UGC's New Qualifying Norms Shatter Hopes of NET and SET Candidates

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has adopted new qualifying criteria denying thousands of candidates an opportunity for lectureship in colleges and universities. According to that, only six percent of the aspirants who appeared for the National Eligibility Test (NET) would be considered eligible. Similar criteria will be applicable for the State Eligibility Test (SET).

Previously, fifteen per cent of the total aspirants appearing for the test were declared qualified. The UGC took this decision in view of Kerala High Court's judgement for determining eligibility criteria for the position of assistant professors in different institutes and universities.

Also Read: CBSE to Organise National Eligibility Test (NET) Only Once In a Year

As per the new eligibility norms by UGC, the candidates obtaining minimum aggregate of 40 percent marks for general category and 35 percent for the students belonging to Schedule Caste (SC), Schedule Tribe (ST) and other backwards class, and among the top six percent of the aspirant who appeared for all the three papers will be eligible. Also, the students with disabilities would be declared eligible for assistant professor posts.

Prof P Yadagiri Swamy, Member Secretary of SET informed that according to the directions of the UGC, the Osmania University has revised the rules and regulations for the State Eligibility Test. And as per the new rule, the number of qualified students will come down.

The SET examination will be held on June 11. For smooth conduct of examination, the Osmania University has arranged 110 test centres in seven regional centres.

Also Read: Centre Revokes UGC Order to Make Public Aadhaar Numbers of Ph.D. Scholars

Also, the candidates across the country who have not qualified the NET due to the last minute changes in the eligibility criteria are planning to get their acts together for legal recourse.