Thiruvananthapuram: A higher number of students passed the UGC national eligibility test (UGC- NET) and junior research fellowship (JRF) this year as the cut-off marks for various subjects were fixed liberally.
The examinations were conducted on July 8 and the results announced on July 31 whereas earlier, the results were announced after three months.
Sources at Vallath Institute, a leading coaching centre for NET here, told Deccan Chronicle that the results were better this time.
M. Sarnghadharan, former dean of commerce department of Kerala University, said that as per the UGC norms, only six per cent candidates are allowed to clear the examinations. However, this time the UGC relaxed this norm which led to the improvement in results.
As many as 55,872 students qualified for the test which is the eligibility for assistant professor post across the country. Last year, the number of candidates who could clear UGC NET test was 38,000, said Sarnghadharan.
Mr B. Rajendran, director of Kerala Institute of Travel and Tourism Studies (KITTS), said that the valuation was more liberal.
Students worked hard as there were indications that the number of teaching posts would increase by 2020 due to retirements.
More number of students qualified from management, commerce and travel and tourism stream for the NET examinations, he said.
However, Mr Suresh Jnaneswaran, former head of the department of history of Kerala University, said percentage-wise there was no major difference compared to last year.
But there was an increase in the number of students who cleared the examinations from specific universities, he said.
It was also the first time that the candidates appeared only for two papers, instead of three with one paper being general examination and the second subject-specific.
