Editor,
I wish to place on record my appreciation for the present incumbency of the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) for adopting Appendix-II (Table 3B) of the University Grants Commission Regulations, 2018, as the basis for shortlisting candidates for interview to the post of assistant professor. This marks a welcome step towards greater transparency and standardisation in the assistant professor recruitment.
At the same time, I would like to draw the attention of the APPSC, the constituted screening committee, and the directorate of higher and technical education to the urgent need for meticulous cross-verification of all applications submitted for the said post.
Regarding essential qualifications, a candidate must possess a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in the same discipline, along with a qualification in the National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) in the subject concerned. For instance, for the subject of political science, a candidate must possess both a BA and an MA in political science, along with having qualified for the UGC-NET in the subject concerned. Similarly, for the subject of education, a candidate must hold both a BA and an MA in education and must have qualified for the UGC-NET in that specific discipline.
Degrees such as BSc with MA in education, BCom with MA in education, or MEd should not be treated as equivalent in this context. Any deviation from this discipline-specific requirement would undermine the rationale of Appendix-II (Table 3B) of the UGC Regulations, 2018.
Further, as clarified by the University Grants Commission, the date of eligibility for assistant professor shall be the date of declaration of the UGC-NET result or the date of completion of the master’s degree with the required percentage of marks within two years from the date of declaration of the NET result, whichever is later. The validity of the UGC-NET certificate is contingent upon the result being declared during or after the completion of the master’s degree.
In view of the above, I sincerely urge the APPSC and the screening committee to ensure strict and comprehensive verification of educational qualifications and all supporting documents submitted by candidates. Such due diligence will safeguard the integrity of the recruitment process and prevent discrepancies or disputes in the future.
I hope this appeal reaches the authorities concerned.
A concerned aspirant