UGC reverses decision on compulsory PhD for recruitment of assistant professors, NET, SET, SLET to be minimum criteria

The UGC chairperson Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar further informed that the PhD qualification for appointment as an assistant professor would be optional.

NET/SET/SLET shall be the minimum criteria for the direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Professor for all Higher Education Institutions. Express photo by Nirmal Harindran.

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The National Eligibility Test (NET), State Eligibility Test (SET) and State Level Eligibility Test (SLET) will be the minimum criteria for direct recruitment to the post of assistant professor in all universities and colleges, University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced.

The announcement of the revised regulations, made on June 30, on the minimum qualifications for the appointment of teachers and academic staff has come into effect from July 1, 2023.

Read | ‘This will bring down the quality’: PhD students, professors on UGC’s recent decision for recruitment of assistant professors

UGC’s notice reads: “NET/SET/SLET shall be the minimum criteria for the direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Professor for all Higher Education Institutions.” The amendment replaces the previous sub-regulation of UGC. This amendment aims to maintain and enhance the standards of education in higher education institutions by ensuring that candidates have cleared the necessary eligibility tests for the role of assistant professor.

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Meanwhile, UGC Chairperson on July 6 has issued a clarification regarding the criteria, read the full story here.

In 2018, the then HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar announced a PhD is a must for assistant teachers’ posts at universities and colleges. It gave a three-year window to candidates to complete their PhDs and asked all universities and colleges to start applying the criteria for recruitment from the 2021-22 academic session. However, the UGC in 2021 extended the date of applicability of PhD as the minimum qualification for recruitment of assistant professors in universities from July 2021 to July 2023.

The UGC chairperson Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar shared the news through his Twitter handle informing PhD qualification for appointment as an assistant professor would be optional.

UGC Gazette Notification: Ph.D. qualification for appointment as an Assistant Professor would be optional from 01 July 2023. NET/SET/SLET shall be the minimum criteria for the direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Professor for all Higher Education Institutions. pic.twitter.com/DRtdP7sqOj

— Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar (@mamidala90) July 5, 2023

UGC further stated that the amended regulations will play a crucial role in streamlining the recruitment process and ensuring that only deserving candidates are appointed as assistant professors.

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On July 6, UGC issued a clarification regarding the same. “For those with a Master’s degree, UGC-NET/SLET/SET is the minimum requirement for the direct recruitment as an Assistant Professor, and (2) PhD degree holders, awarded as per UGC Regulations, are eligible for direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Professor and are exempted from UGC-NET/SLET/SET,” UGC Chief, M Jagadesh Kumar, tweeted.

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