The Centre on Wednesday said that it has done away with the Academic Performance Index as a tool to measure the performance of college teachers. Instead, the University Grants Commission has introduced a new, simplified teacher evaluation grading system.

The HRD ministry said that publication of research in academic journals too is no longer a criterion for promotion. However, teachers can continue to conduct research.

The press note from the ministry also said that a PhD degree will be mandatory for teachers seeking promotion or direct recruitment to assistant professor’s post in colleges and universities from 2021. The new regulations also make special provisions for recruitment of assistant professors from PhD degree holders who have graduated from a college or university ranked among the top 500 globally.

Until now, a master’s degree in education and clearing the National Eligibility Test were enough to secure an assistant professor’s job. Thus, the HRD ministry’s move will reduce the significance of the National Eligibility Test.

However, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the exam will be retained, if only for admission to fellowship programmes.