Departmental Research Advisory Committee (DRAC)

(i) There shall be a Departmental Research Advisory Committee or an equivalent body as defined in the Statutes/Ordinances of the Higher Educational Institution concerned for each Ph.D. scholar. The Research Supervisor of the PhD scholar concerned shall be the Convener of this committee, and this committee shall have the following responsibilities:

• To evaluate the research proposal and determine the final research topic.
• The objective is to assist the Ph.D. candidate in formulating the research study design and methodology, as well as to determine the necessary course(s) that may be required.
• To periodically review and assist in the progress of the research work of the Ph.D. scholar in every six months.

(ii) In every six months, a Ph.D. scholar shall appear before the DRAC to make a presentation and submit a brief report on the progress of his/her work for evaluation and further guidance. The DRAC shall submit its recommendations along with a copy of Ph.D. research scholar's progress report to the Higher Educational Institution concerned. A copy of such recommendations shall also be provided to the Ph.D. scholar.

(iii) In case the progress of the Ph.D. scholar is unsatisfactory, the DRAC shall record the reasons for the same and suggest corrective measures. If the Ph.D. scholar fails in implement these corrective measures, the DRAC may recommend, with specific reasons, the cancellation of the registration of the Ph.D. scholar from the Ph.D. programme.