Centralising 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.

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.

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

Ø  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.