Selection process of Assistant Professor as Per UGC

UGC NET Exam provides the candidates with multiple opportunities to advance their career in multiple ways. One of the most lucrative options is becoming an assistant professor. The candidates who are preparing for the exam may have some doubts regarding the selection process that is followed by various universities as per UGC guidelines.

As per the notification released by UGC, the date for making Ph.D. a mandatory requirement for the appointment of Assistant professors in departments of the Universities had been extended from 1st July 2021 to 1st July 2023.  The University Grants Commission had made the following amendment in the University Grants Commission (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and other Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2018:

Earlier, UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and other Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2018 stipulated that a Ph.D. degree shall be a mandatory qualification for direct recruitment to the post of Assistant professors in universities from 1st July 2021. The UGC, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, had decided to extend the date of applicability of Ph.D. as a mandatory qualification for direct recruitment of Assistant professors from 1st July 2021 to 01.07.2023.

In the University Grants Commission (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and other Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2018, in regulation 3, for sub-regulation 3.10, the following sub-regulation shall be substituted, namely:

‘‘The Ph.D. Degree shall be a mandatory qualification for direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Professor in Departments of the Universities with effect from 01.07.2023.”

According to the UGC Regulation 2021, the minimum eligibility criteria for the assistant professor, JRF or equivalent posts in the UGC Approved Universities are as follows: SET/SLET qualified NET certificates and a Master's degree. Minimum 55% marks in post-graduation for the recruitment of teachers or Ph. D.

The NET Exams (UGC NET/ CSIR NET/ ICAR NET) are mandatory and compulsory if you want to be an Assistant Professor/Lecturer across India. According to the UGC rule, only the NET exams are the gateway or entry for becoming Assistant Professor. Ph.D. candidates are not exempted from appearing in UGC NET.

UGC NET FAQs

1. What is the validity of UGC-NET certificate?

            Answer-- The validity of UGC-NET certificate of Eligibility for Assistant Professor/Lectureship is forever.

2. What is my rank on all India basis in UGC NET?

           Answer-- Rank is not assigned in UGC-NET

3. In general, has the candidate got to appear for NET in the subject of his / her post graduation only? In which subject should he / she appear in case NET is not conducted in the subject of his / her post-graduation.

Answer-- For latest and detailed eligibility conditions please refer to the Information Bulletin / Notification on the website of NTA, as per which the candidates are advised to appear in the subject of their post-graduation only. The candidate whose post-graduation subject is not included in the list of NET subjects, may appear in a related subject. In such a situation, the candidate should go through the syllabus of subjects in which UGC-NET is conducted, uploaded on the UGC website www.ugcnetonline.in and appear in a subject that is closest to the subject of post-graduation of the candidate. However, the suitability of any candidate for a teaching position lies within the jurisdiction of the appointing authority.

4. In general as far as subjects of interdisciplinary nature are concerned can a candidate be appointed to the post of Assistant Professor in a particular subject if his / her Master’s degree is not exactly in that subject but in a related subject.

Answer-- Suitability of a candidate for any teaching position is within the purview of the appointing authority

5.  What are the subjects in which NET is conducted?

Answer-- NET in various subjects is being conducted in disciplines falling under Humanities including languages, Social Sciences and some Science    subjects through UGC-NET. The Joint CSIR-UGC Test is conducted under the auspices of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in disciplines      falling under the basic sciences. For Agriculture related subjects, ICAR-NET is conducted by Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (under Indian Council of      Agricultural Research). The candidates may go through the respective websites for these three examinations in order to learn about the subjects in which NET is conducted.

6. Are professional qualifications, viz. Chartered Accountancy (CA) / Company Secretary (CS) / Indian Cost & Works Accountancy (ICWA) valid qualifications to appear in NET?

Answer-- The University Grants Commission in its meeting held on 18th February, 2021 has resolved that CA/CS/ICWA qualification be considered equivalent to PG Degree. The candidates having CA/CS/ICWA qualification have also to fulfil eligibility criteria as stipulated in the Information Bulletin/Notification of UGC-NET.

7. Is my Master’s degree obtained through distance mode valid for appearing in UGCNET?

Answer-- Regarding degrees acquired through distance mode, the programme and tenure should be approved by the Distance Education Bureau of UGC. The year-wise recognition status of universities / institutions approved to offer education through distance mode along with the approved programmes is available on the UGC website, www.ugc.ac.in/deb

8. Is there a maximum limit on the number of attempts for appearing in NET?

Answer-- There is no cap on the number of attempts for appearing in NET for Eligibility for Assistant Professor. However, as far as Junior Research Fellowship is concerned, there is an upper age limit for applying as specified in the concerned Information Bulletin / Notification of NET

9. What is the minimum qualification for appearing in UGCNET? Is there any relaxation for the reserved category / Persons with disability (PWD) category / Transgender candidates?

Answer-- General/Unreserved/General-EWS candidates who have secured at least 55% marks (without rounding off) in Master’s Degree or equivalent examination from universities/institutions recognized by UGC (available on the website: www.ugc.ac.in in Humanities and Social Science (including languages), Computer Science and Applications, Electronic Science etc. are eligible for this Test. The Other Backward Classes (OBC) belonging to Non-Creamy Layer/Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST)/Persons with Disability (PwD)/Third gender / category candidates who have secured at least 50% marks (without rounding off) in Master’s degree or equivalent examination are eligible for this Test.

10. The result of final year examination of Master’s Degree is awaited, OR The Candidate is in First year / Second year / Final Year of Master’s Degree. Is he/she eligible to fill the online application form of UGC-NET?

Answer--Those who are pursuing their Master’s degree or equivalent course or candidates who have appeared for their qualifying Master’s degree (final year) examination and whose result is still awaited or candidates whose qualifying examinations have been delayed may also apply for this test. However, such candidates will be admitted provisionally and shall be considered eligible for award of JRF/eligibility for Assistant Professor only after they have passed their Master’s Degree OR equivalent examination with at least 55% Marks [50% marks in case of OBC(Non Creamy layer)/SC/ST/PWD/Transgender candidates]. Such candidates must complete their Master’s degree or equivalent examination within two years from the date of NET result with required percentage of marks, failing which they shall be treated as disqualified.

In case if you have any further query regarding any aspect of UGC NET or the courses offered by JRFAdda, feel free to contact our support numbers +918955296472, 6375278950, 6350183347 anytime between 10 AM to 7 PM (Sunday off).