Smriti Irani announced National Eligibility Test(NET) is not required to become a professor :

HRD Minister Smriti Irani announced relaxation in the appointment of assistant professors in colleges and universities on Tuesday, 12 Apr 2016.Earlier it was compulsory to clear the National Eligibility Test (NET).It is good news for all those candidates who had registered for Ph.D or M.Phil before 2009.It is a good gift for M.Phil and PHP Holders all those candidates who have registered before July 11 2009,Now onwards they are exempted from appearing for NET (National Eligibility Test).

The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday amended its new rule on Professor and Lecturer recruitment to relaxation of NET Exam on the minimum eligibility for applying as assistant professors in colleges and universities. If a candidate does a PhD in accord to UGC (University Grants Commission) norms and regulations, he/she will be eligible for the post of assistant professor in any govt or private college or university.

HRD Minister Smriti Irani-“Applicants will  have to give an NOC from the recognized affiliated university and if they are passed with the highest grade for two consecutive cycles, they would be granted autonomous status.”

HRD Minister Smriti Irani also announced a precious gift for women and Differently-abled candidates,now onwards 240 maternity and childcare leaves are allowed for female students these leaves will be excluded for the duration of their study research.To motivate women and differently-abled candidates she said,they will be allowed to complete their MPhil degrees in three years instead of two, and their PhD degrees in eight years instead of six.

Also the Govt is providing relocation facilities for female MPhil/PhD scholar, if any MPhil/PhD female candidate wants to transfer the university due to marriage or other reasons then it will be allowed. University will transfer the research data to the other university whatever university the female candidate wants to relocate.

Useful Information: Main Objective of National Eligibility Test (NET) is to clarify eligibility of a professor or lecturer for college & university level lectureship. It also ensures minimum requirements and standards of the applicants in the teaching profession and research. On behalf of UGC (University Grants Commission), Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducts National Eligibility Test (NET) every year. In 2009, the UGC declared NET and a PhD as minimum eligibility criteria for apply the post of assistant professor/lecturer in colleges and universities.