Knowledge nook: A file picture of the UGC building in New Delhi and (below) S. K. Thorat

What qualities do you seek in a candidate applying for the post of lecturer or for junior research fellowship?

A. We seek candidates with a thorough knowledge of their subjects as well as the ability to explain difficult things to students in a simple manner. Basically, we look for candidates who enjoy teaching and have an abiding interest in their fields of study.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) conducts the National Eligibility Test (NET) for determining the eligibility of students for the award of junior research fellowships (JRF) and lectureship in social sciences, humanities (including languages), computer science and application and electronic science.

What are the subjects in which a student can appear for NET? Are there any plans to introduce a new subject?

A. The UGC conducts NET in 93 subjects. The details about the subjects are available on the UGC website (www.ugc.ac.in). There are no plans to introduce any new subject at present.

Is NET compulsory for those who want to teach in colleges? Do candidates with PhDs get any preference?

A. It is compulsory to clear NET or the State Level Eligibility Test (SLET) to apply for the post of lecturer in any college or university. However, candidates with a PhD in the concerned subject are exempted from NET for undergraduate or postgraduate teaching. Candidates with an MPhil are exempted from NET for undergraduate teaching only. Candidates who have passed the UGC CISR / JRF prior to 1989 are also exempted from appearing for NET.

Can candidates who have qualified SLET apply to colleges outside their own state?

A.Candidates who have qualified in the SLET exam held from June 2002 onwards are eligible for the post of lecturer only in the universities / colleges belonging to the state from where they have cleared SLET. Candidates who passed SLET prior to June 1, 2002, are exempted from appearing in NET. They are eligible to apply for lectureship anywhere in India.

There is a common belief that applicants have to wait for months before they can work as lecturers. How do you think the backlog in vacancies can be tackled?

A. As UGC doesn’t fill up vacancies for the post of lecturer in colleges, it is for the concerned department of the state government to address the issue.