than 3 months ago

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Research scholars’ grim mental health

“During the pandemic the worst thing [that] happened to me is the ill mental health. Situation is such I am now unable to think. Even I can't read, write. I feel so much anxiety about my family, migrant workers, my own health, future job prospect. Due to the situation I missed many deadlines of the online submission of the course work. Even now also I could not able to do an iota of my research work. I was even into medication for all this mental stress. This pandemic has hit me hard at every cost.”

– a PhD first year research scholar

Doing a PhD has been widely reported to be a stressful endeavour. The 2019 Nature survey on research scholars31 around the world reveals that more than one third (36%) report having had to seek help for anxiety or depression caused by PhD studies. Another study from 201432, conducted to exclusively understand the mental health and suicidal behaviour of research scholars of a university in the US, found that more than half of the students claimed feeling nervous, irritable, stressed, anxious, lonely, or having fights/arguments. A huge majority (95.4%) attested “feeling nervous and worrying a lot.” A study in Belgium33, which researched 12 mental health symptoms on 3659 PhD students had 51% reporting at least two symptoms, while 40% reported at least three. Having reported at least four symptoms, 32% were at a risk of having or developing a common psychiatric disorder, particularly depression. This figure was 2.43 times higher than those obtained from the general population.

Generally, there is a severe dearth of research on the mental health of research scholars in India. However, there is some work on the mental health of university students. A 2016 study34 done with students (aged 21y-26y) of a central university in India found that 37.7% suffer from moderate depression, while 15.6% suffer from severe or extremely severe depression. Journalists too have drawn attention to the mental health of university students.

Since the onset of the pandemic, mental practitioners in India report having received increased SOS calls from the general population, which they say can be attributed to the COVID-19 lockdown, the circumstances of the pandemic may have triggered, including job losses and financial distress, domestic violence, among others35. Depressive episodes among healthy people are on the rise and some mood disorders have aggravated to major anxiety disorders. University students too seem not to have been spared36. University of Delhi, upon assessing 45

16 students from its tele-counselling sessions37 during the pandemic, found that a majority of the students are suffering from generalised anxiety disorder and restlessness, with the most common issue being a sense of hopelessness about their future. In other countries too, doctoral students’ mental health has been found to have worsen this year38, as opposed to 2019.

Our survey with JNU scholars reveals prevalence of mass anxiety at a massive scale. 87.5% of

No, the scholars from the survey report being anxious since the 2.5% Maybe, pandemic began. And 10% said they “maybe” anxious. 10.0% Scholars have multiple reasons for their anxiety, with six causes of anxiety reported by the majority. Anxiety about one’s future prospects and problems pertaining to research Yes, 87.5% work, including stalled fieldwork were the most prevalent, being anxiety drivers for nearly 80% of scholars. Lack of clarity regarding extension of research programme (64%) Figure 15: Share of scholars who was the third major cause of anxiety. Of the three anxiety

reported being worried/anxious causing factors pertaining to finances, two were reported by a clear majority; 58% were anxious because of problems pertaining to finances including having run out of money or because of fast-depleting savings and 56% lack were anxious about the lack of clarity regarding fellowship/finances for extension period if extension period is given. The third factor, was reported by a close majority, with 48% being worried about “the financial/health situation at home.”

Along with anxiety/stress caused by stalled research work and financial precarity, there are several other socio-cultural, infrastructural and familial anxieties that a significant share of researchers are subject to. Nearly 40% are worried about the family demands and expectations regarding household work and care responsibilities, with more women than being worried, and close to one third (30.6%) due to family/social pressure regarding marriage.

Of the total respondents, women constitute 58% of total sample. Of the total women, 33.4% reported of being increasingly pressurised by family to get married. Similarly, 40.9% of women said they family demands/expectations regarding household work and care responsibilities have increased after the pandemic.

Men constituted, 41.5% of the total sample of the survey and they were no exceptions to being either pressurised to get married or increased family demands after the onset of pandemic.

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Amongst all men, 24.5% said they are increasingly being pressurised by family to get married. 33.6% told family demands/expectations regarding household work and care responsibilities have increased for them after the pandemic.

Figure 16: Share of scholars who reported these respective reasons as causes for anxiety

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0%

Anxiety regarding my future prospects 79%

Problems pertaining to research work (including stalled 78% field work)

Lack of clarity regarding extension of research programme 64%

Problems pertaining to finances (have run out of money or 58% my savings are depleting fast etc.)

Anxiety about the worth/relevance of my research 58%

Lack of clarity regarding fellowship/finances for extension 56% period, in case research period extension is given

The financial/health situation at home worries me 48%

Family demands/expectations regarding household work 39% and care responsibilities

Family/social pressure regarding marriage 31%

Problems pertaining to infrastructure (electricity or internet 28% or electronic devices etc.)

Problems pertaining to accommodation 27%

Problems pertaining to food procural (scarcity of food etc) 18%

Experiences of caste/religious discrimination targeted 9% towards my community/family

Violence/abuse in the home 7%

Others 4%

“These are unprecedented times. The uncertain nature of the current times is directly affecting mental and physical health along which leads to declining in work related productivity. The university requires to take cognisance of the mental anxiety of the researchers and should come up with a clear road map which benefits the research scholars.”- a PhD third year research scholar

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The UGC, in April, recommended that universities and colleges set up helplines for the mental health and well-being of their students. Even with most of its students now displaced from campus, JNU is yet to begin an online counselling service. Further, the university health centre has only one mental health practitioner to cater to all its students, its academic and administrative staff.

Apart from the numbers telling us that their mental health is a matter of concern, scholars have also written about the state of their mental health in the comments section that was provided at towards the end of the survey. Scholars who are currently staying at home mention not having family support or resources to access mental health practitioners. “Don't have access to therapy anymore either as it is expensive and as parents are not supportive of my mental health issues and I cannot tell them about it. Staying at home is the most difficult part.”, writes an MPhil scholar.

Students have also suggested that the administration launch a mental health helpline number. “…Mass counselling and therapy should be made accessible during this period to researchers coping with depression and other mental illness….”, says a scholar from PhD third year. Another scholar, from MPhil second year, writes: “…There must be some way to make mental healthcare or telephonic counselling possible for students”

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In desperate need of research period and fellowship extensions

“The least University can do is give confidence to the research scholars that they will not be forced to submit their work in coming 6 months as they are not able to interact properly with their guide and are not able to work on their data as they used to before COVID 19 situation and those students who need extension should [be] provided [extensions] without any hindrances.”

- a PhD fourth year research scholar

“My only humble request to the university is to extend research period as there may be many unfortunate student[s] who really wants to complete their Ph.D. enduring all the adversities.”

- a clause 9B research year scholar

Academic workers, including research scholars, across the world have been appealing to universities and funding authorities to extend their work deadlines and renew their funding39. Universities in the UK have set up thesis submission extension application processes in view of the pandemic, with grounds for consideration for extensions including lack of access to resources, university premises and fieldwork sites, care-responsibilities and COVID-19 related sickness and impact on mental health40. The NSF funded COVID study in the US found that 51% of research scholars expected to require at least 6 months longer to complete their degrees, while another 36% said they would need a year extra.

In March, before the JNU closed, authorities had stated that appropriate extensions to the deadlines of thesis submission would be given to all research scholars, including those in 9B, when the situation is normal41. The UGC too in April recommended that a six-month extension be considered for students who are yet to submit their thesis i.e. all currently registered research scholars of a university42. At the time of writing the report, only those with submission dates in June 2020 had been provided extensions, till December 2020. There has, however, been no information regarding the status of thesis extensions of scholars of other years either by the UGC or JNU administration.

It is evident that poor mental health, large scale financial hardship, substantial amounts of pending primary data collection, a lack of research resources on the internet, coupled with poor

20 internet access and the closure of the university work-spaces are now a reality that JNU research scholars are forced to grapple with.

85.4 % of the scholars said they need a research period extension. More than three-fourth of

Others, 3% the terminal students i.e. 9B students (73%) and MPhil second year students (74%) said they preferred a six month-extension. No, The high preference amongst terminal year students for the 12% shortest research period extension option could be because they are at the final stages of their thesis work i.e. in the writing Yes, 85% phase, an argument captured also by the status of primary data collection in the previous section. However, majority of the scholars of no other year prefer an extension of just six-months.

Figure 17: Is Research Period Overall, the most sought-after extension period is nothing less Extension Required? than one year. It is important to note here that all extension period options were stated as starting from when the university reopens, and therefore even those who asked for the shortest extensions did so with the intent that the extension periods be calculated from when the university reopens.

Figure 18: Preferred period of research period extension

15% 23% 23% 35% 40% 41% 12% 6 months starting from 46% 49% 3% when JNU reopens

36% 14% 22% 1 year starting from 22% when JNU reopens 21% 26% 73% 74% should be equal to the period of the entire 46% 41% 43% 37% 33% pandemic 25%

Close to three-fourth (71.9 %) of the scholars also stated that without a research period extension they will not be able to submit their thesis on time. Another 13.5 % scholars were

21 either unsure or reported that they will be able to submit, but at the cost of the quality of their research work. Further, 69.7% of the participants responded that they do not want the option to deregister and return later to complete their degrees. The message is clear: research scholars do not want to compromise on the quality of their research. Instead, they prefer research period extensions in order to complete their research work, to the best of their potential and be awarded their degrees at the latest.

Figure 19: Whether capable of sustaining oneself if given a research period extension but no fellowship 100.0% Equally importantly, research scholars do not have 82.5% 80.0% adequate finances to take care of the expenses 66.3% 60.0% incurred towards their research and daily needs.

40.0% 33.7% Finances during the research period extension is a

17.5% 20.0% matter of special concern. More than three-fourth

0.0% (79.2%) said they cannot sustain themselves if Former fellows Current fellows Yes No fellowships are not provided for the duration of the extension. While those who have savings would use them if there is no fellowship corresponding to the research period extension (40% former fellows, 25.7% current fellows), or borrow money from friends/family (27% former fellows, 28.7% current fellows), only a minority would ask their family to support them financially (22%former fellows, 18.2% current fellows).

100% 11% will 27% deregister/dropout to find a job 40% will use savings 26% 50%

27% will borrow money 29% from friends/family

22% 18% family will support 0% financially Former fellows Current fellows

Figure 20: source of finances if no fellowship provided during research period extension

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Research scholar dropouts likely

“..I’m in the 3rd year of my PhD and collecting data for my thesis. But due to the pandemic I’m not able to do much for my research work. So, we demand at least one semester (6 months) extension with fellowship to complete the degree. If not, we’ll not be able continue our research work or will have to drop the course and get into a job for survival. My other friends are also in the same situation.”

–a PhD third year research scholar

As per the 2018-19 All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) report, India’s PhD enrolment rate is just 0.5% of total enrolment in higher education, a figure abysmally low for a country with high developmental aspirations. Moreover, the percentage share of enrolment in doctoral programmes has remained stagnant for nearly ten years43. In 2013, completion rates of PhDs in India stood at just fifty-percent44.

While much lower than the national average, JNU too has its fair share of dropouts. In 2018, 16.9% of the 2014-15 MPhil/PhD students of JNU had dropped out. 7.6% and 2.7% of those from the 2015-16 and 2016-17 batches had already dropped out by 201845. It is likely that a substantial percentage of scholars will dropout of their research programmes during or in the aftermath of the pandemic i.e. this year or in the next few years, unless the roadblocks they face with regards of stalled research work and poor finances are mitigated.

Figure 21: Share of research scholars who choose the respective options as reasons for dropping out of their research programme

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0%

If unable to access resources required for research work 54% (primary material/secondary material/lab facility) If research period extended but unable to manage finances 44% for that period

If needed to look for a job to support family 42%

If pressurized by family to get married 11%

If no option to change title/modify the scope of research 11%

others 10%

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The survey results predict that a sizeable share of research scholar dropouts is likely, with disruption to research scholars’ access to resources and financial adversity being at heart of the reasons for dropping out. When asked to pick reasons that may cause them to drop out of their programmes, non-access to research work resources, and two choices on financial difficulties – lack of finances during a hypothetical research period extension and the need to get a job to support family – were opted for by large shares of scholars.

53.9% of the scholars also say that they would dropout if they are inability to access resources required for research work (primary material/secondary material/lab facility). This is a crucial indicator of the gravity of non-accessibility of resources of research. Additionally, there is significant correlation between the amount of primary data collection completed by scholars, and this response type. This is also in tandem with a large majority having reported problems pertaining to research work as a cause of anxiety, as discussed in the section on scholar’s mental health.

More than 40% of the respondents said they would drop out in case of financial distress -- 44% said they would dropout if their research period is extended but they cannot manage their finances, and 42% said that they would do so if they needed to look for a job to support their family.

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Recommendations

Research scholars are national assets who are essential to understand the ongoing changes in the society and economy. Investing in research is the need of the hour especially with respect to our national interest when we are living through a pandemic. Based on the findings of the survey, we recommend the following:

 Covid-19 has disrupted the everyday functioning and has jeopardised everyone’s life. In view of national interest, the impact of the pandemic on research scholars is drastic and multi-fold. Unlike graduation courses with syllabi, research degrees require each scholar to work on a unique and completely novel topic. This research is therefore of the greatest value and asset to the nation, and this fact must first be acknowledged. Research scholars need to be actively supported given the large scale disruption caused to their work by the ongoing pandemic.

 Our research shows that there has been no consultation with them by the higher education institutions they are enrolled in, and none of their difficulties and concerns have been addressed. Research scholars must be actively consulted in decisions about the nature of support they need. Furthermore, steps must be taken to ensure the timely and regular disbursal of fellowships to research students, who overwhelmingly rely on these amounts to fund their research and living expenses.

 Our survey clearly shows that online research is a myth. With little to no digital content available, and no vaccine being found, fieldwork cannot take place. UGC and university rules should be amended to adapt to the given situation to ensure that there are no drop- outs. Specifically, amendments to the scope of research topic as defined by initial research proposals should be allowed by institutional and UGC rules, so that knowledge production of quality is made possible even in these times of unprecedented crisis.

 Our survey shows that both terminal year as well as non-terminal year research scholars have been equally affected by the pandemic. As seen globally, research scholars in India too need to be given a research period extension, necessarily accompanied by scholarship extension to compensate for the time loss during pandemic.

 Our survey shows mental health of the scholars has been worst affected. Uncertainty of impending research work, financial ambiguity and concern about future prospects all

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have become issues of concern. Mental health anxiety should be immediately recognized by the university administration and set up counselling services for its research scholars as recommended.

 Our survey shows that the continued closure of university campuses is depriving research scholars of even the limited avenues they have to continue with their work. For research scholars to access the work they have already done, but which is locked up in their hostel rooms and in library carrels, and to access the secondary resources in libraries and archives, universities need to re-open in a staggered or phase manner.

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1 World Health Organization, “In WHO Global Pulse Survey, 90% of Countries Report Disruptions to Essential Health Services since COVID-19 Pandemic,” World Health Organization-News Release, accessed September 8, 2020, https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/31-08-2020-in-who-global-pulse-survey-90-of-countries-report- disruptions-to-essential-health-services-since-covid-19-pandemic. 2 The World Bank, “Productivity Growth, Key Driver of Poverty Reduction, Threatened by COVID-19 Disruptions,” July 14, 2020, https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/07/14/productivity-growth- threatened-by-covid-19-disruptions; Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), “Quarterly National Accounts : G20 - Quarterly Growth Rates of GDP in Volume,” OECD.stats, accessed September 8, 2020, https://stats.oecd.org/index.aspx?queryid=33940; Government of India, “Estimates of Gross Domestic Product for the First Quarter (April-June) of 2020-21,” Press Information Bureau, August 31, 2020, pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1650021; The World Bank, “Projected Poverty Impacts of COVID-19 (Coronavirus),” Text/HTML, World Bank, August 6, 2020, https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/brief/projected-poverty-impacts-of-COVID-19. 3 United Nations, “Policy Brief: Education during Covid-19 and Beyond,” August 2020, https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2020/08/sg_policy_brief_covid- 19_and_education_august_2020.pdf. 4 International Labour Organization, “Youth and Covid-19: Impacts on Jobs, Education, Rights and Mental Well-Being-Survey Report 2020,” 2020, https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/--- ed_emp/documents/publication/wcms_753026.pdf. 5 Jawaharlal Nehru University, “Statistical Data Fact Sheet,” accessed September 4, 2020, /datafactsheet. http://www.jnu.ac.in/datafactsheet 6 All registered JNU students whose degrees are contingent on submitting a dissertation were considered as respondents for the survey. This included research scholars pursuing PhDs and MPhils, and students from MTech programmes 7 Ministry of Human Resource Development, “All India Survey on Higher Education 2018-19” (Government of India, 2019). 8 Ministry of Human Resource Development, “All India Survey on Higher Education 2018-19.” 9 “OECD Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook 2016,” Text, OECD i Library, accessed September 8, 2020, https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/science-and-technology/oecd-science-technology-and-innovation-outlook- 2016_sti_in_outlook-2016-en. 10 Total higher education enrolment is 37.4 million. Ministry of Human Resource Development, “All India Survey on Higher Education 2018-19.” 11 Over the years, studies around the world, including ones sponsored by public bodies, have attempted to understand the lives of research scholars. Some studies include the Cooperative Project for Graduate Surveys (KOAB) in Germany, which surveys in 60 universities, among other aspects, the situation of research scholars before and after entering the research programme, programme conditions and progress of research scholars’ careers. The 2019 Post Graduate Research Experience Survey surveyed 50,000 research scholars across 107 higher education institutions in the UK. Nature has been conducting a biennial survey since the last ten years on research scholars across the globe. 12 15,346 research and professional students participated in this survey. 13 https://www.chronicle.com/article/how-has-the-pandemic-affected-graduate-students-this-study-has-answers 14 The University of Hyderabad gauged students’ internet accessibility in the context of universities classes being moved online. The Jawaharlal Nehru Students’ Union (JNUSU) surveyed students on their productivity, access to finances, internet and online classes among others. 15 National Statistical Office, “Key Indicators of Household Social Consumption on Education in India-NSS 75th Round (July 2017 to June 2018)” (Government of India, 2019). 16 “Proposal for Online Classes Elicits Mixed Responses from UoH Students: Survey,” UOH Herald, accessed September 10, 2020, https://herald.uohyd.ac.in/proposal-for-online-classes-elicits-mixed-responses-from-uoh- students-survey/.

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17 The UGC implements fellowships for the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Ministry of Minority Affairs and Ministry of Tribal Affairs. 18 Government of India, “DBT Schemes,” Direct Benefit Transfer-Government of India, accessed September 4, 2020, https://dbtbharat.gov.in/scheme/scheme-list; Press Trust of India, “UGC Brings Fellowship Schemes Brought under DBT,” Outlook, https://www.outlookindia.com/, July 4, 2017, https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/ugc-brings-fellowship-schemes-brought-under-dbt/1024031. 19The UGC Non-NET fellowship amounts to Rs. 5000/- per month (upper limit Rs 8000/- per month), while the JRF amount of various agencies is Rs 31,000/- (upper limit Rs. 35,000) i.e. 6.2 times higher than the Non-NET stipend amount. The Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) amounts to Rs Rs 70,000/- per month (upper limit Rs. 80,000/- per month) i.e. 2.3 times higher than the JRF amount and 14 times higher than the Non-NET amount. (See Government of India, “Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) Scheme,” Ministry of Human Resource-Government of India, May 2020, https://may2020.pmrf.in). 20 Musab Qazi, “Researchers Left High and Dry: Mumbai University Scholars Haven’t Received Fellowships for Last 6 Months,” Hindustan Times, April 26, 2017, https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbai- university-scholars-haven-t-received-monthly-fellowships-for-last-six-months/story- 6oDnGqOgnbFw8iLrE8Vb1L.html; Sadaf Aman, “Delayed Payments of Fellowships Leave UGC Students at Hyderabad in the Lurch,” The New Indian Express, April 24, 2017, https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2017/apr/24/delayed-payments-of-fellowships-leave-ugc- students-at-hyderabad-in-the-lurch-1597062.html. 21 Qazi, “Researchers Left High and Dry”; Yunus Y. Lasania, “UGC Delaying Funds for Research Scholars: OU Students,” The Hindu, March 13, 2016, sec. Hyderabad, https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/ugc- delaying-funds-for-research-scholars-ou-students/article8348281.ece. (a.o) 22 Anjali Marar, “CSIR Grievance Cell for Research Fellows Flooded with Distress Messages about Stipends,” The Indian Express, June 25, 2019, https://indianexpress.com/article/education/csir-grievance-cell-for-research- fellows-flooded-with-distress-messages-about-stipends-5798127/. 23 Nayantara Narayanan, “Why Top Research Fellows Are Protesting across India (and Not Getting Much Attention),” Text, Scroll.in (https://scroll.in, February 19, 2015), http://scroll.in/article/707789/why-top- research-fellows-are-protesting-across-india-and-not-getting-much-attention; T. V. Padma, “India’s PhD Students on Hunger Strike over Delayed Pay Rise,” Nature News, February 24, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature.2015.16969; Shihabudeen Kunju, “No Minority, SC And ST Scholarship Notifications In Past 2 Years: Researchers,” NDTV.com, November 20, 2018, https://www.ndtv.com/education/no-minority-manf-sc-and-st-rgnf-scholarship-notifications-in-past-2-years- researchers-1950281. 24 Anjali Marar, “Pune: Amid Lockdown, Research Scholars Await Stipend, Word from Funding Agencies,” The Indian Express, April 13, 2020, https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/amid-lockdown-research- scholars-await-pending-stipend-communication-from-funding-agencies-6360810/; Shihabudeen Kunju, “Immediately Disburse Fellowships: Students To UGC,” NDTV.com, April 22, 2020, https://www.ndtv.com/education/ugc-fellowships-scholarships-immediately-disburse-fellowships-demand- students-2215555. 25 Shyna Karla, “No Stipend since Months, Lockdown Worsens Situation: Research Scholars Write to PM Modi,” The Indian Express, May 4, 2020, https://indianexpress.com/article/education/no-stipend-since-months- lockdown-worsens-woes-researchers-write-to-pm-6379052/; Charan Teja, “‘Can Hardly Afford Food, Rent’: Research Scholars Urge UGC for Pending Fellowships,” The News Minute, May 21, 2020, https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/can-hardly-afford-food-rent-research-scholars-urge-ugc-pending- fellowships-124981. 26 Sukanya Charuchandra, “CSIR Scholars Complain They Haven’t Been Paid for Several Months,” The Wire Science, June 29, 2020, https://science.thewire.in/the-sciences/csir-research-scholars-stipends-delayed- lockdown/. 27 Istikhar Ali, “Hungry and Desperate, University Students Wait for Scholarship Money,” The Citizen, July 13, 2020, https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/9/19043/Hungry-and-Desperate-University- Students-Wait-for-Scholarship-Money; Sushmita Panda, “JNU Students Wait for Pending Scholarships amid 28

COVID-19 Pandemic,” India TV, July 8, 2020, https://www.indiatvnews.com/education/news-jnu-students- wait-for-pending-scholarships-amid-covid-19-pandemic-632612; Goradia, “Online Petition.” 28 Basant Kumar Mohanty, “Lock on Jamia, JNU Research Funds,” The Telegraph Online, June 8, 2020, https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/coronavirus-lockdown-lock-on-jamia-jnu-research-funds/cid/1788362; Shihabudeen Kunju, “Research Scholars Complain Non-Payment of Fellowships,” NDTV.com, July 8, 2020, https://www.ndtv.com/education/research-scholars-complain-non-payment-of-fellowships. 29 Research scholars in other countries too have been reporting a lack of finances for basic sustenance. In the NSF study done in the US, a quarter of the scholars had experienced food security issues. 24% were worried that their food would run out before they could buy more. 12% admitted to not having sufficient food, and no money to buy more. A lack of secure housing options were experienced by one fourth. ....Problems pertaining to food procure like scarcity of food (17.8%) were all reported as causes of anxiety. 30 A sizeable share of former fellowship holders (38.7%) too used to use their fellowship money, while they were receiving it 31 “2019 Nature PhD Students Survey Data,” figshare, July 11, 2019, https://figshare.com/s/74a5ea79d76ad66a8af8. 32 Renee Eleftheriades, Clare Fiala, and Maria D. Pasic, “The Challenges and Mental Health Issues of Academic Trainees,” F1000Research 9 (February 11, 2020), https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.21066.1. 33 Katia Levecque et al., “Work Organization and Mental Health Problems in PhD Students,” Research Policy 46, no. 4 (May 1, 2017): 868–79, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2017.02.008. 34 Sibnath Deb et al., “Depression among Indian University Students and Its Association with Perceived University Academic Environment, Living Arrangements and Personal Issues,” Asian Journal of Psychiatry 23 (October 1, 2016): 108–17, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2016.07.010. 35 Avneet Kaur, “Covid Triggers a Historic Rise in Mental Health Cases,” Tribuneindia, accessed September 7, 2020, https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jalandhar/covid-triggers-a-historic-rise-in-mental-health-cases- 129741; Kaur, “Covid Triggers a Historic Rise in Mental Health Cases”; Our Correspondent, “Lockdown Triggers Spike in Mental Disorders across Households,” The Telegraph Online, accessed September 7, 2020, https://www.telegraphindia.com/jharkhand/lockdown-triggers-spike-in-mental-disorders-across- households/cid/1782460. 36 Mohammad Ibrar, “Lockdown Triggers Rise in Mental Health Issues among Students: Delhi University Professor | Delhi News - Times of India,” The Times of India, May 19, 2020, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/lockdown-triggers-rise-in-mental-health-issues-among-students- delhi-university-professor/articleshow/75826330.cms. HT Correspondent, “Colleges Asked to Focus on Students’ Mental Health, Provide Support,” Hindustan Times, June 28, 2020, https://www.hindustantimes.com/gurugram/colleges-asked-to-focus-on-students-mental-health-provide- support/story-IOh2i0MC4fst3ZoaQYY9AP.html. 37 University of Delhi, “Mental Health Counselling,” April 9, 2020, https://www.du.ac.in/du/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=26757&cntnt01returnid=83. 38 In the SERU survey, 36% of doctoral research students show a prevalence of a major depressive disorder (MDD) and 43% have a prevalence of a generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). Compared to results from 2019, prevalence of MDD was 2 times higher, and GAD 1.5 times higher in 2020. The prevalence of both disorders was systematically higher amongst those who could not adapt well to remote instruction. 39 Jon Marcus, “Amid Pandemic, Graduate Student Workers Are Winning Long-Sought Contracts,” Washington Post, accessed September 9, 2020, https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/07/19/grad-student- unions-pandemic/; Kangkan Kalita, “PhD Students Call for Research Tenure Extension amidst Pandemic - Times of India,” The Times of India, July 30, 2020, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/phd-students-call-for-research-tenure-extension- amidst-pandemic/articleshow/77252680.cms; Liz Kimbrough, “Field Research, Interrupted: How the COVID- 19 Crisis Is Stalling Science,” Mongambay, April 9, 2020, https://news.mongabay.com/2020/04/field-research- interrupted-how-the-covid-19-crisis-is-stalling-science/; Jack Grove, “Coronavirus: UK PhD Students Urge Automatic Funding Extensions,” Times Higher Education (THE), April 3, 2020, https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/coronavirus-uk-phd-students-urge-automatic-funding- extensions.;Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union, “Regarding Issue of Evaluation, Academic Backlog, 29

and Scholarships in JNU in View of the Lockdown,” April 21, 2020.; Abha Goradia, “Online Petition: PhD Students Urge MHRD to Extend Research, Fellowship Tenure by Six Months,” The Indian Express, July 27, 2020, https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/online-petition-phd-students-urge-mhrd-to-extend- research-fellowship-tenure-by-six-months-6524917/. 40 “Extending Your Submission Date,” Text, University of Cambridge, November 7, 2014, https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/postgraduate-study/your-student-status/extending-your- end-registration-date. 41Registrar’s Office, “Notification (19th March, 2020)” (Jawaharlal Nehru University, March 19, 2020). 42 University Grants Commission, “UGC Guidelines on Examinations and Academic Calendar in View of COVID-19 Pandemic,” April 29, 2020, https://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/5369929_Letter-regarding-UGC- Guidelines-on-Examinations-and-Academic-Calendar.pdf; University Grants Commission, “UGC Guidelines on Examinations and Academic Calendar for the Universities in View of COVID-19 Pandemic and Subsequent Lockdown,” April 2020, https://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/4276446_UGC-Guidelines-on-Examinations-and- Academic-Calendar.pdf. (Page 7, point no.13). 43 https://thewire.in/education/india-phd-students-aishe-2018-report-higher-education 44 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/Southern-states-have-1/3rd-of-PhD- enrolments/articleshow/25528928.cms 45 https://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2018/apr/22/academic-pressure-indias-second-best- university-jnu-has-high-dropout-rates-1804621.html

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