2025 Draft Regulations for Assistant Professor Appointments: Eligibility Criteria and Guidelines

The Ministry of Education has introduced the 2025 draft regulations outlining the eligibility criteria for the appointment of Assistant Professors in Indian universities and colleges. According to the draft, candidates holding a PG degree (NCrF Level 6.5) with at least 55% marks (or an equivalent grade) in disciplines such as Arts, Commerce, Humanities, Education, Law, Social Sciences, Sciences, Languages, Library Science, Physical Education, Journalism & Mass Communication, Management, Drama, Yoga, Music, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, and Traditional Indian Art Forms like Sculpture must qualify the National Eligibility Test (NET), State Eligibility Test (SET), or State Level Eligibility Test (SLET) to be eligible for appointment as Assistant Professors.

However, for candidates with a PG degree in Engineering and Technology (NCrF Level 7, such as M.E., M.Tech.) and at least 55% marks (or equivalent grade), the requirement to qualify the National Eligibility Test (NET) is waived. This aligns with the AICTE guidelines for entry-level appointments in engineering and technology fields. Additionally, candidates holding a PhD in any of the mentioned disciplines will be eligible for appointment as Assistant Professors without needing to qualify the UGC-NET.

For specialized fields like Drama, Yoga, Music, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, and Traditional Indian Art Forms such as Sculpture, applicants with a UG degree and professional attainments are also eligible for appointment as Assistant Professors. These regulations are designed to streamline the recruitment process and ensure high academic standards across various disciplines in Indian higher education.