Govt. approved UGC Pay Package: Important features

According to the announcements in Lok Sabha, a faculty member will join as an assistant professor, and will be entitled for a grade pay of Rs 6,000 and will draw a salary between Rs 15,600 and Rs 39,100. A lecturer's pay scale at present is between Rs 8,000 to Rs 13,500. For assistant professor, assistant professor (senior scale) and assistant professor (senior grade), the pay scale will be between Rs 15,600 and Rs 39,100 while the grade pay will vary. Grade pay for Assist.Prof., Assist. Prof. (Sr Scale) and Assist. Prof. (Selection Grade)will be 6000, 7000 and 8000, in the pay band of Rs 15600 - 39100, respectively. The new band pay between Rs 37,400 and Rs 67,000 was announced for professors against the existing scale of Rs 16,400 and Rs 22,400.

Important features:

* Only three designations in respect of teachers in universities and colleges, namely, Assistant Professors, Associate Professors and Professors.

* The term "Academic Grade Pay" (AGP) shall be used in place of "Grade Pay" for the teachers and equivalent positions.

* Different Grade Pays of Rs. 6000, Rs.7000, Rs. 8000, Rs.9000, Rs.10000 and Rs.12000 have been approved as AGP for teachers and equivalent positions.

* Five non-compoundable advance increments shall be given (as against 4 at present) at entry as Assistant Professor for the degree of Ph.D. obtained in the relevant discipline and if the same is from a university complying with the process prescribed by the UGC in respect of enrolment, course-work and evaluation of the degree of Ph.D.

* At entry level, teachers possessing M.Phil or post graduate degrees such as M.Tech/LL.M etc., in the relevant professional courses as approved by the relevant statutory councils shall be given 2 non-compounded advance increments.

* Those who acquire these degrees in the relevant discipline while being in service shall be allowed three non-compounded advance increments for Ph.Ds and one increment for M.Phil or post graduate degree acquired in the relevant professional course such as M.Tech/ LL.M. etc.

* For the first time ever, posts of Professors shall be introduced in both under-graduate and post-graduate colleges.

* 10% of the posts of Professors in universities shall be in higher Academic Grade Pay of Rs. 12000 with prescribed eligibility conditions.

* NET shall be compulsory for appointment at the entry level of Assistant Professor, subject to the exemptions to Ph.Ds. NET shall not be required for such Masters' programmes for which NET is not available.

* Those who are presently working as Lecturer (Selection Grade) or Reader shall continue to be so designated till they become eligible for the post of Associate Professor.

* Parity between teachers and the Librarians/Directors of Physical Education shall be maintained, except for the age of superannuation, which for Librarians/Physical Education personnel shall continue to be 62 years.

* While the revision of pay will take effect from 1.1.2006, the allowances (except DA) and advance increments etc. shall take effect from 1.9.2008.

* All prescribed requirements of Selection other than those mentioned above shall continue to be applicable.

* Under the revised Scheme, Assistant Professors have been placed in the Pay Band of Rs. 15600-39100 entering at the AGP of Rs. 6000.

* A teacher with a Ph.D.degree can move from the post of Assistant Professor to Associate Professor after completion of 12 years of service as Assistant Professor, spending 4 years at the AGP of Rs. 6000, 5 years at the AGP of Rs. 7000 and 3 years at the AGP of Rs. 8000.

* Teachers with M.Phil and those with a post graduate degree in a professional course entering as Assistant Professors can become Associate Professor after 13 years of service.

* Those with neither Ph.D. nor M.Phil. etc. shall qualify to become Associate Professor after 14 years of service as Assistant Professor.

* The Associate Professors have been placed in the Pay Band of Rs. 37,400-67,000 with Grade Pay of Rs. 9,000.

* While, under the existing scheme, teachers without Ph.D. could rise up to the post of Lecturer (Selection Grade), they can now go up to the level of Associate Professor, based on the prescribed selection process.

* As against a period of 17 years for a teacher possessing Ph.D. at the entry level to be eligible to become Professor through selection, the present decision of the Government would enable them to be selected as Professor after 15 years.