UGC Draft Regulations 2025: A Bold Step Toward Revolutionising Standards In Higher Education

The UGC's Draft Regulations 2025 redefines teacher qualifications, introducing a "Notable Contributions" criterion while emphasising inclusivity, research and innovation for higher education appointments and promotions.

New Delhi:The University Grants Commission (UGC) has unveiled the Draft Regulations 2025, setting out to overhaul the minimum qualifications for the appointment and promotion of teachers and academic staff in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the country. The proposed guidelines aim to bolster academic standards, foster inclusivity and ensure merit-based progression, in alignment with national and international benchmarks.

Key Highlights of the Draft Regulations

Uniform Qualifications Across Institutions

The regulations apply to all universities, including those established under central, state, and provincial laws, as well as deemed universities recognised by the UGC. The draft emphasises the need for uniform qualifications across HEIs to ensure consistency and promote research, innovation and inclusive education.

Updated Minimum Qualifications for Recruitment

For the position of Assistant Professor (Academic Level 10), candidates must have a postgraduate degree with at least 55% marks and a PhD. For non-PhD candidates, NET/SET/SLET qualifications are mandatory. Exceptionally talented individuals with significant achievements in traditional art forms may qualify under special provisions.

Associate Professors (Academic Level 13A) must hold a PhD and have at least eight years of teaching or research experience, along with a minimum of eight notable contributions such as publications, patents, or book chapters.

To qualify as a Professor (Academic Level 14), candidates need a PhD and at least 10 years of teaching experience, including three years as an Associate Professor. They must also present at least 10 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, or patents, along with accomplishments in doctoral supervision.

Career Advancement Scheme (CAS)

The Career Advancement Scheme provides a merit-based path for faculty promotions, requiring candidates to demonstrate contributions to research, innovative teaching and community engagement. Faculty must complete refresher courses and contribute in at least four identified areas to qualify for higher academic levels.

Promoting Indian Languages and Knowledge Systems

The draft emphasises the importance of teaching and research in Indian languages and the Indian Knowledge System. Faculty with degrees in Indian language mediums and contributions to research or publications in Indian languages are highly encouraged.

“Notable Contributions” as a New Eligibility Criterion

One of the most innovative aspects of the regulations is the introduction of the “Notable Contributions” criterion. This includes evaluating candidates on their involvement in innovative teaching, research lab development, community service, start-up ventures, intellectual property creation and digital content creation for online platforms like Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).

Inclusive Selection Committees

Selection Committees for academic appointments and promotions will now include external subject experts to ensure transparency. Special provisions have been made for representation from underrepresented categories such as SC/ST/OBC, women and persons with disabilities.

Focus on Physical Education and Sports

For roles like Assistant Director and Director of Physical Education and Sports, candidates will be assessed based on physical fitness standards and achievements in national or international sports events. Contributions to promoting indigenous Indian sports are also considered.

Librarian Cadre Emphasis

For librarian positions, the draft highlights the importance of innovative library services, digital library management and multilingual collections as key contributions to recruitment and promotion.

Introduction of Professors of Practice

The regulations introduce a new category, Professors of Practice, which allows industry professionals and experts to be appointed to teaching roles. These positions are not counted against the faculty strength and are capped at 10% of the total faculty.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

HEIs failing to comply with these regulations could face severe penalties, including de-recognition, loss of funding, and being excluded from offering degree programmes.

These guidelines are now open for public consultation, with stakeholders invited to submit their feedback. The UGC plans to finalise and implement the regulations in due course, marking a significant milestone in the journey toward educational reforms.