The decision of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to set aside PhD and make the National Eligibility Test (NET), State Eligibility Test (SET) and State Level Eligibility Test (SLET) as the minimum eligibility criteria for direct recruitment of assistant professors has drawn mixed reactions from PhDs, professors, and aspirants. Some researchers demanded to make PhD mandatory too while many candidates came up with doubts in the gazette notification. The commission made the amendments in the “Minimum qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and other academic staff in Universities and colleges and other measures for maintenance of standards in higher education regulations 2018”. The revised regulations have come into effect from July 1, 2023, UGC added.
Meanwhile, UGC has clarified that PhD degree holders are eligible for the posts. The commission explained that it has only amended the general condition of PhD being mandatory for the direct recruitment of assistant professors. While NET, SLET, SET are the criteria for those who have a master’s degree, PhD degree holders are exempted from these exams for the appointment of the post.
PhD not mandatory for appointment of assistant professors, says new UGC notice: What it means
Candidates for the post of assistant professor in universities and colleges are no longer required to hold PhDs.
Candidates for the post of assistant professor in universities and colleges are no longer required to hold PhDs in order to be eligible for the entry-level position, as per a fresh order by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
The big point: In a reversal of its earlier decision, the UGC has announced that exams such as the National Eligibility Test (NET), State Eligibility Test (SET), and State Level Eligibility Test (SLET) will be the requisite criteria for appointment to the post of assistant professor in all universities and colleges.
The details: In a notification issued on June 30, the UGC said, NET/SET/SLET shall be the minimum criteria for the direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Professor for all Higher Education Institutions.” UGC chairperson Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar further clarified, “Ph.D. qualification for appointment as an Assistant Professor would be optional from 01 July 2023.”
But, but: A notice issued by the UGC noted that depending on the discipline, institutions can decide upon shortlisting criteria above the minimum specified by the UGC. Further, a PhD is still mandatory to rise to the post of associate professor.
Previously: A PhD degree had been made mandatory for hiring to the assistant professor’s post in universities in 2018. However, a three-year window to candidates to complete their PhDs and the UGC had directed universities and colleges to start applying the criteria for recruitment only from 2021. In 2021, the UGC had pushed the date of applicability of PhD as the minimum qualification for the post of assistant professor to July 2023.
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.
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 Chief, 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.
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.
UGC clarification on the recent amendment
The official notice of clarification released on July 6 reads, "UGC Regulations 2018 prescribe, among other things, minimum qualifications for the appointment of Assistant Professors in Universities and Colleges. The minimum qualification set by the Regulations for Assistant Professors is NET/SET/SLET. However, clause 3.10 of UGC Regulations 2018 also says that Ph.D. Degree shall be a mandatory qualification for direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Professor in Universities effective 01.07.2021. The applicability of this condition was extended till 1st July 2023 through an amendment notified on 12th October 2021. Further, on 1st July 2023, this clause was amended again (2nd amendment), prescribing NET/SET/SLET as the minimum eligibility criteria for the direct recruitment of Assistant Professors."
PhD holders exempted from NET/SET/SLET
"Clause 3.10 is a general condition. In the discipline-wise eligibility criteria given under clause nos. 4.0, 4.2, 4.3, in the UGC Regulations 2018, it is mentioned that for Master's degree holders, NET/SLET/SET is the minimum eligibility criteria, and Ph.D. degree holders are exempted from NET/SLET/SET. To make this point clear, the eligibility criteria prescribed for the disciplines of Arts, Commerce, Humanities, Education, Law, Social Sciences, Sciences, Languages, Library Science, Physical Education, and Journalism & Mass Communication as given under clause 4.1 in the UGC Regulations 2018, are reproduced below:
A Master's degree with 55% marks (or an equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed) in a concerned/relevant/allied subject °from an Indian University or an equivalent degree from an accredited .fiweign university.
II) Besides fulfilling the above qualifications, the candidate must have cleared the National Test (NET) conducted by the UGC or the CS1R, or a similar test accredited by the UGC, like SLET/SET, or who are or have been awarded a Ph. D. Degree in accordance with the University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of M.Phil./Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2009 or 2016 and their amendments from time to time as the case may be exempted from NET/SLET/SET.
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