UGC Faculty Appointment Regulations: AADTA concerned over privatisation, workload, promotion norms

NEW DELHI: The All India Academic and Democratic Teachers’ Association (AADTA) has raised concerns over the recently revised University Grants Commission (UGC) faculty recruitment regulations draft. The Aam Aadmi Party teachers' body highlights that the absence of pay revision in these regulations and growing influence of the Ministry of Education (MoE) over the UGC, poses threats to the quality of higher education in India.

The UGC faculty appointment regulation 2025 has introduced several changes in the recruitment process such as lifting the 10% cap on contractual teacher appointment, allowing heads of industry and PSUs to apply for vice-chancellor post, and relaxing PhD requirements. The association claims that these changes undermine the autonomy of academic institutions and pave the way for privatization and contractualization in the education sector.

Rising privatisation and contractual appointments

“Any instrumentality of NEP 2020 paves its core agenda of privatisation and contractual ideation concretely and this draft UGC Regulations is no exception,” states AADTA.

AAP teachers' body criticises the increasing influence of the Ministry of Education over the UGC, arguing that the regulations are an extension of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and its privatization agenda. The teachers’ association says that this takeover by the MoE can lead to the replacement of the UGC by the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), resulting in political interference and reduced academic freedom.

AADTA also points out the removal of the 10% cap on contractual faculty will promote the trend of non-permanent appointments or increased contractualisation.

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Promotion criteria

Clause 6(d)(i) of the draft regulations, which excludes ad-hoc and temporary service tenure from promotion eligibility, has been criticised by the AADTA. AAP teachers' body states that this will disadvantage many faculty members, particularly those who have served for years in temporary roles. The association demands that the total duration of temporary service be counted toward promotion eligibility, as was previously the norm.

Qualifications and recruitment policies

AADTA has raised an objection against the UGC faculty recruitment regulation clause 2.4.1.I, which allows undergraduate (UG) degree holders with PhD qualifications to apply for entry-level teaching positions.

AADTA states, “Entry in teaching with UG degree and PhD will dilute the entire quality of education as the person may be appointed as assistant professor and will be asked to teach UG and or PG students. For example, in subjects like sciences, Mathematics etc. the PG course comprise of very advance version of the concepts. Sometimes those concepts are introduced only in PG. The teacher without PG degree may not have experience so this will be an injustice to the students and academics at large.”

The association also criticizes Clause 3.8, which focuses on "notable contributions" for recruitment and promotion. AADTA believes this favors candidates from private-sector ecosystems, disadvantaging those in traditional academic environments.

Also read Draft UGC regulations lift cap on contract teacher hiring, tighten control on VC appointments

Increase in workload

AAP teachers' body has raised concerns about the silent increase in workload implied by the draft regulations, which require teachers to work at least eight hours per day. Without clear national guidelines on teaching hours, this will lead to localized exploitation of faculty members, according to AADTA.

Financial and career advancement issues

The provision for biannual assessment of promotion eligibility has also drawn criticism. AADTA argues that this will delay promotions, creating financial and career advancement losses for faculty members. The association demands that promotions be made effective immediately upon meeting eligibility criteria.

Professor of Practice (PoP) appointments

AADTA opposes the proposed appointment of 15,000 Professors of Practice (PoPs), raising concerns about their undefined pay structure. AADTA press release read, “Nothing is mentioned about the pay and source of fund as it is above the sanctioned posts. The appointments of around 15000 Professors of Practice are matter of concern as thousands of students, research and teachers toil hard day and night to reach to that level. We are opposed to PoP in the HEIs.”

Language and research facility gaps

AADTA finds Clauses 3.5 and 3.6, which emphasize Indian languages, irrelevant to recruitment and promotion. It also criticizes the emphasis on research lab development as a recruitment criterion, arguing that early-career teachers often lack the resources to establish such facilities.