MUMBAI, Sept. 27 -- More than 200 students who cleared the PhD Entrance Test (PET) at the University of Mumbai are facing an uncertain future as they are still waiting for research guides. On the other hand, 21 professors who have applied for recognition as PhD guides since early 2024 are also awaiting approval. The delay is putting both students and teachers in limbo, despite meeting all the required norms. Without recognised guides, they cannot register for PhD programs. Many fear that their hard work in clearing the exam may go to waste if the university does not resolve the issue soon. The students are anxious as their PET results' validity will expire in December. Teachers are equally frustrated as their applications for guide recognition have been pending for more than a year, despite following the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations. The pending status has denied teachers academic growth and blocked opportunities to supervise research. The lack of recognised guides has also slowed down research activities across various departments of the university. One student who cleared the exam last year, wanting anonymity, shared his struggle. He said it was his second attempt at PET. In 2023, the university had allotted him a PhD guide, but the professor declined to accept him, claiming he had not been consulted during the interview process. As a result, the student's score lapsed, forcing him to clear the exam again. Another professor who had applied for guideship, agreed to guide the student's research. However, the professor's approval is still pending. "If my result becomes invalid again, I don't know what I will do," he said. The Maharashtra Union of Secular Teachers (MUST) has been at the forefront of raising the issue. On September 24, a delegation from the union, led by its president Prof. Vijay Pawar, and general secretary Dr Nirmala Pawar, met MU officials, including Ajay Bhamare, the pro-vice chancellor, and Deputy Registrar of Research, Administration and Promotion Cell. The union has requested that the university extend the validity period of the PET results so that students are not penalised. "This delay is not the fault of students or teachers. It is purely due to administrative shortcomings," said Pawar. When asked, an official from the MU administration said, "The PhD courses in the university are run as per the UGC guidelines. The process of changing the university's rules and procedures as per UGC's new regulations is underway; a committee is working on this."...