Hyderabad: According to new rules set by the University Grants Commission, all research proposals will be checked for plagiarism online from the initial stage itself, rather than just the final product.
Heavy fines will also be imposed on students who violate the rule. Even faculty members have to put their academic submissions to test. The most commonly used software to check plagiarism in articles is Turnitin and it should mandatorily be used from this academic year. Asha Rao, a teacher says that, “It is good to practice what you preach. Even teachers should not be exempted from plagiarism. Plagiarism is not only denying the right owner credit for the work but also shows the lack of hard work and respect one has towards their own work.”
Educationist Professor Haragopal says, “There has always been a limit of words and sentences that can be borrowed from other work, however there is no systemisation. There was an interesting case in Nagpur University when the head of a department was found to have plagiarised a whole thesis and was awarded his PhD anyway. It is surprising how some people get away with copying for long until it is noticed.”
There will be a zero tolerance policy in core areas of one’s thesis such as the abstract, observation, conclusions and others, whereas similarities in quoted work and bibliography will be exempted. However, 10 per cent has been allowed in the third level.
A similarity of 60 per cent would result in professors losing their right to publish work and being a guide for research work for three years and will also be denied successive increments for two years. Level three plagiarism found in students will lead to cancellation of their enrolment in the course by the administration. While the first level is from 10 to 40 percent, the second level is from 40 to 60.
