UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Academic inbreeding refers to the tendency of institutions to hire their own graduates for academic positions, sometimes repeatedly across generations. While this can preserve institutional traditions, it may also reduce intellectual diversity and innovation. The stem describes exactly this practice of appointing one’s own graduates and limiting diversity, which is known as academic inbreeding. Hence, Option B is the correct answer.

Option A:
Inbreeding can lead to a closed intellectual environment resistant to new ideas and external influences. Many higher education reform discussions recommend balanced recruitment policies to avoid its negative effects. These points are consistent with the problem described in the question.

Option B:
Expansion refers to increasing the number of institutions or enrolments and is not specifically tied to appointing one’s own graduates. Therefore, Option A is not appropriate.

Option C:
Diffusion suggests spreading ideas or innovations, which is almost the opposite of the closure associated with inbreeding. It does not capture the problem highlighted, so Option C is incorrect.

Option D:
Outsourcing relates to contracting external agencies to perform services and has no direct connection to the internal faculty recruitment pattern described here. Thus, Option D is not suitable.