The Centre for Development Studies (CDS) invites applications for admission to its PhD programme in Economics. Candidates with a post-graduate or equivalent degree in any discipline and who have qualified UGC-NET for admission to PhD programmes, in accordance with the prevailing UGC Regulations, are eligible to apply.
The CDS considers the following categories of candidates based on performance in the UGC-NET examination:
Category 1: Candidates who have qualified for JRF
Category 2: Candidates who have qualified for Assistant Professorship without JRF
Category 3: Candidates outside Categories 1 and 2 but whose NET score qualifies them for “PhD only” in accordance with UGC regulations.
For Category 1, candidates should make sure that the JRF certificate is valid at the time of physical verification of documents. Candidature will be rejected in case the JRF certificate is found to be invalid at the time of physical verification of the documents.
Note that the percentile score from UGC-NET examinations from June 2025 onwards will be taken into account for admission eligibility for the academic year 2026-27. Scores prior to the June 2025 examination will not be considered for admission eligibility.
Closing date of online applications: June 23, 2026 (5 pm)
Tentative dates of in-person interviews: July 20-24, 2026
Commencement of PhD programme (tentative): September 02, 2026
For any queries or additional information please contact the Academic Programme Office at 0471-2774253/4 during office hours (9 am to 5 pm) or at admissionphd@cds.edu