The government has issued a clarification letter directing all higher education institutions across the state to follow the revised interpretation while undertaking recruitment.
According to the University Grants Commission (UGC) notification dated July 18, 2018, a Ph.D. degree was proposed to be made mandatory for direct recruitment to Assistant Professor positions in universities from July 1, 2021. Subsequently, the Maharashtra Government implemented the notification through a Government Resolution (GR) dated March 8, 2019.
However, the UGC amended its regulations through a notification dated June 30, 2023, specifying NET/SET/SLET as the minimum eligibility qualification for direct recruitment to Assistant Professor positions across higher education institutions. The Maharashtra Government approved these amendments through its GR dated March 5, 2024.
The March 2024 GR, however, did not clearly specify which paragraph of the original March 8, 2019 resolution was being amended, leading to confusion among candidates and recruiting institutions.
Addressing the ambiguity, the government has now clarified that the amendment dated March 5, 2024, applies to Paragraph 4.10 of the March 8, 2019 GR.
Furthermore, under the provisions of Paragraph 5.14(2), candidates holding Ph.D. degrees obtained in accordance with the prescribed regulations are also eligible for exemption from the NET/SET requirement.
Accordingly, the government has directed that NET/SET/SLET or a Ph.D. degree obtained in accordance with the applicable regulations should be accepted as the prescribed eligibility qualification for Assistant Professor recruitment.
The clarification is expected to resolve uncertainties in the recruitment process and provide significant relief to aspiring candidates seeking Assistant Professor positions in universities and colleges across Maharashtra.
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