If there are lot of definitions for prestige and excellence, then the University of Pune will be one among them. Providing good quality education in the fields of Library & Information Science, Science, Commerce, Arts, Languages and Management Studies, the University excels in almost all Must-be features of an ideal University, including great library, vast peaceful campus and hostel facilities which in turn attracts candidates from other countries as well. Established in the year 1948, the University of Pune never had to turn back during its long and successful run, eventually christening it as the “Oxford of the East”.

With a number of graduates, post graduate and Doctoral degree courses, the University of Pune conducts and annual entrance exam to admit eligible candidates for its various courses.

Structure of the PhD Library & Information Science Entrance Exam

The PhD Entrance exam has two stages – Written Test and Interview.

The 2 hour long written test is for a total mark of 100 comprising of descriptive as well as objective type questions, the former for 80 marks and the rest 20 marks for the latter. The second stage is the Interview which will be marked on 50. The criterion for evaluation is:

• Personality - 10 marks
• Subject knowledge - 10 marks
• Communication Skills - 10 marks
• Awareness - 10 marks
• Analytical approach - 10 marks

Based on the marks obtained for the written test and the interview, the candidates will be ranked i.e. on their merit.

Syllabus for the PhD Library & Information Science Entrance Exam

Unit I

• Intellectual Property Rights-Concept, Copyright, Censorship-Print and Non-print Media.
• Library and Information Policy at the National Level
• LIS Education in India
• LIS Profession
• Library & Information services
• Role of UGC in the growth and development of libraries and information centres in institutions of higher education in India
• Information Literacy

Unit II

• Vocabulary Control-Thesaurus, Lists of Subject Headings
• Databases-Search Strategies, Boolean Operators
• Knowledge Management
• Information Processing & Organization
• Current trends in Information Storage & Retrieval

Unit III

• Financial management-Resource Generation, Cost-Benefit analysis PERT, CPM
• Performance Evaluation of Libraries/Information Centres and Services
• Marketing of Information product and services
• Total Quality Management (TQM)
• New Techniques in Library Management

Unit IV

• Impact of IT on Library
• Library Networking & Networks,
• Network Topologies
• Hypertext, Hypermedia, Multimedia
• Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Open Systems Interconnection (OSI)
• Digital Library
• Virtual Library
• Electronic Documents
• Library Automation
• INTERNET Components, Services, Browsing-Web Browsers, Search Engines Meta-Data,
• Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
• Metadata, Institutional Repository, Open Source Software, Web 2.0
• Current trends in IT 57

Unit V

• Types of Research-Basic, Applied, Interdisciplinary
• Research Design
• Scientific Method, Hypotheses, Data Collection, Sampling
• Methods of Research-Historical, Descriptive, Case Study, Survey, Comparative and
• Experimental
• Statistical Methods, Data Analysis
• Report Writing
• Research Methods in Library and Information Science and Services
• Bibliometrics
• Research Ethics
• Use and user study
• Content analysis
• Field study
• Future research: Delphi Techniques
• Style manuals (Chicago, APA, MLA)
• Citation styles: Footnotes, references
• Evaluation of research
• Current trends in LIS research (Advanced countries, Less-Advanced countries and Global)

Performance evaluation and measurement

• Techniques & Methods
• Evaluation of Library Services & Products
• SWOT Analysis
• Re-Engineering of Library Services
• Knowledge Management
• Technology Management
• Marketing Skill & Techniques
• Collection development policies & procedures (By taking individual libraries i.e. Needs based collection development)
• Total Quality Management i.e. TQM.
• Recent Management Techniques
• Out sourcing
• Six Sigma
• Brain Storming
• Mind Mapping & Other recent techniques58
• Networks and Security measures
• Network components: UTP. Optical Fibers, Ethernet, Network Interface Card, Hub,
• Routers, Modems and requirement of Wi-Fi
• Planning of computer networks in Library and Information Centers
• Network security measures
• Internet security
• Web 2.0
• 6. Information Literacy
• Concept, need
• Methods of imparting information literacy programmes
• Contents of information literacy programmes
• ACRL standards for information literacy
• Current trends in IT

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates with a minimum 50% marks or equivalent GPA for their Master’s Degree from a recognized University are considered eligible. For candidates belonging to reserved category, there will be a relaxation of 5% marks. For Foreign candidates with a PG, the required marks/GPA is 50%.

Those candidates who have qualified with valid scores in GATE/ SET/ NET/ JRF/ SRF examination of the apex bodies as ICAR/ ICMR/ CSIR/ UGC/ DBT are eligible but need not attend the Entrance exam. So are those candidates with valid qualifying marks in M.Phil Degree approved by a Recognized University. The eligibility conditions for the new batch of students will be available in the official website of the University of Pune.

How to Apply?

The University of Pune provides only one method to get the application forms for the entrance examination. The form can be downloaded from the Official website - http://unipune.ac.in/phdExam/.

Visually or Physically handicapped candidates as well as those from the reserved category must submit attested and approved Medical and Caste certificates respectively. All applicants must submit an attested mark list of their Master’s degree as well.

A Cash Challan or Demand draft stamped by any Bank is to be submitted by each candidate on submitting his/her application form. The DD may be drawn from any nationalized Bank in favor of the Registrar, University of Pune and the same should be payable at Pune itself. The form may be sent enclosed in a 36 x 25 cms envelope by Post or by hand. Foreign candidates should first obtain the verification and approval of their certificates from the International Students’ Center before submitting them to the PG Admission section.

How to fill the Form?

Obviously an application form to be submitted for an entrance exam should be devoid of any errors. Errors can be avoided only if the candidates take a lot of caution and care while filling the form. Only valid information and details should be furnished in the form and once the form has been submitted, the authorities will not entertain requests for making changes in the form. The hard copy of the application form and the required proper documents should reach the Admission section on or before the last date.

Important Dates (Tentative)

[Please note that we only provide tentative dates based on previous years dates. For exact dates related information it is always best to check official websites only.]

End Date of Online Application Form – Last week of November, 2012

Last Date of submission for Printed Application Form along with Documents – First week of December, 2012

Issue of Hall Ticket – Second week of December, 2012

Examination Date – Third week of December, 2012

List of the PhD Library & Information Science Entrance Exam Centers

All the examination centers will be in Pune city and the updates regarding the exam centres will be published in the official website. The examination will be conducted online at the respective centers allocated.

Contact Address for the PhD Library & Information Science Entrance Exam

• Address: Deputy Registrar, P. G. Admission Section, University of Pune, Pune - 411 007.
• Phone No:  2560 1260 / 61
• Technical Support: 25601371 (ext.205)
• Email ID : [email protected]

Colleges Accepting the PhD Library & Information Science Entrance Exam

The qualified candidates who have passed all the stages of the entrance exam shall be admitted to the University of Pune for this course.

Reference Books for the PhD Library & Information Science Entrance Exam

• Bibliographies Of Indian Library Science: A Literature Review by M.P. Satija
• Serial Librarianship in Transition: Issues and Development edited by Peter Gellatly
• Modern Invention of Information by Ronald Day
• Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology by Khosrow-Pour, Mehdi

Coaching Centers for the PhD Library & Information Science Entrance Exam

• T.I.ME.
• Vidhyasagar
• Brilliant Tutorials Pvt. Ltd.
• Career Point
• Career Forum

Study Plan

Certain well devised exam strategies can effectively help the candidates get through the examination with flying colors. Seeking assistance from good coaching centers, referring a lot of the topic related books, making short notes, using previous question papers, a lot of hard work, adequate scheduling and allocation of time to cover topics faster etc are the most significant factors that can help the candidate to be successful in this test.

How and Where To Get the Results?

Use this link to check results of the PhD Library and Information Sciences entrance examination by University of Pune – www.unipune.ac.in.

Score Validity

The score of this entrance exam is valid for a year.