The Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE), Pune, offers a Part-Time Ph.D. program in various disciplines such as Economics, Political Science, Sociology, and Statistics. Admission to the program is competitive and based on a rigorous selection process. Below is a detailed overview of the admission process, cutoff, marking scheme, and practice papers for the GIPE Part-Time Ph.D. program.
Eligibility Criteria:
Candidates must hold a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD candidates).
Candidates with a valid UGC-NET/JRF/SET or equivalent qualification are exempt from the written entrance test.
Professional experience in the relevant field is preferred for part-time candidates.
Application Process:
Applications are submitted online through the official GIPE website.
Candidates must provide academic details, research proposals, and other required documents.
Selection Process:
Written Entrance Test: For candidates without UGC-NET/JRF/SET.
Interview: Shortlisted candidates are called for an interview based on their performance in the entrance test or their UGC-NET/JRF/SET score.
The cutoff for the GIPE Ph.D. entrance exam varies each year depending on factors such as the number of applicants, difficulty level of the exam, and available seats.
Candidates with UGC-NET/JRF/SET are given preference, and their cutoff is generally based on their NET/JRF score.
For the written entrance test, the cutoff is usually around 50-60% (may vary for reserved categories).
The written entrance test consists of two parts:
Research Methodology (50 marks):
Questions on research techniques, data analysis, and quantitative methods.
Subject-Specific Knowledge (50 marks):
Questions related to the candidate’s chosen discipline (e.g., Economics, Political Science, etc.).
The total marks for the written test are 100.
The interview carries 50 marks.
The final merit list is prepared based on the combined score of the written test and interview.
To prepare for the GIPE Ph.D. entrance exam, candidates should focus on:
Research Methodology:
Practice questions on research design, sampling techniques, hypothesis testing, and data interpretation.
Subject-Specific Topics:
Revise core concepts from your Master’s syllabus.
Focus on recent developments and trends in your field.
Sample Papers:
Solve previous years’ question papers (if available).
Practice mock tests to improve time management and accuracy.
Understand the Syllabus: Focus on research methodology and subject-specific topics.
Read Research Papers: Familiarize yourself with current research trends in your field.
Practice Quantitative Techniques: For subjects like Economics and Statistics, practice numerical problems and data analysis.
Prepare for the Interview: Be ready to discuss your research proposal and academic background in detail.