Extend the UGC CAS Promotion Option to 31 December 2025
Extend the UGC CAS Promotion Option to 31 December 2025
The Issue
To
The Chairperson, University Grants Commission
The Secretary, University Grants Commission
The Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education
We respectfully request the University Grants Commission to grant a one-time retrospective extension of the eligibility cut-off for exercising the Career Advancement Scheme promotion option under the UGC Regulations, 2010 or 2018, from 31 December 2024 to 31 December 2025.
The UGC, through Notification No. F.9-1/2010(PS/MISC)Pt.Vol.II dated 6 June 2024, issued the Fourth Amendment to the UGC Regulations, 2018. The substituted proviso to Clause 6.3 allowed faculty members who had qualified or were likely to qualify by 31 December 2024 under the UGC Regulations, 2010, to opt for promotion under either the 2010 or 2018 Regulations. It also provided that the original date of eligibility would be retained as the date of promotion.
This amendment was a welcome measure that recognised the genuine difficulties arising during the transition from the UGC Regulations, 2010 to the UGC Regulations, 2018. However, limiting this relief to faculty members who qualified by 31 December 2024 has excluded many deserving teachers who became eligible during 2025.
Why is this extension necessary?
A substantial number of faculty members pursue PhD degrees while simultaneously carrying out teaching, examination, administrative, student-support and research responsibilities. Serious research work, particularly in premier institutions and experimental disciplines, may require six or seven years to complete.
Many affected faculty members were close to completing their PhD degrees by the existing cut-off. Some had already completed their research work and published papers, but their final thesis submission, evaluation, viva voce examination or degree award took place during 2025.
These delays were not necessarily caused by a lack of academic effort. Faculty members were affected by lengthy research requirements, data collection difficulties, laboratory and fieldwork delays, thesis evaluation procedures, administrative approvals and different implementation timelines followed by universities and state governments.
Consequently, teachers who missed the existing cut-off by only a few months have been denied the benefit of CAS promotion under the earlier regulatory option. Their years of teaching, research publications and institutional service deserve fair consideration.
What are we requesting?
We respectfully request the University Grants Commission to:
Extend the cut-off for exercising the CAS promotion option under the UGC Regulations, 2010 or 2018, from 31 December 2024 to 31 December 2025.
Apply this extension retrospectively to faculty members who became eligible between 1 January and 31 December 2025.
Retain the original date of eligibility as the date of promotion, subject to fulfilment of all other applicable requirements.
Issue an appropriate amendment or clarification so that central, state, deemed and private universities and affiliated colleges can process these cases uniformly.
Why would this be fair?
The UGC has already recognised the transitional hardship by granting the option up to 31 December 2024. Extending the same benefit by one additional year would be a reasonable continuation of an already accepted principle, rather than an entirely new concession.
The requested extension would not dilute academic standards. Faculty members would still have to fulfil all applicable academic, research, service and assessment requirements before their applications could be approved.
A limited extension would provide relief to many hardworking faculty members, reduce disparities between institutions and recognise genuine academic progress that was delayed by circumstances beyond their control.
We appeal to the UGC to consider this request sympathetically and take prompt action in the interest of fairness, consistency and the career progression of university and college teachers.
Please sign this petition if you are an affected faculty member or if you support fair career advancement opportunities for teachers in higher education.
Official UGC Fourth Amendment notification:
https://www.ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/6079221_4th-Amendment-Minimum-Qualifications-regulations.pdf
Let us collectively request a fair, reasonable and one-time extension up to 31 December 2025.
61
The Issue
To
The Chairperson, University Grants Commission
The Secretary, University Grants Commission
The Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education
We respectfully request the University Grants Commission to grant a one-time retrospective extension of the eligibility cut-off for exercising the Career Advancement Scheme promotion option under the UGC Regulations, 2010 or 2018, from 31 December 2024 to 31 December 2025.
The UGC, through Notification No. F.9-1/2010(PS/MISC)Pt.Vol.II dated 6 June 2024, issued the Fourth Amendment to the UGC Regulations, 2018. The substituted proviso to Clause 6.3 allowed faculty members who had qualified or were likely to qualify by 31 December 2024 under the UGC Regulations, 2010, to opt for promotion under either the 2010 or 2018 Regulations. It also provided that the original date of eligibility would be retained as the date of promotion.
This amendment was a welcome measure that recognised the genuine difficulties arising during the transition from the UGC Regulations, 2010 to the UGC Regulations, 2018. However, limiting this relief to faculty members who qualified by 31 December 2024 has excluded many deserving teachers who became eligible during 2025.
Why is this extension necessary?
A substantial number of faculty members pursue PhD degrees while simultaneously carrying out teaching, examination, administrative, student-support and research responsibilities. Serious research work, particularly in premier institutions and experimental disciplines, may require six or seven years to complete.
Many affected faculty members were close to completing their PhD degrees by the existing cut-off. Some had already completed their research work and published papers, but their final thesis submission, evaluation, viva voce examination or degree award took place during 2025.
These delays were not necessarily caused by a lack of academic effort. Faculty members were affected by lengthy research requirements, data collection difficulties, laboratory and fieldwork delays, thesis evaluation procedures, administrative approvals and different implementation timelines followed by universities and state governments.
Consequently, teachers who missed the existing cut-off by only a few months have been denied the benefit of CAS promotion under the earlier regulatory option. Their years of teaching, research publications and institutional service deserve fair consideration.
What are we requesting?
We respectfully request the University Grants Commission to:
Extend the cut-off for exercising the CAS promotion option under the UGC Regulations, 2010 or 2018, from 31 December 2024 to 31 December 2025.
Apply this extension retrospectively to faculty members who became eligible between 1 January and 31 December 2025.
Retain the original date of eligibility as the date of promotion, subject to fulfilment of all other applicable requirements.
Issue an appropriate amendment or clarification so that central, state, deemed and private universities and affiliated colleges can process these cases uniformly.
Why would this be fair?
The UGC has already recognised the transitional hardship by granting the option up to 31 December 2024. Extending the same benefit by one additional year would be a reasonable continuation of an already accepted principle, rather than an entirely new concession.
The requested extension would not dilute academic standards. Faculty members would still have to fulfil all applicable academic, research, service and assessment requirements before their applications could be approved.
A limited extension would provide relief to many hardworking faculty members, reduce disparities between institutions and recognise genuine academic progress that was delayed by circumstances beyond their control.
We appeal to the UGC to consider this request sympathetically and take prompt action in the interest of fairness, consistency and the career progression of university and college teachers.
Please sign this petition if you are an affected faculty member or if you support fair career advancement opportunities for teachers in higher education.
Official UGC Fourth Amendment notification:
https://www.ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/6079221_4th-Amendment-Minimum-Qualifications-regulations.pdf
Let us collectively request a fair, reasonable and one-time extension up to 31 December 2025.
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Petition created on 6 September 2026