The University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified the regulations on minimum qualifications for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in universities and colleges and measure for the maintenance of standards in higher education, 2018, which lays down the minimum qualifications for appointment and other service conditions of university and college teachers. According to the regulations, PhD has been made a mandatory qualification for direct recruitment to the post of assistant professor in Universities with effect from July 1, 2021. Assistant professors will also have to undergo a month-long induction programme. A PhD will also be mandatory for promotion to the level of associate professor in colleges and assistant professor (Selection Grade) in universities from July 2021. In place of the “controversial” Academic Performance Indicator-based appraisal, a simplified teacher evaluation grading system has been introduced and the commission has added academic/research score for universities to improve research output.
