The All-India Democratic Students Organisation statement denouncing the UGC notice, dated 27.03.2024, mandating NET qualification for PhD entrance from the academic year 2024-25 onwards: *** We are dismayed by the UGC circular that essentially mandates the universities and higher education institutions to adopt NET score as the sole criteria for PhD interview. The government, hell bent on imposing the deplorable NEP 2020, and on submitting the interests of education and research at the feet of national and international education mafia, has chosen to ignore the persistent voice of the stakeholders and members of the public before taking this disastrous decision. Despite all shortcomings, the public funded institutions including universities have functioned with an aim to provide an opportunity for the marginalised section to get education. While the founding principles may have been watered down over the years, it cannot be denied that many scholars belonging to different underprivileg