Magadh University joins anti-plagiarism platform

GAYA: Magadh University (MU) has joined the Shodh Ganga project, an anti-plagiarism platform for instant verification of the genuineness of PhD dissertations.
The university has got direct access to the thesis bank having more than one lakh PhD theses in its memory. MU vice-chancellor Qamar Ahsan said direct access to the Shodh Ganga mechanism would help the university in obtaining report on plagiarism within six hours of uploading the dissertation.
Earlier, in July this year, the Postgraduate Research Council (PGRC) of the university had made anti-plagiarism test mandatory for evaluation and subsequent award of degrees.The PGRC either rejected or kept in abeyance 28 of the 55 research proposals received from the departments of physics, chemistry, mathematics, botany, geography, biotechnology and environmental sciences.
Only one of the 10 research proposals in physics was approved. The lone proposal from botany department was also rejected. None of the two proposals received for research in biotechnology was approved, while the lone proposal for research in environmental science has been referred to the chairman of Bihar State Pollution Control Board for opinion.
The MU has earned infamy for recycling of old PhD theses with cosmetic changes here and there and the award of several degrees against the same dissertation.
A few months ago, the Higher Education Commission of the government of Thailand rejected 40 PhD degrees awarded by Magadh University to Thai nationals. Sources said the number of rejections would go up as the higher education body of Thailand was scrutinising all PhD degrees awarded by MU to its nationals during the last three decades.
The Vigilance Investigation Bureau of the state police is investigating allegations of fraudulent award of more than 300 PhD degrees to foreign nationals, quite a few of whom, as per the allegation, got degrees without even visiting the country. As per the norms, foreign students can obtain degrees from the Indian universities only after fulfilling conditions like eligibility for enrolment, student visas and NOC from higher education regulators.
No less than three former VCs, an equal number of principals, former controller of exams and other university officials have been chargesheeted by the Economic Offences Unit of the state police. All the three former VCs facing trial are now dead.