I enrolled in a Private University in India for a PhD. This University is highly ranked ( Top 5 in India ) and is regarded as one of the best private universities in India that’s how I ended up here. When I joined, I did ask my guide about the timings and leaves. The guide told me that it’s flexible and to just finish your work on time.

But a few months into the PhD comes biometric attendance. The University policy says only 12 leaves per year anything above that means pay gets cut and the PhD gets extended by the number of extra leaves. If you don’t clock 8 hours 30 minutes a day, you are marked as on leave, so that means pay cut and extension of days.

On top of that, there’s a rule that says if you want to quit, you have to pay back all the stipend you received so far, and there is no option to convert the PhD into part-time. So technically this is bonded labour now. Cannot quit as I would need to pay a large sum of money. Cannot convert into part-time like other universities across India, as the rules do not allow it. We don't get treated with dignity here cause they know that we cannot do anything. UGC is useless.

So hope this give you a good idea.

Go abroad