Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar today said PhD degree has been made mandatory for direct recruitment to the post of assistant professors in universities from 2021-22.

He however, added that the masters degree with National Eligibility Test (NET) or PhD would continue to be the minimum eligibility criteria for direct recruitment in colleges.

Announcing the new regulations of the University Grants Commission (UGC), Mr Javadekar said Academic Performance Indicators (API), resisted by many as research was made compulsory for college teachers, has been scrapped so that they can focus on teaching.

The Minister said all the incentives of earlier regulations have been maintained, but the API for college teachers has been removed.

He added that, now college teachers would not have to mandatorily do research but will have to essentially concentrate and give better education to undergraduate students.

The Minister said a new and simplified teacher evaluation grading system has been introduced and teaching outcomes would be considered for promotion.

Mr Javadekar said new recruitment for universities will be only PhD holders and the department have given time of three years, So from 2021, assistant professor (entry level position) will have to hold PhD degree.