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How to Become a Lecturer or Professor in India Without UGC NET: A Complete Guide

With a PhD, MTech, or experience, you can become a professor without a NET.
UniList Desk

Updated Feb 27, 2026 | 05:20 PM IST
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A lot of students want to become a lecturer or professor in a government college or university in India. Earlier, it was necessary to clear the UGC NET for teaching jobs in India. However, post-amendments by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the National Education Policy (NEP), there are multiple options available for students who want to become a lecturer or professor in India.
In this guide, we will tell you how to become a lecturer or professor in India without UGC NET in a way.

What is UGC NET and Why does It Matter?

UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test) is a national-level eligibility test for becoming a college lecturer or for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). It is the most popular way of getting a teaching job in a university or a government college.
For most subjects, such as Arts, Science, Commerce, or Humanities, one has to qualify in NET (or SET/SLET) to be eligible for an assistant professor's job.
If you have a PhD or a master’s degree in some disciplines, you can get a teaching job as a lecturer or professor in India without NET.

1. Become a Lecturer or Professor with a PhD (Without NET)

If you have a PhD from a recognized university in India, you can apply for an assistant professor job as a lecturer or professor in India without NET.
Most central universities in India hire PhD holders directly as lecturers or professors in India. Some of the top government universities in India are:
  • University of Delhi
  • Banaras Hindu University
  • Jawaharlal Nehru University
  • University of Calcutta
If you want a term academic career as a lecturer or professor in India a PhD is highly recommended for you.

2. Engineering and Technical Fields (MTech / ME)

Students with MTech or ME degree with least 55% marks can apply for teaching jobs as a lecturer or professor in engineering colleges in India without NET.
Government technical institutes in India include:
  • Indian Institutes of Technology
  • National Institutes of Technology
  • State Government Engineering Colleges
For higher posts like Associate Professor in India experience or PhD may still be required for students who want to become a lecturer or professor in India.

3. Industry Experts and Professionals

Under UGC rules professionals with strong industry experience can also be hired as faculty as a lecturer or professor in India.
This is common in fields like:
  • Management
  • Design
  • Media and Journalism
  • Performing Arts
  • Yoga and Traditional Arts
If you have 10–15 years of industry experience, research work or national awards universities in India may consider you for teaching roles as a lecturer or professor in India.

4. Become a Lecturer or Professor in Private Universities in India

Private universities in India hire candidates without NET as a lecturer or professor in India. They focus more on:
  • Subject knowledge
  • Teaching skills
  • Research publications
  • Industry experience
However for government colleges in India eligibility rules are stricter for students who want to become a lecturer or professor in India.

Step-by-Step Career Path to Become a Lecturer or Professor in India

Step 1: graduation (BA, BSc, BCom, BTech, etc.) in India.
Step 2: Complete post-graduation (MA, MSc, MCom, MBA, MTech) with 55% marks in India.
Step 3: Choose one option to become a lecturer or professor in India:
  1. Do a PhD in India.
  2. Gain industry experience in India.
  3. Apply in institutes with MTech in India.
Step 4: Apply for Assistant Professor posts as a lecturer or professor in India through university notifications in India.

Salary of a Lecturer in India

In government colleges in India Assistant Professors are paid under the Pay Commission in India. Starting salary can be around ₹57,000 to ₹70,000 per month in India.
With promotions salary increases significantly in India.

Final Advice

Indian Students who want to become a Lecturer or Professor in India. Even though UGC NET is not mandatory in some cases it still improves your job chances as a lecturer or professor in India. A PhD gives career growth and job security as a lecturer or professor in India.
Always check notifications of universities in India before applying as a lecturer or professor in India. Rules may vary by subject and institution in India.
If your goal is to teach in a government college in India plan your career early as a lecturer or professor in India. Choose the degree in India. Build research skills in India.. Stay updated with UGC guidelines in India.
A career as a lecturer in India is. Stable in India. With planning you can achieve it. Even without UGC NET as a lecturer or professor, in India.

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