New Delhi: Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, released the draft UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment & Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025, here today.
The Draft Regulations, 2025, have been placed in the public domain for feedback, suggestions, and consultations. They offer flexibility to universities in appointing and promoting teachers and academic staff in their institutions.
Pradhan expressed confidence that the University Grants Commission (UGC) will soon publish the Draft Regulations, 2025, in their final form, driving transformations in the education system and propelling the country towards Viksit Bharat 2047 through quality education and research.
Key Highlights of the Regulations
- Flexibility: Candidates can pursue teaching careers in subjects they qualify for with NET/SET, even if different from their previous degrees. PhD specialisation will be prioritised.
- Promoting Indian Languages: The draft Regulations encourage the use of Indian languages in academic publications and degree programmes.
- Holistic Evaluation: It aims to eliminate score-based short-listing, focusing on a broader range of qualifications, including “Notable Contributions.”
- Diverse Talent Pool: Creates dedicated recruitment pathways for experts in arts, sports, and traditional disciplines.
- Inclusivity: Provides opportunities for accomplished sportspersons, including those with disabilities, to enter the teaching profession.
- Enhanced Governance: Revises the selection process for Vice-Chancellors with expanded eligibility criteria with transparency.
- Simplified Promotion Process: Streamlines the criteria for promotions, emphasising teaching, research output, and academic contributions.
- Focus on Professional Development: Encourages continuous learning and skill enhancement for teachers through faculty development programmes.
- Enhanced Transparency and Accountability: Promotes transparent processes for recruitment, promotion, and addressing grievances.
Pradhan said that these draft reforms and guidelines will infuse innovation, inclusivity, flexibility and dynamism in every aspect of higher education, empower teachers and academic staff, strengthen academic standards and pave the way for achieving educational excellence. He congratulated the team of UGC for their efforts in formulating the Draft Regulations and Guidelines in sync with the ethos of NEP 2020.
– global bihari bureau
