IT News
Imphal, Feb 26:
The All Manipur College Teachers’ Association (AMCTA) has submitted its feedback on 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.
In a statement, AMCTA informed that it had submitted the feedback via the designated email in response to the UGC’s Public Notice No. F.6-1/2025 (Regulations Feedback) dated 06.01.2025 & 06.02.2025, with the deadline set for February 28, 2025. The submission includes 27 key points covering aspects such as selection procedures for direct recruitment and promotion, the Career Advancement Scheme, the appointment of Vice Chancellors, eligibility dates for promotion, and paper publication requirements for college teachers.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has revised its 2018 regulations on the minimum qualifications for appointing teachers and academic staff and maintaining higher education standards. The new draft guidelines cover cadre ratio, probation periods, confirmation, leave policies, teaching days, academic research, administrative commitments, seniority, and the code of professional ethics. Stakeholders were invited to provide their feedback on these proposed changes.
Once approved, the new regulations will apply to all universities established under central, provincial, or state acts, as well as affiliated colleges recognized by the UGC under the UGC Act, 1956. This will impact both students and teachers across higher educational institutions in India.
Historically, UGC regulations have been issued following pay revisions recommended by respective pay review committees. The 2010 regulations were implemented based on the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Review Committee, while the 2018 regulations were formulated following the Seventh Pay Review Committee’s recommendations. Teachers have been allowed to opt between the 2010 and 2018 regulations for the Career Advancement Scheme until December 2024. However, many states are yet to adopt the 2018 regulations and their subsequent amendments.
AMCTA has raised concerns over the timing of the new regulations, stating that implementing them before the 2026 pay revision is premature. The association has urged the UGC to defer the regulations to avoid confusion caused by multiple overlapping frameworks. It emphasized the need for new regulations to be introduced only after the Eighth Pay Review Committee’s recommendations post-2026.
Additionally, AMCTA called for the UGC to hold joint meetings with state government representatives and other stakeholders before implementing provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The association stressed that uniformity in higher education standards should not come at the cost of academic diversity, urging the UGC to adopt an enabling framework that fosters creativity and quality in education.
