Eligibility – Exemption and Scheme of Examination

ELIGIBILITY FOR LECTURESHIP NET/SLET/SET is the minimum eligibility condition for recruitment and appointment of Assistant Professors in Universities/ Colleges/Institutions. 2

What is UGC-NET? The National Educational Testing Bureau of University Grants Commission (UGC) conducts National Eligibility Test (NET) to determine eligibility for lectureship and for award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) for Indian nationals in order to ensure minimum standards for the entrants in the teaching profession and research. The Test is conducted in Humanities (including languages), Social Sciences, Forensic Science, Environmental Sciences, Computer Science and Applications and Electronic Science. 3

UGC-CSIR NET The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) conducts the UGC-CSIR NET for other Science subjects, namely, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences and Earth Atmospheric Ocean & Planetary Sciences jointly with the UGC. 4

History of UGC NET/SET 5

The Government of India, through its notification dated 22nd July, 1988 entrusted the task of conducting the eligibility test for lectureship to UGC. Consequently, UGC conducted the first National Eligibility Test, common to both eligibility for Lectureship and Junior Research Fellowship in two parts, that is, in December 1989 and in March,

NET V/S SLET/SET NET and SLET While the UGC was drafting the concept of NET as a mandatory requirement for determining the eligibility for lectureship in 1989, it also gave an option to various state governments and union territories to conduct their independent tests. It was felt that an eligibility test at the national level might not completely be able to represent the subjects, which are regional. Moreover, there was a plea to permit candidates to take the test in their mother tongue. If it’s NET at the national level, then SET is its counterpart at the state level. The SLET (State Level Eligibility Test for Lectureship Eligibility) has now been re-christened as SET (State Eligibility Test for Lectureship). 7

The test is conducted both in English and in the vernacular languages. The only other difference being that unlike NET which makes you eligible to teach anywhere in the country, the SET entitles you to teach in any college or university in that particular state. The states or union territories that wish to conduct their own exam have to obtain UGC accreditation, which is granted for a stipulated period. In fact, SET is popular not only with the established states but also with the new ones like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand who have joined the bandwagon. About 15 states offer this exam to their domicile students. 8 NET V/S SLET

Exemption from NET The candidates, who are or have been awarded a Ph. D. Degree in accordance with the University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2009, shall be exempted from the requirement of the minimum eligibility condition of NET/SLET/SET for recruitment and appointment of Assistant Professor or equivalent positions in Universities/ Colleges/ Institutions. 9

Exemption from NET University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided to exempt all candidates who obtained an MPhil degree on or before July 10, 2009 from clearing the National Eligibility Test (NET) to qualify for a lecturer’s job. Candidates, who had registered themselves for PhD degree on or before July 10, 2009 and are subsequently awarded PhD degree, shall also enjoy the exemption from NET. 10

Exemption from NET For SET Candidates: The candidates who have cleared the State Eligibility Test (SET) accredited by UGC for eligibility for Lectureship held prior to 1st June 2002, are exempted from appearing in NET, being eligible to apply for Lectureship anywhere in India. For SET held from 1st June 2002 onwards, the qualified candidates are eligible to apply for the post of lecturer only in the universities/ colleges situated in the state from where they have cleared their SET. 11

CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY Candidates who have secured at least 55% marks (50% marks in case of SC/ST/PWD (Persons with disability) category candidates, without rounding off). in Master’s Degree OR equivalent examination from universities/institutions recognized by UGC are eligible for this Test. Candidates who have appeared OR will be appearing at the qualifying Master’s degree (final year) examination and whose result is still awaited OR candidates whose qualifying examinations have been delayed may also apply for this Test. However, such candidates will be admitted provisionally and shall be considered eligible for award of JRF/Lectureship eligibility only after they have passed their Master’s degree examination or equivalent with at least 55% marks (50% marks in case of SC/ST/PWD (Persons with disability) category candidates). Such candidates must complete their P.G. degree examination within two years from the date of NET result with required percentage of marks, failing which they shall be treated as disqualified. 12

CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY The Ph.D. degree holders whose Master’s level examination had been completed by 19th September, 1991 (irrespective of date of declaration of result) shall be eligible for a relaxation of 5% in aggregate marks (i.e., from 55% to 50%) for appearing in NET. Candidates having post-graduate diploma/certificate awarded by Indian University/Institute or foreign degree/diploma/certificate awarded by the foreign University/Institute should in their own interest, ascertain the equivalence of their diploma/degree/certificate with Master’s degree of recognized Indian universities from Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi. ( 13

AGE LIMIT & RELAXATION Lectureship: There is no upper age limit for applying for lectureship eligibility. Junior Research Fellowship: Not more than 28 years as on A relaxation upto 5 years is provided to the candidates belonging to SC/ST/ PWD/OBC (Non-creamy layer, as per the Central list of OBC. Relaxation will also be provided to the candidates having research experience, limited to the period spent on research in the relevant/related subject of post- graduation degree, subject to a maximum of 5 years, on production of a certificate from appropriate authority. 3 years’ relaxation in age will be permissible to the candidates possessing L.L.M. Degree. Total age relaxation on the above ground(s) shall not exceed 5 years under any circumstances. 14

Subjects You can appear for eligibility test on your PG subject. In case of MBA apart from management stream you can write in Labour Welfare/Personnel Management/Industrial Relations/ Labour and Social Welfare/Human Resource Management 15

SCHEME OF EXAMINATION The Test will consist of three papers. All the three papers will consist of only objective type questions. The examination will be held twice in a year i.eJune/Dec. 16

SCHEME OF EXAMINATION SessionPaperMarksNumber of QuestionDuration FirstI out of which 50 question to be attempted 1¼ Hours (09.30 A.M. to A.M.) FirstII questions all are compulsory 1¼ Hours (10.45 A.M. to NOON) SecondIII questions all are compulsory 2½ Hours (01.30 P.M. to 4.00 P.M.) 17

Focus of Test Paper-I Is of general nature, intended to assess the teaching/research aptitude of the candidate. It will primarily be designed to test reasoning ability, comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness of the candidate. Sixty (60) multiple choice questions of two marks each will be given, out of which the candidate would be required to answer any fifty (50). In the event of the candidate attempting more than fifty questions, the first fifty questions attempted by the candidate would be evaluated. Paper-II It consist of 50 objective type compulsory questions based on the subject selected by the candidate. Each question will carry 2 marks. Paper-III It will consist of 75 objective type compulsory questions from the subject selected by the candidate. Each question will carry 2 marks. All questions of Paper-II and Paper-III will be compulsory, covering entire syllabus (including all electives, without options). 18

PROCEDURE & CRITERIA FOR DECLARATION OF RESULT This will comprise of following steps: Step I: Minimum marks to be obtained in NET for considering a candidate for the award of JRF and eligibility for lectureship: The candidates are required to obtain following minimum marks separately in Paper-I, Paper-II and Paper-III as given below CATEGORY Minimum Marks (%) to be obtained PAPER – IPAPER – IIPAPER– III GENERAL40 (40%) 75 (50 %) OBC(Non-creamy layer) 35 (35%) 67.5 (45 %) rounded off to 68 PWD/SC/ST35 (35%) 60 (40 %) 19

PROCEDURE & CRITERIA FOR DECLARATION OF RESULT Step II: Amongst those candidates who have cleared step I, a merit list will be prepared subject-wise and category-wise using the aggregate marks of all the three papers secured by such candidates. Step III: Top 15% candidates (for each subject and category), from the merit list mentioned under step II, will be declared NET qualified for eligibility for lectureship only. Step IV: A separate merit list for the award of JRF will be prepared from amongst the NET qualified candidates figuring in the merit list prepared under step III. 20

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