ANCSU Blocks Nagaland’s Plan to Ease PhD Standards and Regularise Guest Faculty

The Association of National and Central Service Universities (ANCSU) has formally opposed Nagaland’s proposed changes that would lower PhD admission standards and grant permanent status to all guest faculty. The body argues the move could compromise academic quality and fairness.

ANCSU has issued a statement rejecting Nagaland’s draft policy that seeks to relax PhD admission criteria and automatically regularise all guest faculty. The association contends that such changes would dilute the rigour of doctoral programmes and undermine merit‑based appointments.

The proposal, presented by the state government, aimed to address faculty shortages by granting permanent status to visiting professors. ANCSU warns that blanket regularisation could create inequities and erode academic standards across the state’s higher education institutions.

In its letter, ANCSU called for a review of the policy and urged the government to maintain stringent PhD norms. The body also requested that any regularisation of guest faculty be based on performance and tenure rather than a blanket rule.

The opposition comes amid growing concerns among universities nationwide about maintaining quality while expanding access. ANCSU’s stance underscores the importance of safeguarding academic integrity in the face of rapid policy shifts.