The questions examiners most often ask in a PhD viva cover the big picture of the thesis, the literature and gap, objectives and theory, methodology, analysis and results, findings, limitations, and contribution; the viva voce is the last step before your PhD is awarded, and for most scholars it is the part they worry about most. The good news: by the time you reach the viva, your examiners have already recommended your thesis. The viva is where you show that the work is yours and that you understand it. It is not a second chance for the examiners to reject it.
This guide lists the questions examiners in India ask most often, grouped by theme, explains what each group is really testing, and shows how to prepare answers. It also covers what to do when you do not know an answer, and how the open viva works. The questions come from common practice across Indian universities, not from any official list. Last reviewed September 2026.
How the viva works in India
After your thesis is submitted, it goes to external examiners, usually two, chosen by the university. If their reports are satisfactory, the university schedules the viva. Under the UGC regulations the viva is conducted by your supervisor and at least one of the external examiners, and it is open: members of your research advisory committee, faculty from the department, other research scholars and interested experts may attend and ask questions. The UGC has also allowed universities to hold vivas by video conference, subject to their own statutory approval, and many now do.
The usual format is:
- Your presentation of the thesis, commonly 20 to 45 minutes.
- Questions from the external examiner, usually the main part, lasting from 30 minutes to well over an hour.
- Questions from the audience.
- The examiner and supervisor confer, and the examiner signs a report recommending the award, or occasionally asking for changes.
Your university’s procedure may differ in the details, including how many examiners attend and whether you see the examiner reports beforehand. Ask your research cell. Where the viva sits in the overall PhD timeline, and how long evaluation usually takes, is covered in our PhD timeline guide.
Common PhD viva questions, grouped by theme
Almost every viva question falls into one of the groups below. You will not get all of them, but you should be ready for any of them.
| Theme | Questions you should expect | What the examiner is really checking |
|---|---|---|
| The big picture | Summarise your thesis in five minutes. Why did you choose this topic? What is your main contribution? | Can you explain your own work clearly and without notes? |
| Literature and gap | Who are the key authors in your area? What is the gap your study fills? Has anything been published since you submitted? | Do you know the field, and is the gap genuinely yours? |
| Objectives and theory | Why these objectives? Which theory underpins your model? Why that theory and not another? | Is there a clear line from problem to objectives to design? |
| Methodology | Why this design? How did you arrive at the sample size? Why this sampling method? How did you check reliability and validity? | Did you make choices, or follow a template? |
| Analysis and results | Why this test? What do these numbers mean? Was the assumption of normality met? What is the effect size? | Did you run the analysis yourself, and do you understand it? |
| Findings and discussion | Which finding surprised you? Why does your result differ from earlier studies? What would you change if you started again? | Can you think about your results critically? |
| Limitations and future work | What are the main weaknesses of your study? How far can your findings be generalised? What should the next study do? | Can you state clearly what the study cannot show? |
| Contribution and practice | What does your thesis add to knowledge? Who can use your findings, and how? What are the policy implications? | Does the thesis matter beyond the degree? |
Opening questions are usually friendly and broad. “Tell us about your work” or “Why did you choose this topic?” is meant to settle you. Do not rush it. A clear two-minute answer that states the problem, what you did and what you found sets the tone for everything that follows.
Methodology questions are where most scholars struggle. Examiners want to hear reasons. “My supervisor suggested it” or “other studies used it” is not a reason. “A stratified sample was used because awareness was expected to differ between irrigated and dry-land farmers, and I needed enough of each to compare them” is. If your methodology chapter already justifies each choice, your answers are written; our guide to writing the methodology chapter shows what that looks like.
How to prepare answers to viva questions
Reread the thesis
Read it cover to cover as an examiner would, with a pencil. Note typos, weak passages and anything you would now explain differently.
Study the examiner reports
If your university shares them, every point raised is almost certain to come up. Prepare a clear answer to each one.
Update your reading
Search for studies published since you submitted. Examiners like to ask about recent work.
Prepare the presentation
Usually 20 to 45 minutes, set by your university. Cover problem, objectives, method, key findings, contribution and limitations.
Practise answering aloud
Have a colleague or your supervisor ask questions from the table on this page. Answer out loud, in full sentences, without notes.
Prepare structures, not scripts
Do not memorise answers word for word; they sound rehearsed and are hard to adapt when the question is phrased differently. Instead, for each likely question, know the two or three points you want to make. For “What is your contribution?” those might be: the new finding, the context where nobody had tested it, and the practical use. Then you can answer any version of the question.
Know your numbers
You should be able to state, without looking: your sample size and how you reached it, your response rate, your main test results, and the reliability of your key scales. Examiners often ask about a specific table. Know where the important ones are.
Know your gap
Be able to say in one or two sentences what was not known before your study and what is known now. This question comes up in some form in almost every viva. If you find it hard, revisit how the gap was framed in your thesis; the gap statement guide may help you put it more sharply.
Anticipate the weak points
You know better than anyone where the thesis is weakest: the small sample in one district, the scale you adapted without full validation, the objective that was only partly met. Prepare for those questions first. An examiner who raises a weakness you have already thought about is usually satisfied by a clear, honest answer.
When you do not know the answer
Every scholar gets at least one question they cannot fully answer. How you handle it matters more than the gap in your knowledge.
- Take a moment. A pause of a few seconds to think is normal and looks considered, not weak.
- Ask for clarification if the question is unclear. “Do you mean the sampling of districts or of households within them?” is a perfectly good reply.
- Answer the part you can. “I did not test that directly, but my results on X suggest…” is far better than silence.
- Say so honestly. “I have not come across that study. I will read it. Could you tell me the author?” is an acceptable answer. Bluffing is not; examiners can tell, and it damages your credibility on the questions you did answer well.
- Do not argue, but do defend. If an examiner questions a choice you believe was right, explain your reasoning calmly. Accepting every criticism suggests you do not understand your own work. If the examiner makes a fair point, acknowledge it and say what you would do differently.
Questions from the audience
In an open viva, faculty and scholars may also ask questions. Some are genuinely curious; some are not directly related to your thesis. Answer briefly and politely. If a question is outside your scope, say so: “That is outside the scope of my study, but it would be an interesting direction.” Your supervisor or the examiner will usually step in if a question goes too far.
The viva presentation and what to bring on the day
Keep the presentation focused on what the examiner needs: the problem and gap, objectives, method in brief, key findings for each objective, contribution, and limitations. Most scholars use 20 to 30 slides. Avoid dense tables; show the few results that matter and keep the full tables in backup slides in case you are asked.
Rehearse it with a timer at least three times, once in front of an audience. A presentation that runs well over time uses up the examiner’s patience before the questions begin.
What to bring on the day:
- A bound or printed copy of your thesis, with small tabs on key tables and chapters.
- The presentation on a pen drive and in your email, plus a PDF copy in case the software differs.
- A one-page sheet with your objectives, hypotheses, sample size and main results, for your own reference.
- Copies of your published papers and acceptance letters.
- For an online viva: tested camera, microphone, internet and backup connection, and a quiet room.
- Water, and time to arrive early and check the room and projector.
Dress formally and comfortably. Arrive early. Before you start, thank the examiner and the chair. When the examiner asks you to wait outside at the end, it is routine, not a sign of trouble.
After the viva
If the examiner asks for minor corrections, get the list in writing, make them promptly, and have your supervisor confirm them. The university then completes the process for the award, and your thesis is deposited in Shodhganga. Our guide to PhD thesis structure is also worth rereading before the viva, since examiners often move chapter by chapter.
If you would like a mock viva with an examiner from your field, questions drawn from your own thesis and written feedback, our viva voce preparation service offers that. You answer the questions; we help you practise.
FAQ
Questions scholars ask
Can a candidate fail the PhD viva in India?
It is uncommon, because the viva is held only after the examiners have recommended the thesis. An examiner can ask for corrections, and in rare cases a second viva, if the candidate cannot show that they understand or did the work. Preparation makes that outcome very unlikely.
How long does a PhD viva last?
Usually between one and two and a half hours in total, including the presentation and questions. Some are shorter. The length depends on the examiner and your university’s practice.
Will I see the examiner reports before the viva?
Practice varies. Some universities share the reports or the questions raised in them with the candidate before the viva; others share them only with the supervisor. Ask your supervisor. If you get them, prepare an answer to every point.
Can my supervisor answer questions for me?
No. Your supervisor is part of the viva board but should not answer on your behalf. They may clarify procedure or, occasionally, help rephrase a question. The answers must be yours.
Is an online viva different from an in-person one?
The questions are the same. The practical risks are different: test your connection, camera and screen sharing beforehand, keep a phone ready as a backup, and make sure the university has shared the link with the audience, since the viva must still be open.
What if I am asked about a study published after I submitted?
It happens, and it is fair. Search for new work in your area before the viva. If you are asked about a study you have not read, say so and ask what it found; then relate it to your own results if you can.
