PhD holders eligible for direct recruitment as Asst Profs: UGC Chairman

UGC Chairman has informed that 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.

The University Grants Commission has clarified that PhD holders are eligible for direct recruitment to the post of assistant professors in universities and colleges.

The UGC announced revised eligibility criteria for Assistant Professors in higher education institutions. The recent announcement created confusion among PhD degree holders regarding their eligibility.
UGC Chairman Prof M. Jagadesh Kumar has stated that 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.

As per the UGC Gazette notification issued this week, PhD qualification for appointment as an Assistant Professor would be optional from July 01, 2023. It mentioned that NET/SET/SLET shall be the minimum criteria for the direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Professor for all Higher Education Institutions.

Prof Kumar in a series of tweets has stated that after removing the mandatory criteria of PhD for direct recruitment at the Assistant Professor level, the detailed eligibility criteria given in UGC minimum qualifications regulations 2018 will remain as they are making the following two criteria applicable: (1) 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 stated that 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.