Education minister Brishin Patel at the news meet in Patna on Thursday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

The state government on Thursday paved the way for postgraduates to apply for the position of assistant professors, making some changes in the eligibility criteria for recruiting university teachers after 11 years.

The postgraduates would, however, have to clear the December 2014 National Eligibility Test (NET). The relaxation in the eligibility criteria would give an opportunity to thousands of candidates who are not NET qualified so far.

Education minister Brishin Patel said: “Under the new rules, the candidates having postgraduate degrees but not NET qualified can apply for the posts of assistant professors provided they clear the December 2014 NET.”

Earlier, the BPSC had published an advertisement inviting applications for filling up the posts of varsity teachers from NET qualified candidates and those clearing equivalent tests accredited by the University Grants Commission (UGC). It stated that NET would not be mandatory only for candidates having PhD according to the UGC guideline formulated in 2009 following the recommendation of Mungekar Committee. According to the advertisement published by the Bihar Public Service Commission, teachers of different subjects would be appointed against 3,364 vacancies in 10 universities of the state.

Thousands of students welcomed the relaxation in NET qualification for applying for the position of assistant professors. Kishan Kumar, the 2012-14 batch topper of Patna University’s geology department, said: “The state government’s decision to allow non-NET qualified candidates to apply for the posts of varsity teachers is a golden opportunity to many students.”

Kishan has applied for the December 2014 NET. The last date for applying for the December 2014 NET is November 20.

Jayshree, who completed her postgraduation in 2013, appeared equally happy because she would now be a contender for the 261 posts of assistant professors in history, the subject she has studied. Jayshree told The Telegraph: “It is a golden opportunity for postgraduates like us who are not yet NET qualified. I shall now apply for the varsity teachers’ post and start preparing for the December NET.”

In Bihar, there are two UGC NET centres — Patna University and Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University (TMBU). At Patna University, more than 25,000 students apply for the NET examination conducted twice a year in June and December.