Role of research in higher education – UGC NET Question

Statements A, B, C and E are all correct and reflect the multifaceted role of research in universities, whereas D is false. Research keeps academic staff intellectually active, feeds into curriculum updates and nurtures critical thinking among students. It also contributes to national development and can create partnerships with industry and communities. Statement D is wrong because research and teaching are interrelated functions in higher education, not completely disconnected activities.

Option A:
Option A omits E, failing to mention the role of collaborative research in building external linkages that enrich both teaching and research. This omission makes the combination incomplete.

Option B:
Option B leaves out C, and so misses the important idea that a research culture fosters critical thinking among students, which is central to higher education. Without C, the picture of research benefits is partial.

Option C:
Option C excludes A, thereby overlooking how research knowledge feeds back into teaching quality and curriculum design. This reduces the explanation of how research directly benefits students.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it combines all four true statements and excludes D, which separates teaching from research in an unrealistic way. It reflects the integrated mission of universities as teaching–research institutions.

Option E includes D, the false statement, and therefore becomes invalid despite containing some true elements about research.