CENTRE FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STUDIES

Nizamiah Observatory Campus, Begumpet

Hyderabad - 500 016 Tel : 040-2340 2789, 2341 6780 Fax : 2340 6808 www.cess.ac.in ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Guidelines and Information for Applicants for the M.Phil/Ph.D Programme in Development Studies
The Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) was established as an autonomous organisation registered under the Societies Act in the year 1980 by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Appreciating its role in the promotion of research and training, the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi recognised it as a national institute in the year 1986 and included CESS in its network of institutions. The Centre is situated in the heart of Hyderabad, about 3 k.m. from old Begumpet airport. It is housed in a 5-acre campus in the premises of the Nizamiah Observatory at Begumpet. The main building has an administrative wing, faculty rooms, seminar rooms, lecture halls, a cartographic laboratory and computer and data-processing unit. There are also separate buildings for the library, guesthouse and the newly constructed auditorium. There is a canteen, which offers simple meals at moderate prices. Library and Computer Facilities The Centre's library has a collection of over 30,000 books on different disciplines in social sciences. It also subscribes to 150 periodicals, both Indian and foreign. As a participant of the World Bank Depository Library Programme, the library provides access to the Bank's research, analysis and data. The library is also on the mailing lists of the Asian Development Bank, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and receives their publications. The Centre has continued to liaise with research institutions in India and abroad and thereby has been receiving their research publications. The Centre has number of computers with printers. The Centre has LAN and Internet facilities. The ICSSR has located guidance and consultancy services in data processing at the Centre. Research and Teaching Activities The Centre's research revolves around the economic and social problems of Andhra Pradesh as well as the Indian economy, polity and society. The broad research areas in which the Centre has developed expertise are: Agriculture, Food Security, Rural Development, Social Development, Poverty Alleviation & Unemployment, Industrial Economics, Public Finance, Natural Resource Management and Livelihoods, Gender Studies, Dalit & Tribal Studies, Decentralised Governance, Urbanisation and Regional Development. The Centre has evolved a unique research programme leading to M.Phil and Ph.D in Development Studies. The Programme is undertaken in collaboration with the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad. The Centre has till now admitted 25 batches of M.Phil students and 21 batches of Ph.D students. So far 93 Scholars have been awarded M.Phil degree and 64 scholars the Ph.D degree by the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University. M.Phil Programme The M.Phil Programme is offered in six subjects viz., Commerce, Development Statistics, Economics, Geography, Political Science and Public Administration, and Sociology. This programme is designed to enable persons employed in various organisations to pursue research without much interruption in their professions.

Eligibility for Admission Post-Graduate Degree with 55 per cent marks (50 per cent marks for SC/ST candidates) in the subject concerned or in any allied subject from a recognised university. Entrance Test The admission is based on an Entrance Test in one of the subjects listed above and an Interview. The eligible candidates should appear for a written examination consisting of short answer/essay type questions. The written test shall consist of one paper of two hours duration in the subject in which the candidate seeks admission to the M.Phil course and shall carry 80 marks. The minimum pass marks in the written test is 40 per cent for Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe categories and 50 per cent for others. On this basis, they are called for interview, which carries 20 marks. In case, a large number of candidates secure pass marks, those scoring high marks from the top of the list would be called for the interview. Candidates have to appear for the written test and interview at their own cost which will be held at CESS, Hyderabad. The medium of examination for the Entrance Test shall be English only. Fees The Fee structure is in the process of revision, and will be displayed on the Centres website by the date of the entrance test. The Course Structure The Programme consists of Two Parts (Part I: Course work and Part II: Dissertation). It runs for 72 weeks - 36 weeks for the course work and 36 weeks for the dissertation. The medium of instruction for course work, examination, and dissertation shall be in English only. (I) Course work: The course work consists of Four Papers divided into parts A & B. PART - A : Common Courses Paper 1. Research Methodology Paper 2. Development Theory PART - B : Special Courses Paper 3 (a) Economic Theory and Policy (For students of Economics, Commerce and Development Statistics) (b) Development: Socio Political and Regional Dimensions (For students of Geography, Political Science & Public Administration and Sociology) Paper 4. Optional Paper (Broad Area of Research) The coursework will be organised at CESS during Summer and Winter as per the following schedule, for which attendance is compulsory. (i)
(ii)

Summer Session (6 Weeks) from the last week of April (Exact date will be notified later). Winter Session (4 Weeks) during Dasara holidays (Exact date will be notified later).

The final examinations will carry 80 marks whereas 20 marks will be awarded on the basis of internal evaluation during course work. The candidates must secure 50 per cent marks in the course work to become eligible for dissertation work. (II) Dissertation: After successful completion of the course work the candidates have to register their research topic for dissertation. The dissertation should be submitted within a period of 36 weeks from the date of registration.

Ph.D Programme The Ph.D Programme in Development Studies is offered in the following disciplines: Commerce, Development Statistics, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Public Administration, and Sociology. Eligibility for Admission The candidates who fulfill one of the following criteria are eligible for admission into the Ph.D Programme: (A) An M.Phil degree in the subject concerned or any allied subject from a recognised university/Deemed to be university recognised by the UGC for award of a research degree. OR (B) Candidates qualified in UGC test or any other National-level test for JRF, which is recognised by the UGC. OR (C) Candidates of UGC FIP (Faculty Improvement Programme). OR (D) Post-Graduate Degree with 55 per cent marks (50 per cent marks in case of SC/ST candidates) in the subject concerned or in any allied subject from a recognised university. . The admission is based on the Entrance Test in one of the subjects listed above and an Interview. Candidates under the category (A), (B) and (C) are exempted from the Entrance Test and those falling in category (D) are required to write the Entrance Test and appear for the interview. The pattern of the entrance test and the interview is similar to that of the M.Phil candidates. Research proposal and Interview The eligible candidates under the categories (A), (B) and (C) will have to enclose along with the application a research proposal of not less than 1500 words on a topic for pursuing Ph.D. The candidates under the category of (D) have to bring the research proposal at the time of appearing for the Interview. Admission of every candidate into the Ph.D Programme is based on the assessment made by the Admission Committee of his/her interest in the research work and research potential. Candidates seeking admission into the Ph.D Programme are required to attend written test and interview at CESS, Hyderabad at their own cost. Preliminary Ph.D Test Candidates who are admitted to the Ph.D Programme under categories (B), (C) and (D) have to undergo the course work and also have to write the preliminary Ph.D test. The preliminary Ph.D test shall consist of the following three Papers of 3 hours duration each carrying a maximum of 100 marks. i) Paper I - Research Methodology ii) Paper II - Development Theory iii) Paper III - Optional Paper (Broad field of Research) The medium of examination for the preliminary Ph.D test and also for the thesis shall be English only. The candidates must secure 50 per cent marks in the Pre-Ph.D to become eligible for dissertation work. The duration of the Ph.D programme is 4 years for full time scholars and 5 years for the part time scholars from the date of registration of the Ph.D topic. Fees The Fee structure is in the process of revision, and will be displayed on the Centres website by the date of the entrance test.

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