Several faculty members at Lakshmibai College, affiliated with Delhi University, were left stunned in February when they noticed a sudden reduction in their salaries. These faculty members, who held MPhil and PhD degrees, were perplexed by the unexpected pay cut and took some time to realize the reason behind it.
Upon further inquiry, they discovered that the college had implemented a long-standing government directive that had been in place for the past eight years but had not been enforced until now. The directive mandated the withdrawal of salary increments that had previously been granted to faculty members based on their research qualifications.
Members of the college’s staff association pointed out that these salary incentives were originally introduced in 2010. The University Grants Commission (UGC) had notified new rules regarding teacher appointments, which included a provision for five increments—amounting to approximately 15 percent of the basic salary—for faculty members who held a PhD.
The rationale behind the UGC’s policy was to encourage academic research and attract highly qualified faculty members to educational institutions. By offering financial incentives, the commission aimed to motivate educators to pursue advanced research degrees, thereby enhancing the overall quality of teaching and learning in universities.
Under this scheme, faculty members who pursued and obtained a PhD while on study leave were granted three increments as a reward for their academic advancement. Similarly, candidates with an MPhil degree received three increments at the time of recruitment, along with an additional increment if they obtained the MPhil qualification while already in service.
However, in 2017, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD), which has since been renamed the Ministry of Education (MoE), issued an order advocating for the discontinuation of these benefits. The government argued that faculty members holding PhD and MPhil degrees already received a relaxation in the experience requirement necessary for promotion from assistant professor to associate professor. Given this advantage, the government believed that the additional financial incentives were no longer necessary.
Despite this order, higher education institutions did not immediately implement the directive, as the UGC’s 2018 revised regulations on teacher appointments continued to include these benefits. Since UGC regulations are officially notified with government approval, institutions chose to follow the existing UGC guidelines rather than the ministry’s order.
However, in January of this year, the UGC issued a formal letter to all central universities, directing them to discontinue these research-based salary incentives to prevent potential objections during audits. As a result, some colleges affiliated with Delhi University have now begun implementing the directive.
Delhi University itself has not yet taken an official stance on the matter, but some of its affiliated colleges, including Lakshmibai College and Shyam Lal College, have already enforced the new policy. This abrupt implementation has sparked discontent among faculty members, who argue that the decision was made hastily and without proper consultation.
On Tuesday, members of the staff association at Lakshmibai College met with the college principal, Pratush Vatsala, to express their strong objections to the sudden enforcement of the UGC directive. They criticized the college administration for implementing the order before Delhi University had formally decided on the matter.
A representative from the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) also weighed in on the issue, emphasizing that the UGC’s 2018 regulations had retained these incentives to attract research-oriented faculty members to academic institutions. The DUTA representative warned that the removal of these benefits would hurt the quality of education, as it could discourage talented candidates from pursuing teaching positions in universities.
The faculty members fear that the withdrawal of these research-based increments may deter scholars from engaging in advanced research or joining academia. They argue that research-oriented faculty play a crucial role in shaping the intellectual environment of institutions, and reducing their incentives could compromise the overall academic standards of universities.
As the controversy continues, faculty members and teacher associations are calling for a reconsideration of the decision. They hope that Delhi University, along with other central universities, will resist the implementation of this directive and advocate for policies that support and reward research excellence among educators.
