Lok Sabha Question No. 338 (STARRED), answered on 2015-08-12
Subject: Talented Teachers
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: CH. MALLA REDDY, K.R.P. PRABAKARAN

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO.*338

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2015

**Talented Teachers**

***338.  SHRI CH. MALLA REDDY:**

**SHRI K.R.P. PRABAKARAN:**

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has set up a Committee to attract and retain talented teachers in the Central Government funded educational institutions to combat the problem of teacher vacancies, if so, the details thereof along with the terms of  reference and composition of the Committee and the time by which the report is  likely to be submitted by the Committee;

(b) whether several complaints have been received in the past regarding selection of mediocre persons as teachers in several educational institutions including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) overlooking the meritorious persons, if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government on these complaints;

(c) whether the Government has also received several petitions regarding the policy for selection to the post of Assistant Professors in universities and colleges including State level higher educational institutions and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government/UGC for regulating recruitment of teachers and academic staff in universities and colleges and their career advancement?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

1. to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table  of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*338 FOR ANSWER ON 12.08.2015 ASKED BY SHRI CH. MALLA REDDY AND SHRI K.R.P. PRABAKARAN, HON’BLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING TALENTED TEACHERS

(a) Yes, Madam. The Central Government has, in the larger public interest of attracting and retaining talented and quality manpower and selection of the most meritorious to the teaching profession, constituted a Committee on 24 th July, 2015. The Committee is chaired by Prof. Arun Nigavekar, former Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC). The Committee Members are Shri Sumit Bose, former Secretary, Government of India, Prof. Sunil Gupta, former Vice-Chancellor, Himachal Pradesh University, Prof. B. Thimme Gowda, former Vice-Chancellor, Bangalore University, Prof. Ashwini Kumar Mohapatra, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Shri S.S. Sandhu, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development (as the Member-Convener). The terms of reference of the Committee are as under:

1. Evaluation of the Academic Performance Indicator (API) scheme as regards the entry point and career advancement of teachers by taking into account its criticism and suggest suitable improvements/alternatives.
2. Evaluation of Ph.D-National Eligibility Test (NET) qualifications for entry of teachers and to accordingly suggest a policy for selections.
3. Consideration of the problems and issues related to Ad-hoc and Contractual appointments in Central Universities and recommendations to resolve them.

The committee has been asked to submit its report within a period of two months from the date of its constitution i.e. 24 th July, 2015.

(b) & (c): No complaints have been received in respect of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Complaints have, however, been received, from time to time, alleging selection of mediocre persons as teachers and violation of policy for selection of teachers in various Universities and Colleges in the country. The UGC has taken up these complaints with the concerned higher educational institutions. Complaints have been received regarding the policy for selection of Assistant Professors in the past in the States of Maharashtra and Kerala. These complaints have been taken up with the concerned State Governments. In several matters complaints have been taken up simultaneously by the complainant with the courts and require a judicial resolution. This Ministry/ UGC advocates the laid down policy of selection, as per the UGC Regulations, in such cases.

(d).  The UGC has informed that it has framed regulations on minimum qualifications for appointment and career advancement of teachers and other academic staff in universities and colleges. These regulations have been amended from time to time keeping in view the requirements of maintaining standards in higher Education. The Regulations are available at [http://www.ugc.ac.in/oldpdf/regulations/ englishgazette.pdf](http://www.ugc.ac.in/oldpdf/regulations/%20englishgazette.pdf) . These regulations prescribe that a candidate for the post of Assistant Professor should have either cleared the National Eligibility Test (NET) or have been awarded a Ph.D Degree in conformity with the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for the award of M.Phil/Ph.D Degree) Regulations, 2009.

Every University, affiliated/ constituent College and Deemed-to-be-University has to comply with UGC regulations.

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