Staff Reporter
NEW DELHI: The National Eligibility Test (NET) is all set to return as the basic eligibility criterion for recruitment and appointment of lecturers in colleges and universities.
“The NET/State Level Eligibility Test will remain the minimum eligibility condition for appointment of lecturers. M.Phil. degree holders will not be exempted from the NET. Ph.D. holders remain exempted but only with a condition. Candidates who have done their Ph.D. in compliance with the UGC guidelines, will get exemption from clearing NET/SLET for appointment as lecturers,” University Grants Commission chairman Sukhadeo Thorat told journalists on Wednesday.
However, wherever there are departures from the UGC guidelines, Ph.D. holders will also have to pass NET to become lecturers.
RegulationsThe latest regulation on minimum qualifications for appointment of teachers — based on the final report of the Bhalchandra Mungekar Committee — will be applicable with effect from the date of its publication in the Gazette of India. It is aimed at improving the quality of research in the country.
Interestingly, in its interim report the committee had recommended that M. Phil. and Ph. D. holders should be exempted from the NET for appointment as teachers.
The new regulation will apply to every university established under a Central Act, Provincial Act or a State Act, every institution recognised by the UGC and deemed to be universities.
Those who are already employed on the basis of M.Phil./Ph.D. will not be covered under these regulations as they joined service before this notification.
An expert committee will be set up to study and exempt the universities that follow UGC’s new regulations for M.Phil. and Ph.D.
Besides, universities will annually decide a pre-determined and manageable number of M.Phil. and Ph.D. students. A supervisor will not have, at any given time, more than eight Ph. D. scholars and five M. Phil. students.
The number of seats for M. Phil and Ph.D. will be decided in advance and notified on the website of the institution.