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The neglect of India’s researchers during the pandemic
Inside the lives of JNU’s research scholars
Alamu R,Yangchen Roy,and Somashree Das
Authors can be reached at [email protected]
Abstract This report discusses the main findings of a survey on the impact of the pandemic
on the research work, finances and mental health of over 500 research scholars of one of India’s premier universities.
1
Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 2
A brief background ................................................................................................................ 3
Survey Demographics ............................................................................................................ 4
“Online research” is a myth ....................................................................................................... 7
Stalled fieldwork and the work progress predicament ............................................................. 10
The abysmal state of fellowship disbursal ............................................................................... 13
Research scholars’ grim mental health .................................................................................... 16
In desperate need of research period and fellowship extensions ............................................. 20
Research scholar dropouts likely ............................................................................................. 23
Recommendations .................................................................................................................... 25
2
The neglect of India’s researchers during the pandemic
Inside the lives of JNU’s research scholars
Alamu R1,Yangchen Roy2,and Somashree Das3
Introduction
“First, the University has to give more time which has been lost in the pandemic. Secondly,
the University should disburse fellowship on time to the students. These two demands should
be a priority of university administration. I guess, finance and time are the two most
important aspects of most of the research scholars or those who are engaged in higher
studies.”
-a PhD second year research scholar
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has, across the world, jeopardised people’s lives in
unprecedented ways. It has simultaneously ensured acute distress to health care systems1,
negatively impacted economies 2 and successfully disrupted the functioning of education
systems3. The International Labour Organization's (ILO) Global Survey on Youth and COVID-
19 finds a disproportionate and systematic impact of the pandemic on young people, those aged
between 18 and 29, with 73% having experienced educational institution closure4. Those from
low-income countries are particularly affected.
Higher education, including that in India, is no exception to these disruptions. Research
scholars, who partake in the bulk of research work in our educational institutions, are a vital
national resource, contributing to our development goals. With the closure of many educational
institutions, the impact on higher education has been manifold and we are already witness to a
significant shift in the way higher education is now accessed, apart from who have access to it.
The impact of the pandemic on research work and research workers in higher educational
institutions, however, may only become evident in the years to come.
1 PhD scholar, Centre for Political Studies, School of Social Sciences, JNU.
2 PhD scholar, Centre for Linguistics, JNU.
3 PhD scholar, Centre for the Study of Regional development, School of Social Sciences, JNU.
3
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is a premier research university in India, with 48.3%
(4251) of its 8805 enrolled students being in MPhil or PhD programmes5. Research in JNU
includes two years of MPhil and MTech study, and four years of PhD study, with an option of
no more than a year’s extension (called the “9B clause year” in JNU).
An online survey was administered between 27th June and 6th July 2020 to understand the
impact of the pandemic on the status of JNU student’s research and thesis work, finances and
mental well-being. Its respondents were 530 of JNU’s research scholars, i.e. about12.3% of
total research scholar population6.
This is a preliminary research report of findings from the survey.
A brief background
In 2014, with 24,300 PhD graduates, India had the fourth highest number of doctoral graduates
in the world7. In 2018, 1,69,170 students were enrolled in PhD programmes in India8 and yet
research studies and publicly available data on the lives, work and pay satisfaction of research
scholars in India seems invisible9. But this could be because PhD enrolment comprises only
0.5% of total higher education enrolment10 in India, and is perhaps also why discussions on the
ramifications of the pandemic on higher education have primarily focused on programmes
involving coursework or classroom-teaching, which include undergraduate (Bachelors) and
post-graduate (Masters) students, leading to the paradigm of debate hovering only around the
pros and cons of the digital mode of teaching-learning and evaluation.
The plight of India’s research scholars during this pandemic, with the exception of their
finances, have not figured in public discourse. It is imperative to note that while research
scholars do have shared concerns with students in coursework, they also have concerns unique
to them owing to the nature of research-work in general, the length, design and purpose of their
programmes, and the source and extent of their finances11.
Surveys and studies exploring the impact of the ongoing pandemic on the lives of university
students have begun to emerge, with some done in other countries focusing on the lives of
research scholars. Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) Consortium
conducted a survey from May-July 2020 in 10 US public research-intense universities to study
the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and university closures on research scholars. The SERU
COVID-19 Survey assesses five areas of the student experience for bachelors’ masters and
research students12, impacted by the pandemic and campus closures: (i) the transition to remote
instruction, (ii) the financial impact of COVID-19 on students, (iii) student health and
4
wellbeing, (iv) belonging and engagement, and (v) future plans. A study funded by the National
Science Foundation (NSF) in the US surveyed 4000 research scholars at 11 institutions across
the country to comprehend the experiences of research scholars during the pandemic13. The
surveyed scholars have reported concerns on food and housing, mental health, delays in degree
completion and change in career plans. Few studies have emerged in India too but their primary
focus was not research scholars14.
Survey Demographics
The survey comprises of 58.1% female and 41.5% male research scholar participants. The
largest share of participants in the survey are from the age group 26 years to 30 years (63.2%).
The next most represented age-groups are those between 21 years and 25 years (19.4%) and
31 and 35 years (14.2%).
Out of the total respondents, 31.5% identified as
Other Backward Class (OBC), 14.7% as
Scheduled Caste (SC), 7.2% as Scheduled Tribes
(ST) and 1.7% as Persons with Disabilities
(PwD). 44.9% of the population identified as
belonging to none of the above stated four
categories.
Share of JNU
MPhil/PhD scholars
Share of Survey's
Mphil/PhD scholars
Unreserved+ Foreign national 41.5% 44.7%
SC 15.1% 15.2%
ST 8.1% 7.2%
OBC 32.1% 31.1%
PH 3.1% 1.8%
Figure 1: Social representation of the survey compared to that of JNU’s research scholar population.
Calculated using figures from JNU data on ‘category-wise student enrolment as on 01.09.2019’. MTech
students represented in the survey are excluded asJNU does not provide exclusive figures for them.
Of the total 530 respondents, PhD scholars constituted 80 percent of the total responses. MPhil
and MTech students made up 18.5 percent and 1.5 percent of the sample respectively.
The survey covered a diverse share of participants ranging across 25 States and 5 Union
Territories, apart from 1.5% of international students. The three highest representations of
participants are from Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar comprising 44.5 % of the total
share.
5
The University has thirteen Schools and seven Special Centres. Out of the Schools, three have
multiple Centres (or “departments”); these are the School of Social Sciences, the School
of International Studies and the School of Language, Literature & Culture Studies. The
rest of the schools, function as a single unit, and do not have departmental divisions.
The adverse impact of displacement from the JNU workspace
“One of the hindrances to the research work is the environment at home. Since we have been
living in the hostel our homes do not have the space or environment for studies. You also
have to contribute in the household chores, especially if you are a woman. I also felt that
most of the material that I need for my research was not available online. ...Since I was on
fieldwork before the pandemic started and University closed, I had to return home and was
not able to carry any of my research material.”-
- a clause 9B research scholar
“In my opinion, the university should now open with some strict rules regarding COVID
protection, because we can't complete our research work at home as there is better facility
and better environment in the university.”
- a clause 9B research scholar
Before it closed, the largest share of JNU’s research scholars (79.3%) used to reside in the
accommodation provided by
the university. After the
university closed, the highest
share of scholars (61.6%) was
those who had moved back
home. Such was the sudden
and abrupt nature of the
university’s closure that nearly
4 out of 5 (78.1%) research
scholars could not carry adequate research related resources (books, photocopies, readings,
notes) from their hostels, library lockers and laboratories back home with them.
Initially, the university authorities treated this closure as an emergency measure, leading to
expectations that the university would reopen soon. Classes in JNU were suspended on 13th
61.6%13.5%
8.2%
7.8%
6.0%3.0%
Figure 2: Current Location of Scholars
Have gone back home
JNU Campus
NCR residents
Living temporarily with
friends/relatives in Delhi
Rented Accomodation
outside campus
Rented a place outside
campus for the time-being
till JNU reopens
6
March 2020, with students being advised to leave for home on the 16th, but the suspension was
slated to come to an end on 31st March. JNU was declared closed only on 1st April, after the
stoppage of railway and flight services and the declaration of the nation-wide lockdown. The
closure was renewed 4 times at intervals of two weeks before being closed for a month for the
first time on 1st June. Currently JNU has been shut for 6 months and no re-opening date has
been announced yet. The JNU library too was shut within just a few hours of informing students
of its imminent closure.
“I am helpless and worry about my research, because all primary resources are in my hostel
room, I am now in my home Jammu, and want to come to JNU to get my primary research
resources. Please do something otherwise, this pandemic will spoil our all planning the we
plan about our future. Do something for us, allow us to come JNU just for one day to collect
primary research resources. Thank you in anticipation”
- a PhD third year research scholar
There are several such instances of scholars urging the university to allow them to enter and
collect the resources required for the research.
Problems pertaining to accommodation is a cause of anxiety for nearly 30% of the respondents.
Scholars from remote areas are also additionally disadvantaged with a lack of consistent
electricity supply, which is indispensable for scholars to work on laptops/desktops. Only half
of the scholars (50%) have regular electric supply
at their place of residence, with 38% facing
frequent power cuts, and about 10% having no
electric supply for 4-6 hours a day. The SERU
COVID-19 Survey too found that the majority of
both first-generation students (61%) and
continuing-generation students (54%) had a lack of
access to an appropriate study space, or a
distracting home environment, with first generation
students being worse off in every aspect. University libraries and work spaces are the minimal
infrastructure that research scholars require in order to be able to do their jobs.
50%
38%
10%
2%
0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0%
electric supply is
regular
there are frequent
power cuts
there is no electricity
for 4-6 hours a day
others
Figure 3: Scholars’ access to electricity
7
“Online research” is a myth
The pandemic has constrained the access research scholars had to the resources they use for
their work. JNU’s research scholars are dependent on a variety of resources including libraries,
human populations, archives, science laboratory, plant population, animal populations, among
other resources. Of those who participated in the survey, 46.4% are dependent on human
populations, 13.5% need access to laboratories and close to forty percent (39.8%) require
access to archives. 71% cannot do without libraries.
With the displacement of scholars from university spaces, large amounts of thesis-work related
material left behind, and the increased
promotion of online modes of learning during
the pandemic, one would expect a mass
expansion in the ambit of online resources of
public libraries/archives, including the
University’s library. The survey, however,
reveals the appalling state of the availability of
required research material online, including
that of the JNU e-library. 89% find none or
only few of material relevant to their research
in the JNU e-library. As one third year PhD
scholar urged, “Increase the subscription to
number of journals and books in particular…Provide access to previous theses and
dissertation online which is now limited to campus Wi-Fi only.”
More than three-fourth (80.9%) of the
research scholars who require resources
from libraries/archives located outside
JNU, find none or only few of the research
material for their thesis/synopsis on the
internet. Further, 84.4% of respondents
those who work with human populations
cannot access these populations online
mode. Amongst those who engage in
laboratory work, 75.9% cannot work
21%
68%
9%
2%
1%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
No required material
available
Only some required
material available
Most of the required
material available
All required material
available
Others
Figure 4: Availability of required research material
on JNU e-library
19%
61%
15%
4%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
No required material is
available
Only some required
material available
Most required material
available
All required material
available
Figure 5: Online availability of research material
from libraries/archives outside JNU
8
digitally. Thus, access to the internet can assist research but cannot replace the integral nature
of fieldwork to original research.
Further, resource access is contingent on the minimal requirements of reliable internet
connectivity and steady electric supply. Considering the disproportionate access to internet
connectivity in rural and urban areas, as unveiled by the National Statistical Office15, internet
speeds in India are bound to be a chief barrier to online resource obtainability. Like the study
at the University of Hyderabad16, our survey too exposes disproportionate access to High-speed
internet connectivity amongst research scholars. The largest share of respondents, over one-
third of them (35.8%), has access to 4G data speed and another 14.9% only have 3G, or 2G
speeds. One MPhil first year student reports, “Most of the time I don't get even 2G speed during
the day due to heavy internet traffic.” Another PhD scholar writes, “I can use only on (the)
roof not inside the room.” Those who do not have access to internet services on an everyday
basis constitute 8.1% of the sample.
Nearly 60% scholars, therefore, do not have access to internet on their laptops, with many
facing unworkable internet speeds on their
phones. While 19% own personal
connections, i.e. paid broadband, it is
unclear what download-upload speeds
these connections may have. Further,
phone data and broadband connections are
known to be expensive and permit limited
megabytes/gigabytes of download/upload.
For more than three-fourth (77%) of the
scholars, expenses towards internet data
costs have increased after JNU has closed. Of the scholars who reported having increased-
expenses towards the internet, more than half (53.5%) said that the costs have increased
significantly.
11%
29%
36%
15%
8%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40%
have university wifi/public
wifi speed
have personal broadband
speed
have only 4G phone data
speed
have only 2G or 3G phone
data speed
do not have access to internet
on an everyday basis
Figure 6: Scholars’ access to internet speeds
9
During the course of their research programme, scholars, their supervisors and research
advisory committees meet regularly to discuss work-
progress and improvements. Without discussions on work
progress, it is hard to chart out the future course of action.
Given the high-level of inconsistency in internet
accessibility, it is unsurprising that a majority (56%) have
not been able to have regular phone/video meetings with
their supervisors. Another 10% reported to have been in
occasional contact, some only via email, phone and
WhatsApp.
No,
56%
Yes,
34%
Others,
10%
Figure 7: After JNU closed,
whether been able to have regular
phone/video meetings with
supervisor
10
Stalled fieldwork and the work progress predicament
Respondents to the survey assess themselves as showing a steep decline in work efficiency, to
an overall tune of 94.5%. Of these, 53.2%
report only being able to work
intermittently, while 41.3% stated that they
have not been able to work at all. For 88.2%
of the research scholars, this decrease in
work efficiency was a consequence of the
closure of the University in March 2020.
Nearly three-fifth (67.2%) of the respondents to our survey reported that they needed to access
resources outside JNU, including in Delhi-NCR, places outside of Delhi-NCR and places
outside India, with only 32.8% scholars asserting that the resources available in JNU were
adequate for their research. With the pandemic having occasioned a large scale disruption in
travel, it is only to be expected that research scholars’
research work has come to a standstill.
Ordinarily, work on a PhD roughly involves the following:
coursework, reading secondary sources and doing a pilot
study (if working with primary data) for writing one’s
proposal, writing up one’s research proposal/synopsis,
collecting secondary data, collecting primary data (if any),
analysing primary and/or secondary data, writing up one’s
findings, although these need not be in order. Researchers
may need to go back and forth between these depending on
the field and type of research.
A core component of research programmes is the need for data collection (both primary and
secondary). In terms of an overall picture of progress, our survey shows that only 20% of
scholars have completed more than 75% of their primary data collection. 15% scholars are still
in course work and 26% scholars have not yet started their data collection. Further, 26.5% have
41%
53%
5%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
No, I have not been able
to work at all
Yes, I have been able to
work, but only
intermittently
Yes, I have been able to
work regularly
Figure 8: Whether able to work on research
(reading or writing or data collection)
67.2%
32.8%
Those dependent on resources
outside JNU
Those dependent only on resources
within JNU
Figure 9: Location of
theses/synopsis related material
11
completed less than 50% of their data collection. This is entailed by the architecture of the
research programme itself, as for most disciplines, primary data collection is usually begun and
between years II and IV of the PhD programme and Year II of the M. Phil. programme. Such
collection can only begin after research synopses are approved, i.e. in PhD second or third year.
At the time of the survey, more than 80% of research scholars in the first year of research
programmes, had done no primary data collection when the pandemic struck. Of the mid-
programme research scholars, more than half (55%) of research scholars in PhD II year were
yet to begin fieldwork (while 42% of them had completed less than 50% of their data
collection). Of those in PhD III year, 70% had completed less than 50% of data collection.
Only students close to submission (i.e.) in PhD IV year (57.3%), 9B (89.8%) or MPhil second
year (50%) had completed more than 50% of primary data collection.
Primary data collection often requires fieldwork with access to human, animal or plant
populations. 46% of respondents reported working with human/animal/plant populations.
Amongst these respondents, 70.4% also reported that the population they work with is
vulnerable, i.e. disadvantaged socio-economically or physically as humans or
endangered/threatened as animal/plants. This vulnerability implies that at least for the duration
81%90%
55%
25%2% 21%
40%
13%
7%
38%
44%
29%
8%
26%
3%
2%
4%
12%
23%
22%
38%13%
2%
2%
5%
17%
25%
6%
8%
2%2% 1%
13%17%
42%
6%12%
All primary data collection
complete
Above 75% primary data
collected
51-75% primary data collected
Below 50% primary data
collected
Primary data collection yet to
start/ I am still in coursework
Figure 10: Status of primary data collection
12
of the pandemic, research scholar’s access to the populations they work with will be restricted
for a large part of the duration of the degree.
Research scholars were of the opinion that given the ongoing nature of the pandemic, and
therefore a continuing difficulty in doing fieldwork, a flexible approach was needed. When
asked if they think they may need to change the title of their thesis or modify its scope,
considering the ongoing pandemic, about one-third (32.5%) said that they may require to
change one of these two.
13
The abysmal state of fellowship disbursal
The fellowship disbursal rate of JNU scholars paints a financial horror story:
“It has been stopped for the last 8 months due to no JRF SRF upgradation”
– a PhD second year research scholar
“I haven't received fellowship in past 10 months”
- a PhD second year research scholar
“It hasn't come since Aug 2019” – a PhD second year research scholar
JNU students avail UGC scholarships/fellowships17 , Council for Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR) scholarships/fellowships, state government fellowships, and other
fellowships which are operated by external agencies and departments (like the ICSSR
fellowships). In 2017, the UGC and CSIR ones were moved under the Direct Benefit Transfer
(DBT) Scheme of the Public Financial Management System with the intention of efficient and
transparent disbursal of fellowships 18 . The Non-NET fellowships of UGC are, however,
disbursed via the universities where the fellow is enrolled19.
Financial types Percentage of scholars
JRF/RGNF & equivalents (Rs 31,000) 28.8
Non-NET Rs 5000 23.5
Former fellowship holder (do not
receive any fellowship currently) 20.5
SRF equivalent (Rs 35,000) 9.3
Non-NET Rs 8000 9.1
ICSSR fellowship (Rs 20,000) 3.8
Others 3.8
Foreign national (Self-financed) 0.9
Foreign national (home govt. financed) 0.4
There are large differences in the monthly stipend amount of these fellowships. Apart from
fellowship amounts varying vastly from type to type, fellowship from these bodies are known
to be disbursed erratically.20 A news report from June 2019 noted that the then new CSIR
grievance cell was inundated with messages from aggrieved students21. The most frequent
grievances were about fellowship delays, and non-revision of payment of stipends which came
into effect in January 201922. Over the years, there have also been delays in revision of
Figure 11: Participant scholars’ fellowship
14
fellowship amounts with respect to inflation rates and delays in notifications for Minority and
SC/ST fellowships23.
The issue of untimely disbursal of stipends seems to have been exacerbated across universities
in the context of the pandemic. There are a series of news reports from every month since the
beginning of the lockdown, from April24, May25, June26, July27, and during the period after the
administering of the survey until the writing of this report, i.e. from August28 reflecting the
distress scholars are being subjected to with regards to finances. Students report having had to
buy expensive tickets to reach home before transportation halted in March, apart from not
having received fellowships since July and August 2019. Students note that their fellowships
are the minimum source of survival, many using them to support families. Scholars from
marginalised backgrounds, many having also lost family incomes during the lockdown, are
particularly vulnerable. Some have not got money since July-August 2019 while others have
had to even take loans in order to meet expenses during the lockdown. There are reports of
students being bankrupt, with mental health being affected. In May, having not been paid in
six months, a pan Indian group of research scholars even wrote to the Prime Minister 29.
While JNU research scholars’ fellowships are not known to be disbursed regularly as a salary,
with around three-fourth (77.7% former fellows and 70.5% current fellows) having got
fellowships erratically in bulk before the pandemic as well, things have worsened since the
onset of the pandemic. In June-July 2020, most current fellowship holders from JNU (64.7%),
had last received their fellowship more than three months ago. In fact, a majority of current
fellows (66.2%) had not received any money since the pandemic began, indicating a significant
discontinuity, in the disbursal of fellowships.
64.7%
24.6%
6.5%
4.3%
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0%
More than 3 months ago
Last month
2 months ago
3 months ago
Figure 12: Last Received Fellowship
15
To make matters worse, the pandemic has caused more scholars to extend financial support to
their families. An already significant share of
current fellowship holders from JNU (40.1%)
were using their fellowship money to support
their families30, besides using it for research
work and daily expense before the onset. With
the arrival of the pandemic this share has
climbed to 52.8%.
With significant irregularity and delay in
fellowship disbursal present across fellowship
types, Non-NET fellows, who get money via
JNU, and ICSSR fellows are clearly worse
off. Not only is their fellowship amount
significantly lower than that of JRF (and other
equivalents) fellows, 85% of them have not got money in more than three months, as opposed
to 45% of JRF fellows. However, what is also noteworthy is that nearly half of the JRF scholars
had received their fellowships no sooner than three months ago and are thus not benefitting
from the DBT scheme, which was introduced with the sole aim of automating and regularising
fellowship disbursal. During a pandemic, when people are more vulnerable financially than
ever, with the potential loss of family incomes and emergency medical expenses right around
the corner, research scholars are left without their livelihood.
60%
47%
40%
53%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
Before the
pandemic
After the
pandemic's
arrival
I used my
fellowship
exclusively for
my research
work and daily-
expenses
I used my
fellowship for
my
researchwork,
daily expenses
and to support
my family
Figure 13: Expenses of current fellows before and
after the arrival of the pandemic
8%
41%
3%
10%
4%
4%
85%
45%
Non DBT
DBT
Last month 2 months ago 3 months ago More than 3 months ago
Figure 14: When DBT (Direct Bank Transfer) and Non-DBT(Non-
NET and ICSSR) current fellows last received their fellowships
16
Research scholars’ grim mental health
“During the pandemic the worst thing [that] happened to me is the ill mental health.
Situation is such I am now unable to think. Even I can't read, write. I feel so much anxiety
about my family, migrant workers, my own health, future job prospect. Due to the situation I
missed many deadlines of the online submission of the course work. Even now also I could
not able to do an iota of my research work. I was even into medication for all this mental
stress. This pandemic has hit me hard at every cost.”
– a PhD first year research scholar
Doing a PhD has been widely reported to be a stressful endeavour. The 2019 Nature survey on
research scholars31 around the world reveals that more than one third (36%) report having had
to seek help for anxiety or depression caused by PhD studies. Another study from 201432,
conducted to exclusively understand the mental health and suicidal behaviour of research
scholars of a university in the US, found that more than half of the students claimed feeling
nervous, irritable, stressed, anxious, lonely, or having fights/arguments. A huge majority
(95.4%) attested “feeling nervous and worrying a lot.” A study in Belgium33, which researched
12 mental health symptoms on 3659 PhD students had 51% reporting at least two symptoms,
while 40% reported at least three. Having reported at least four symptoms, 32% were at a risk
of having or developing a common psychiatric disorder, particularly depression. This figure
was 2.43 times higher than those obtained from the general population.
Generally, there is a severe dearth of research on the mental health of research scholars in India.
However, there is some work on the mental health of university students. A 2016 study34 done
with students (aged 21y-26y) of a central university in India found that 37.7% suffer from
moderate depression, while 15.6% suffer from severe or extremely severe depression.
Journalists too have drawn attention to the mental health of university students.
Since the onset of the pandemic, mental practitioners in India report having received increased
SOS calls from the general population, which they say can be attributed to the COVID-19
lockdown, the circumstances of the pandemic may have triggered, including job losses and
financial distress, domestic violence, among others35. Depressive episodes among healthy
people are on the rise and some mood disorders have aggravated to major anxiety disorders.
University students too seem not to have been spared36. University of Delhi, upon assessing 45
17
students from its tele-counselling sessions37 during the pandemic, found that a majority of the
students are suffering from generalised anxiety disorder and restlessness, with the most
common issue being a sense of hopelessness about their future. In other countries too, doctoral
students’ mental health has been found to have worsen this year38, as opposed to 2019.
Our survey with JNU scholars reveals prevalence of mass anxiety at a massive scale. 87.5% of
the scholars from the survey report being anxious since the
pandemic began. And 10% said they “maybe” anxious.
Scholars have multiple reasons for their anxiety, with six
causes of anxiety reported by the majority. Anxiety about
one’s future prospects and problems pertaining to research
work, including stalled fieldwork were the most prevalent,
being anxiety drivers for nearly 80% of scholars. Lack of
clarity regarding extension of research programme (64%)
was the third major cause of anxiety. Of the three anxiety
causing factors pertaining to finances, two were reported
by a clear majority; 58% were anxious because of problems pertaining to finances including
having run out of money or because of fast-depleting savings and 56% lack were anxious about
the lack of clarity regarding fellowship/finances for extension period if extension period is
given. The third factor, was reported by a close majority, with 48% being worried about “the
financial/health situation at home.”
Along with anxiety/stress caused by stalled research work and financial precarity, there are
several other socio-cultural, infrastructural and familial anxieties that a significant share of
researchers are subject to. Nearly 40% are worried about the family demands and expectations
regarding household work and care responsibilities, with more women than being worried, and
close to one third (30.6%) due to family/social pressure regarding marriage.
Of the total respondents, women constitute 58% of total sample. Of the total women, 33.4%
reported of being increasingly pressurised by family to get married. Similarly, 40.9% of women
said they family demands/expectations regarding household work and care responsibilities
have increased after the pandemic.
Men constituted, 41.5% of the total sample of the survey and they were no exceptions to being
either pressurised to get married or increased family demands after the onset of pandemic.
Maybe,
10.0%
Yes,
87.5%
No,
2.5%
Figure 15: Share of scholars who reported being worried/anxious
18
Amongst all men, 24.5% said they are increasingly being pressurised by family to get married.
33.6% told family demands/expectations regarding household work and care responsibilities
have increased for them after the pandemic.
“These are unprecedented times. The uncertain nature of the current times is directly
affecting mental and physical health along which leads to declining in work related
productivity. The university requires to take cognisance of the mental anxiety of the
researchers and should come up with a clear road map which benefits the research
scholars.”- a PhD third year research scholar
79%
78%
64%
58%
58%
56%
48%
39%
31%
28%
27%
18%
9%
7%
4%
0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0%
Anxiety regarding my future prospects
Problems pertaining to research work (including stalled
field work)
Lack of clarity regarding extension of research programme
Problems pertaining to finances (have run out of money or
my savings are depleting fast etc.)
Anxiety about the worth/relevance of my research
Lack of clarity regarding fellowship/finances for extension
period, in case research period extension is given
The financial/health situation at home worries me
Family demands/expectations regarding household work
and care responsibilities
Family/social pressure regarding marriage
Problems pertaining to infrastructure (electricity or internet
or electronic devices etc.)
Problems pertaining to accommodation
Problems pertaining to food procural (scarcity of food etc)
Experiences of caste/religious discrimination targeted
towards my community/family
Violence/abuse in the home
Others
Figure 16: Share of scholars who reported these respective reasons as causes for anxiety
19
The UGC, in April, recommended that universities and colleges set up helplines for the mental
health and well-being of their students. Even with most of its students now displaced from
campus, JNU is yet to begin an online counselling service. Further, the university health centre
has only one mental health practitioner to cater to all its students, its academic and
administrative staff.
Apart from the numbers telling us that their mental health is a matter of concern, scholars have
also written about the state of their mental health in the comments section that was provided at
towards the end of the survey. Scholars who are currently staying at home mention not having
family support or resources to access mental health practitioners. “Don't have access to therapy
anymore either as it is expensive and as parents are not supportive of my mental health issues
and I cannot tell them about it. Staying at home is the most difficult part.”, writes an MPhil
scholar.
Students have also suggested that the administration launch a mental health helpline number.
“…Mass counselling and therapy should be made accessible during this period to researchers
coping with depression and other mental illness….”, says a scholar from PhD third year.
Another scholar, from MPhil second year, writes: “…There must be some way to make mental
healthcare or telephonic counselling possible for students”
20
In desperate need of research period and fellowship extensions
“The least University can do is give confidence to the research scholars that they will not be
forced to submit their work in coming 6 months as they are not able to interact properly with
their guide and are not able to work on their data as they used to before COVID 19 situation
and those students who need extension should [be] provided [extensions] without any
hindrances.”
- a PhD fourth year research scholar
“My only humble request to the university is to extend research period as there may be many
unfortunate student[s] who really wants to complete their Ph.D. enduring all the
adversities.”
- a clause 9B research year scholar
Academic workers, including research scholars, across the world have been appealing to
universities and funding authorities to extend their work deadlines and renew their funding39.
Universities in the UK have set up thesis submission extension application processes in view
of the pandemic, with grounds for consideration for extensions including lack of access to
resources, university premises and fieldwork sites, care-responsibilities and COVID-19 related
sickness and impact on mental health40. The NSF funded COVID study in the US found that
51% of research scholars expected to require at least 6 months longer to complete their degrees,
while another 36% said they would need a year extra.
In March, before the JNU closed, authorities had stated that appropriate extensions to the
deadlines of thesis submission would be given to all research scholars, including those in 9B,
when the situation is normal41. The UGC too in April recommended that a six-month extension
be considered for students who are yet to submit their thesis i.e. all currently registered research
scholars of a university42. At the time of writing the report, only those with submission dates
in June 2020 had been provided extensions, till December 2020. There has, however, been no
information regarding the status of thesis extensions of scholars of other years either by the
UGC or JNU administration.
It is evident that poor mental health, large scale financial hardship, substantial amounts of
pending primary data collection, a lack of research resources on the internet, coupled with poor
21
internet access and the closure of the university work-spaces are now a reality that JNU
research scholars are forced to grapple with.
85.4 % of the scholars said they need a research period extension. More than three-fourth of
the terminal students i.e. 9B students (73%) and MPhil second
year students (74%) said they preferred a six month-extension.
The high preference amongst terminal year students for the
shortest research period extension option could be because they
are at the final stages of their thesis work i.e. in the writing
phase, an argument captured also by the status of primary data
collection in the previous section. However, majority of the
scholars of no other year prefer an extension of just six-months.
Overall, the most sought-after extension period is nothing less
than one year. It is important to note here that all extension
period options were stated as starting from when the university
reopens, and therefore even those who asked for the shortest extensions did so with the intent
that the extension periods be calculated from when the university reopens.
Close to three-fourth (71.9 %) of the scholars also stated that without a research period
extension they will not be able to submit their thesis on time. Another 13.5 % scholars were
Others, 3%
Yes,
85%
No,
12%
Figure 17: Is Research Period Extension Required?
46%37% 33%
25%
41%
73% 74%
43%
14%22%
21%26%
36%
12%3%
22%
40% 41%46% 49%
23%15%
23%
35%6 months starting from
when JNU reopens
1 year starting from
when JNU reopens
should be equal to the
period of the entire
pandemic
Figure 18: Preferred period of research period extension
22
either unsure or reported that they will be able to submit, but at the cost of the quality of their
research work. Further, 69.7% of the participants responded that they do not want the option
to deregister and return later to complete their degrees. The message is clear: research scholars
do not want to compromise on the quality of their research. Instead, they prefer research period
extensions in order to complete their research work, to the best of their potential and be awarded
their degrees at the latest.
Equally importantly, research scholars do not have
adequate finances to take care of the expenses
incurred towards their research and daily needs.
Finances during the research period extension is a
matter of special concern. More than three-fourth
(79.2%) said they cannot sustain themselves if
fellowships are not provided for the duration of the
extension. While those who have savings would use them if there is no fellowship
corresponding to the research period extension (40% former fellows, 25.7% current fellows),
or borrow money from friends/family (27% former fellows, 28.7% current fellows), only a
minority would ask their family to support them financially (22%former fellows, 18.2%
current fellows).
22% 18%
27% 29%
40%
26%
11%
27%
0%
50%
100%
Former fellows Current fellows
will
deregister/dropout
to find a job
will use savings
will borrow money
from friends/family
family will support
financially
Figure 19: Whether capable of sustaining
oneself if given a research period extension but no fellowship
33.7%
17.5%
66.3%
82.5%
0.0%
20.0%
40.0%
60.0%
80.0%
100.0%
Former fellows Current fellowsYes No
Figure 20: source of finances if no fellowship provided during
research period extension
23
Research scholar dropouts likely
“..I’m in the 3rd year of my PhD and collecting data for my thesis. But due to the pandemic
I’m not able to do much for my research work. So, we demand at least one semester (6
months) extension with fellowship to complete the degree. If not, we’ll not be able continue
our research work or will have to drop the course and get into a job for survival. My other
friends are also in the same situation.”
–a PhD third year research scholar
As per the 2018-19 All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) report, India’s PhD
enrolment rate is just 0.5% of total enrolment in higher education, a figure abysmally low for
a country with high developmental aspirations. Moreover, the percentage share of enrolment
in doctoral programmes has remained stagnant for nearly ten years43. In 2013, completion rates
of PhDs in India stood at just fifty-percent44.
While much lower than the national average, JNU too has its fair share of dropouts. In 2018,
16.9% of the 2014-15 MPhil/PhD students of JNU had dropped out. 7.6% and 2.7% of those
from the 2015-16 and 2016-17 batches had already dropped out by 201845. It is likely that a
substantial percentage of scholars will dropout of their research programmes during or in the
aftermath of the pandemic i.e. this year or in the next few years, unless the roadblocks they
face with regards of stalled research work and poor finances are mitigated.
54%
44%
42%
11%
11%
10%
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0%
If unable to access resources required for research work
(primary material/secondary material/lab facility)
If research period extended but unable to manage finances
for that period
If needed to look for a job to support family
If pressurized by family to get married
If no option to change title/modify the scope of research
others
Figure 21: Share of research scholars who choose the respective options as reasons for dropping out
of their research programme
24
The survey results predict that a sizeable share of research scholar dropouts is likely, with
disruption to research scholars’ access to resources and financial adversity being at heart of the
reasons for dropping out. When asked to pick reasons that may cause them to drop out of their
programmes, non-access to research work resources, and two choices on financial difficulties
– lack of finances during a hypothetical research period extension and the need to get a job to
support family – were opted for by large shares of scholars.
53.9% of the scholars also say that they would dropout if they are inability to access resources
required for research work (primary material/secondary material/lab facility). This is a crucial
indicator of the gravity of non-accessibility of resources of research. Additionally, there is
significant correlation between the amount of primary data collection completed by scholars,
and this response type. This is also in tandem with a large majority having reported problems
pertaining to research work as a cause of anxiety, as discussed in the section on scholar’s mental
health.
More than 40% of the respondents said they would drop out in case of financial distress -- 44%
said they would dropout if their research period is extended but they cannot manage their
finances, and 42% said that they would do so if they needed to look for a job to support their
family.
25
Recommendations
Research scholars are national assets who are essential to understand the ongoing changes in
the society and economy. Investing in research is the need of the hour especially with respect
to our national interest when we are living through a pandemic. Based on the findings of the
survey, we recommend the following:
Covid-19 has disrupted the everyday functioning and has jeopardised everyone’s life.
In view of national interest, the impact of the pandemic on research scholars is drastic
and multi-fold. Unlike graduation courses with syllabi, research degrees require each
scholar to work on a unique and completely novel topic. This research is therefore of
the greatest value and asset to the nation, and this fact must first be acknowledged.
Research scholars need to be actively supported given the large scale disruption caused
to their work by the ongoing pandemic.
Our research shows that there has been no consultation with them by the higher
education institutions they are enrolled in, and none of their difficulties and concerns
have been addressed. Research scholars must be actively consulted in decisions about
the nature of support they need. Furthermore, steps must be taken to ensure the timely
and regular disbursal of fellowships to research students, who overwhelmingly rely on
these amounts to fund their research and living expenses.
Our survey clearly shows that online research is a myth. With little to no digital content
available, and no vaccine being found, fieldwork cannot take place. UGC and university
rules should be amended to adapt to the given situation to ensure that there are no drop-
outs. Specifically, amendments to the scope of research topic as defined by initial
research proposals should be allowed by institutional and UGC rules, so that knowledge
production of quality is made possible even in these times of unprecedented crisis.
Our survey shows that both terminal year as well as non-terminal year research scholars
have been equally affected by the pandemic. As seen globally, research scholars in
India too need to be given a research period extension, necessarily accompanied by
scholarship extension to compensate for the time loss during pandemic.
Our survey shows mental health of the scholars has been worst affected. Uncertainty of
impending research work, financial ambiguity and concern about future prospects all
26
have become issues of concern. Mental health anxiety should be immediately
recognized by the university administration and set up counselling services for its
research scholars as recommended.
Our survey shows that the continued closure of university campuses is depriving
research scholars of even the limited avenues they have to continue with their work.
For research scholars to access the work they have already done, but which is locked
up in their hostel rooms and in library carrels, and to access the secondary resources in
libraries and archives, universities need to re-open in a staggered or phase manner.
27
1 World Health Organization, “In WHO Global Pulse Survey, 90% of Countries Report Disruptions to Essential
Health Services since COVID-19 Pandemic,” World Health Organization-News Release, accessed September 8,
2020, https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/31-08-2020-in-who-global-pulse-survey-90-of-countries-report-
disruptions-to-essential-health-services-since-covid-19-pandemic. 2 The World Bank, “Productivity Growth, Key Driver of Poverty Reduction, Threatened by COVID-19
Disruptions,” July 14, 2020, https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/07/14/productivity-growth-
threatened-by-covid-19-disruptions; Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD),
“Quarterly National Accounts : G20 - Quarterly Growth Rates of GDP in Volume,” OECD.stats, accessed
September 8, 2020, https://stats.oecd.org/index.aspx?queryid=33940; Government of India, “Estimates of Gross
Domestic Product for the First Quarter (April-June) of 2020-21,” Press Information Bureau, August 31, 2020,
pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1650021; The World Bank, “Projected Poverty Impacts of COVID-19
(Coronavirus),” Text/HTML, World Bank, August 6, 2020,
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/brief/projected-poverty-impacts-of-COVID-19. 3 United Nations, “Policy Brief: Education during Covid-19 and Beyond,” August 2020,
https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2020/08/sg_policy_brief_covid-
19_and_education_august_2020.pdf. 4 International Labour Organization, “Youth and Covid-19: Impacts on Jobs, Education, Rights and Mental
Well-Being-Survey Report 2020,” 2020, https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---
ed_emp/documents/publication/wcms_753026.pdf. 5 Jawaharlal Nehru University, “Statistical Data Fact Sheet,” accessed September 4, 2020, /datafactsheet.
http://www.jnu.ac.in/datafactsheet 6 All registered JNU students whose degrees are contingent on submitting a dissertation were considered as
respondents for the survey. This included research scholars pursuing PhDs and MPhils, and students from
MTech programmes 7 Ministry of Human Resource Development, “All India Survey on Higher Education 2018-19” (Government of
India, 2019). 8 Ministry of Human Resource Development, “All India Survey on Higher Education 2018-19.” 9 “OECD Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook 2016,” Text, OECD i Library, accessed September 8,
2020, https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/science-and-technology/oecd-science-technology-and-innovation-outlook-
2016_sti_in_outlook-2016-en. 10 Total higher education enrolment is 37.4 million. Ministry of Human Resource Development, “All India
Survey on Higher Education 2018-19.” 11 Over the years, studies around the world, including ones sponsored by public bodies, have attempted to
understand the lives of research scholars. Some studies include the Cooperative Project for Graduate Surveys
(KOAB) in Germany, which surveys in 60 universities, among other aspects, the situation of research scholars
before and after entering the research programme, programme conditions and progress of research scholars’
careers. The 2019 Post Graduate Research Experience Survey surveyed 50,000 research scholars across 107
higher education institutions in the UK. Nature has been conducting a biennial survey since the last ten years on
research scholars across the globe.
12 15,346 research and professional students participated in this survey. 13 https://www.chronicle.com/article/how-has-the-pandemic-affected-graduate-students-this-study-has-answers 14 The University of Hyderabad gauged students’ internet accessibility in the context of universities classes
being moved online. The Jawaharlal Nehru Students’ Union (JNUSU) surveyed students on their productivity,
access to finances, internet and online classes among others. 15 National Statistical Office, “Key Indicators of Household Social Consumption on Education in India-NSS
75th Round (July 2017 to June 2018)” (Government of India, 2019). 16 “Proposal for Online Classes Elicits Mixed Responses from UoH Students: Survey,” UOH Herald, accessed
September 10, 2020, https://herald.uohyd.ac.in/proposal-for-online-classes-elicits-mixed-responses-from-uoh-
students-survey/.
28
17 The UGC implements fellowships for the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the Ministry of Social
Justice & Empowerment, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Ministry of Minority Affairs and Ministry of Tribal
Affairs. 18 Government of India, “DBT Schemes,” Direct Benefit Transfer-Government of India, accessed September 4,
2020, https://dbtbharat.gov.in/scheme/scheme-list; Press Trust of India, “UGC Brings Fellowship Schemes
Brought under DBT,” Outlook, https://www.outlookindia.com/, July 4, 2017,
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/ugc-brings-fellowship-schemes-brought-under-dbt/1024031. 19The UGC Non-NET fellowship amounts to Rs. 5000/- per month (upper limit Rs 8000/- per month), while the
JRF amount of various agencies is Rs 31,000/- (upper limit Rs. 35,000) i.e. 6.2 times higher than the Non-NET
stipend amount. The Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) amounts to Rs Rs 70,000/- per month
(upper limit Rs. 80,000/- per month) i.e. 2.3 times higher than the JRF amount and 14 times higher than the
Non-NET amount. (See Government of India, “Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) Scheme,” Ministry
of Human Resource-Government of India, May 2020, https://may2020.pmrf.in). 20 Musab Qazi, “Researchers Left High and Dry: Mumbai University Scholars Haven’t Received Fellowships
for Last 6 Months,” Hindustan Times, April 26, 2017, https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbai-
university-scholars-haven-t-received-monthly-fellowships-for-last-six-months/story-
6oDnGqOgnbFw8iLrE8Vb1L.html; Sadaf Aman, “Delayed Payments of Fellowships Leave UGC Students at
Hyderabad in the Lurch,” The New Indian Express, April 24, 2017,
https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2017/apr/24/delayed-payments-of-fellowships-leave-ugc-
students-at-hyderabad-in-the-lurch-1597062.html. 21 Qazi, “Researchers Left High and Dry”; Yunus Y. Lasania, “UGC Delaying Funds for Research Scholars: OU
Students,” The Hindu, March 13, 2016, sec. Hyderabad, https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/ugc-
delaying-funds-for-research-scholars-ou-students/article8348281.ece. (a.o) 22 Anjali Marar, “CSIR Grievance Cell for Research Fellows Flooded with Distress Messages about Stipends,”
The Indian Express, June 25, 2019, https://indianexpress.com/article/education/csir-grievance-cell-for-research-
fellows-flooded-with-distress-messages-about-stipends-5798127/. 23 Nayantara Narayanan, “Why Top Research Fellows Are Protesting across India (and Not Getting Much
Attention),” Text, Scroll.in (https://scroll.in, February 19, 2015), http://scroll.in/article/707789/why-top-
research-fellows-are-protesting-across-india-and-not-getting-much-attention; T. V. Padma, “India’s PhD
Students on Hunger Strike over Delayed Pay Rise,” Nature News, February 24, 2015,
https://doi.org/10.1038/nature.2015.16969; Shihabudeen Kunju, “No Minority, SC And ST Scholarship
Notifications In Past 2 Years: Researchers,” NDTV.com, November 20, 2018,
https://www.ndtv.com/education/no-minority-manf-sc-and-st-rgnf-scholarship-notifications-in-past-2-years-
researchers-1950281. 24 Anjali Marar, “Pune: Amid Lockdown, Research Scholars Await Stipend, Word from Funding Agencies,”
The Indian Express, April 13, 2020, https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/amid-lockdown-research-
scholars-await-pending-stipend-communication-from-funding-agencies-6360810/; Shihabudeen Kunju,
“Immediately Disburse Fellowships: Students To UGC,” NDTV.com, April 22, 2020,
https://www.ndtv.com/education/ugc-fellowships-scholarships-immediately-disburse-fellowships-demand-
students-2215555. 25 Shyna Karla, “No Stipend since Months, Lockdown Worsens Situation: Research Scholars Write to PM
Modi,” The Indian Express, May 4, 2020, https://indianexpress.com/article/education/no-stipend-since-months-
lockdown-worsens-woes-researchers-write-to-pm-6379052/; Charan Teja, “‘Can Hardly Afford Food, Rent’:
Research Scholars Urge UGC for Pending Fellowships,” The News Minute, May 21, 2020,
https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/can-hardly-afford-food-rent-research-scholars-urge-ugc-pending-
fellowships-124981. 26 Sukanya Charuchandra, “CSIR Scholars Complain They Haven’t Been Paid for Several Months,” The Wire
Science, June 29, 2020, https://science.thewire.in/the-sciences/csir-research-scholars-stipends-delayed-
lockdown/. 27 Istikhar Ali, “Hungry and Desperate, University Students Wait for Scholarship Money,” The Citizen, July 13,
2020, https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/9/19043/Hungry-and-Desperate-University-
Students-Wait-for-Scholarship-Money; Sushmita Panda, “JNU Students Wait for Pending Scholarships amid
29
COVID-19 Pandemic,” India TV, July 8, 2020, https://www.indiatvnews.com/education/news-jnu-students-
wait-for-pending-scholarships-amid-covid-19-pandemic-632612; Goradia, “Online Petition.” 28 Basant Kumar Mohanty, “Lock on Jamia, JNU Research Funds,” The Telegraph Online, June 8, 2020,
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/coronavirus-lockdown-lock-on-jamia-jnu-research-funds/cid/1788362;
Shihabudeen Kunju, “Research Scholars Complain Non-Payment of Fellowships,” NDTV.com, July 8, 2020,
https://www.ndtv.com/education/research-scholars-complain-non-payment-of-fellowships. 29 Research scholars in other countries too have been reporting a lack of finances for basic sustenance. In the
NSF study done in the US, a quarter of the scholars had experienced food security issues. 24% were worried
that their food would run out before they could buy more. 12% admitted to not having sufficient food, and no
money to buy more. A lack of secure housing options were experienced by one fourth. ....Problems pertaining to
food procure like scarcity of food (17.8%) were all reported as causes of anxiety. 30 A sizeable share of former fellowship holders (38.7%) too used to use their fellowship money, while they
were receiving it 31 “2019 Nature PhD Students Survey Data,” figshare, July 11, 2019,
https://figshare.com/s/74a5ea79d76ad66a8af8. 32 Renee Eleftheriades, Clare Fiala, and Maria D. Pasic, “The Challenges and Mental Health Issues of Academic
Trainees,” F1000Research 9 (February 11, 2020), https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.21066.1. 33 Katia Levecque et al., “Work Organization and Mental Health Problems in PhD Students,” Research Policy
46, no. 4 (May 1, 2017): 868–79, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2017.02.008. 34 Sibnath Deb et al., “Depression among Indian University Students and Its Association with Perceived
University Academic Environment, Living Arrangements and Personal Issues,” Asian Journal of Psychiatry 23
(October 1, 2016): 108–17, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2016.07.010. 35 Avneet Kaur, “Covid Triggers a Historic Rise in Mental Health Cases,” Tribuneindia, accessed September 7,
2020, https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jalandhar/covid-triggers-a-historic-rise-in-mental-health-cases-
129741; Kaur, “Covid Triggers a Historic Rise in Mental Health Cases”; Our Correspondent, “Lockdown
Triggers Spike in Mental Disorders across Households,” The Telegraph Online, accessed September 7, 2020,
https://www.telegraphindia.com/jharkhand/lockdown-triggers-spike-in-mental-disorders-across-
households/cid/1782460. 36 Mohammad Ibrar, “Lockdown Triggers Rise in Mental Health Issues among Students: Delhi University
Professor | Delhi News - Times of India,” The Times of India, May 19, 2020,
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/lockdown-triggers-rise-in-mental-health-issues-among-students-
delhi-university-professor/articleshow/75826330.cms. HT Correspondent, “Colleges Asked to Focus on
Students’ Mental Health, Provide Support,” Hindustan Times, June 28, 2020,
https://www.hindustantimes.com/gurugram/colleges-asked-to-focus-on-students-mental-health-provide-
support/story-IOh2i0MC4fst3ZoaQYY9AP.html. 37 University of Delhi, “Mental Health Counselling,” April 9, 2020,
https://www.du.ac.in/du/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=26757&cntnt01returnid=83. 38 In the SERU survey, 36% of doctoral research students show a prevalence of a major depressive disorder
(MDD) and 43% have a prevalence of a generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). Compared to results from 2019,
prevalence of MDD was 2 times higher, and GAD 1.5 times higher in 2020. The prevalence of both disorders
was systematically higher amongst those who could not adapt well to remote instruction. 39 Jon Marcus, “Amid Pandemic, Graduate Student Workers Are Winning Long-Sought Contracts,” Washington
Post, accessed September 9, 2020, https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/07/19/grad-student-
unions-pandemic/; Kangkan Kalita, “PhD Students Call for Research Tenure Extension amidst Pandemic -
Times of India,” The Times of India, July 30, 2020,
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/phd-students-call-for-research-tenure-extension-
amidst-pandemic/articleshow/77252680.cms; Liz Kimbrough, “Field Research, Interrupted: How the COVID-
19 Crisis Is Stalling Science,” Mongambay, April 9, 2020, https://news.mongabay.com/2020/04/field-research-
interrupted-how-the-covid-19-crisis-is-stalling-science/; Jack Grove, “Coronavirus: UK PhD Students Urge
Automatic Funding Extensions,” Times Higher Education (THE), April 3, 2020,
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/coronavirus-uk-phd-students-urge-automatic-funding-
extensions.;Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union, “Regarding Issue of Evaluation, Academic Backlog,
30
and Scholarships in JNU in View of the Lockdown,” April 21, 2020.; Abha Goradia, “Online Petition: PhD
Students Urge MHRD to Extend Research, Fellowship Tenure by Six Months,” The Indian Express, July 27,
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