UGC issues clarification on minimum criteria for recruitment of assistant professors

On July 5, UGC had issued a notification stating that NET/SET/SLET shall be the minimum criteria for the direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Professor for all HEIs.

UGC issues clarification against change in minimum requirement of Assistant Professors

PhD holders are exempted from NET/SLET/SET and thereby eligible for direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Professor. (Representative image. Express photo)

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After releasing revised minimum criteria for direct recruitment to the post of assistant professor in all universities and colleges on July 5, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has now issued clarification for the same.

The UGC Chairperson, M Jagadesh Kumar, tweeted a clarification. “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,” he said.

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

Assistant Professor and are exempted from UGC-NET/SLET/SET. Depending on the number of applications received in a given discipline, HEIs can use suitable criteria given in the regulations for appointment at the Assistant Professor level. pic.twitter.com/sjrOjAtjim

— Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar (@mamidala90) July 6, 2023

Kumar also added that the higher educational institutes can use suitable criteria given in the regulations for appointment at the Assistant Professor level depending on the number of applications received in a given discipline.

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Read | PhD not mandatory for appointment of assistant professors, says new UGC notice: What it means

On Wednesday, the UGC issued a notification stating that NET/SET/SLET shall be the minimum criteria for the direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Professor for all HEIs, and the UGC Chief also tweeted that PhD qualification for appointment as an assistant professor would be optional from July 1.

“UGC has amended the general condition clause no. 3.10, which stipulates PhD as a mandatory requirement from 1st July 2023. The detailed eligibility criteria given under various disciplines are not amended, and it is mentioned clearly that NET/SLET/SET is the minimum requirement for the direct recruitment of an Assistant Professor for those who do not have a PhD degree,” the clarification from UGC stated.

The Commission also explained that PhD holders are exempted from NET/SLET/SET and thereby eligible for direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Professor.