All those PhD holders who are involved with research programmes in India or pursuing higher education in foreign universities can rejoice now. After completing their Doctoral degree, they will be eligible for direct recruitment as assistant professors in Indian universities, according to the UGC. The University Grants Commission's new recruitment norms stated that the top 500 ranking of the university shall be referred from four famous world university ranking systems -- Quacquarelli Symonds, Times Higher Education rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

According to the new norm the minimum requirements related to Masters' programme have been waived off for international PhD holders, while PhD degree holders from Indian universities with required percentage in Masters' are also eligible for direct recruitment. 
 
A senior University Grants Commission (UGC) official reportedly stated that "The direct recruitment eligibility of international PhD holders is applicable for the disciplines of Arts, Commerce, Humanities, Education, Law, Social Sciences, Sciences, Languages, Library Science, Physical Education and Journalism and Mass Communication. This will help students learn from global talent in India itself." 
 
The official further stated that "The direct recruitment eligibility only grants candidates an exemption from the written test, but their performance in the interview will be a deciding factor for their appointment." 
 
Notably, the eligible candidates were earlier required to have minimum 55% marks in the Master's degree in concerned subject from an Indian University or an equivalent degree from an accredited foreign university. They also expected to clear the National Eligibility Test conducted by the UGC or the CSIR, or a similar test accredited by the UGC, like SLET, SET.