The UGC Clarifies The Basic Requirements For Hiring Assistant Professors

Following the July 5 release of revised minimum criteria for direct recruitment to the position of assistant professor in all universities and colleges, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has now offered clarification.

M Jagadesh Kumar, the UGC Chairperson, issued a clarification via Twitter. For those with a Master’s degree, UGC-NET/SLET/SET is the minimum requirement for 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.

Kumar also stated that higher education institutions might utilise the regulations' appropriate criteria for recruitment at the Assistant Professor level based on the number of applications received in a certain discipline.

The UGC issued a notification on Wednesday stating that NET/SET/SLET will be the minimum criteria for 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 will be optional beginning 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 further said that PhD holders are exempt from the NET/SLET/SET and hence qualified for direct recruitment to the position of Assistant Professor.