UGC Announces Update on Assistant Professor Eligibility Criteria, Check the Details Here

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has made an important update regarding the eligibility criteria for the post of Assistant Professor in all higher education institutions. The UGC has made changes to ensure that only well-qualified candidates are selected for this esteemed role in universities and colleges across the country.

Starting from July 1, 2023, the UGC has declared that the National Eligibility Test (NET), State Eligibility Test (SET), and State Level Eligibility Test (SLET) will now be the minimum qualifying criteria for direct recruitment to the position of Assistant Professor. These tests will serve as a measure of a candidate’s expertise and proficiency in their respective fields.

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.” This change replaces the previous rule of UGC.

However, the UGC has also provided some exceptions to this rule. Candidates who hold a Ph.D. degree from a recognized university are eligible for the Assistant Professorship without having to qualify for the NET/SET/SLET exam.

Similarly, institutions that have been recognized by the UGC are also eligible for recruiting Assistant Professors without considering the NET/SET/SLET scores of the candidates.

Eligibility Criteria for Assistant Professor 2023 Based on UGC Guidelines

According to the UGC guidelines for Assistant Professor 2023, the following are the eligibility criteria:

• Educational Qualification: Candidates must have a Master’s degree in the relevant subject with at least 55% marks. The postgraduate degree should be from an acknowledged university. A relaxation of 5% is provided for candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/PWD categories.

• NET/SET/SLET: Candidates must have qualified for the National Eligibility Test (NET) or State Eligibility Test (SET). Alternatively, candidates holding a Ph.D. degree from an acknowledged university are free from appearing for the NET/SET.

• Age Limit: There is no upper age limit for candidates aspiring to become Assistant Professors.

• Experience: Candidates with prior teaching experience or research experience will be given preference during the recruitment process.

One important point in the UGC’s updated guidelines is the relaxation of the mandatory Ph.D. degree for Assistant Professorship, which was previously required. According to the latest set of guidelines, a Ph.D. degree is not mandatory for the position until July 2023. This opens up opportunities for candidates with a Master’s degree and qualified NET/SET/SLET scores to apply for Assistant Professor positions.

Candidates aspiring to pursue a career as Assistant Professors are encouraged to carefully review the updated guidelines and fulfill the necessary eligibility criteria before submitting their applications. This move by the UGC is seen as a positive step towards further strengthening the educational system in the country.

The comment section is below if you have any questions or doubts regarding UGC Guidelines 2023 you can ask, and our experts will reply to you as soon as possible.