Centralizing Control

Context: In a federal setup, attempts at undermining any stakeholder in the subject matter of education, which is in the Concurrent List, will prove disruptive. The Draft UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025, seeks to do precisely this. Demonstrating the Centre’s penchant for facilitating control over institutions through gubernatorial proxies, it proposes to divest State governments of their role in the selection process for Vice Chancellor (VC) of universities.

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Key Highlights of the UGC Regulation 2025

• Overview: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan introduced the UGC Draft Regulations 2025. It brings substantial reforms in the appointment process for Vice-Chancellors (VCs) and academic staff.
• Flexibility: Candidates can qualify for faculty positions through the NET/SET in a subject of their choice, even if different from their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Also, the subject of the Ph.D. degree will take precedence over prior degrees.
• Appointment of Vice-Chancellors: The draft has given the powers to Chancellors or Visitors to constitute the three-member search-cum-selection committee to appoint Vice-Chancellors.

So far, the State governments used to constitute the search committees for appointing Vice-Chancellors.

The regulation also opens the VC post to individuals from industry, public policy, public administration, or public sector undertakings, thus breaking from the tradition of selecting only academicians.

• Easier hiring of contract teachers: The draft regulation also removes the cap on contract teacher appointments. The 2018 regulations had limited such appointments to 10% of an institution’s total faculty positions.
• Promoting Indian Languages: The regulation encourages the use of Indian languages in academic publications and degree programmes.
• Holistic Evaluation: It also does away with the Academic Performance Indicators (API) system– a score that determines the recruitment and promotion of teachers based on parameters such as publication in journals.
• Diverse Talent Pool: It creates dedicated recruitment pathways for experts in arts, sports, and traditional disciplines.
• Inclusivity: It provides opportunities for accomplished sportspersons, including those with disabilities, to enter the teaching profession.
• 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 programs.
• Enhanced Transparency and Accountability: Promotes transparent processes for recruitment, promotion, and addressing grievances.

As a Junior Researcher myself simran is passionately engaged in scientific inquiry and discovery. I hold a PhD in Research from Banaras Hindu University, where I have developed a strong foundation on research areas.