PhD candidates exempted from UGC NET

However, candidates having an MPhil who wish to teach postgraduate classes will still have to take the NET.

The University Grants Commission on Tuesday exempted candidates having PhD and MPhil degrees from appearing for the mandatory National Eligibility Test (NET) for the post of lecturers.

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However, candidates having an MPhil who wish to teach postgraduate classes will still have to take the NET.

"The Commission has in principle decided to accept the recommendations of the Mungerkar Committee set up by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, which had asked for exemption from NET to candidates having MPhil and PhD degrees," UGC Chairperson Sukhdeo Thorat told reporters in New Delhi.

The decision has been taken based on recommendations of the committee's interim report and the date of implementation would be set once the detailed report comes in, he said.

According to Thorat, there were around 1,500 teaching posts lying vacant in Central Universities and efforts were being made to fill them up on a priority basis.

The Commission has also decided to increase the number of scholarships for PhD students, post-doctoral scholars and research associates in science and social science streams.

"The total plan allocation for increase in scholarship amount is Rs 60 crore," Thorat said.

The UGC has also decided to give financial support to academic associations in science, humanities and social sciences to help them organise academic conferences on issues related to higher education and to provide feedback to the UGC in their areas of specialisation.