Though India's higher education system is the third-largest in the world -- next only to the US and China -- it still requires to undergo numerous changes. The system is currently facing problems ranging from income and gender disparities in enrolment to poor quality of faculty and teaching, and even a general lack of motivation and interest among people.

To improve standards in higher education, the Ministry of HRD on Wednesday announced some changes. Prakash Javadekar at a press briefing introduced new regulations for the appointment of teachers and more.

HERE ARE 7 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE PRESS BRIEFING:

1. Academic Promotion Index (API) based PBAS system has been scrapped. A new simplified teacher evaluation grading system has been introduced and research score added for universities to improve research input.

2. Incentives to teachers as provided in the earlier regulations of 2010 and subsequent amendments have been retained. These include incentives for MPhil/PhD.

3. Promotion criteria under CAS (Career Advancement Scheme) for university teachers have been made more research-oriented while in case of college teachers CAS criteria are more focused on teaching.

4. For the first time, provision for promotion in colleges will be up to professor level.

5. Special provisions for recruitment of assistant professors in universities and colleges for PhD degree holders from a university/Institution in the top 500 global rankings have been made.

6. The regulations mandate the introduction of a one-month induction programme for newly recruited assistant professors in universities/colleges/Higher education institutions.

7. PhD degree has been made mandatory for promotion to assistant professor (selection grade) in colleges from July 1, 2021. Similarly, PhD degree will be mandatory for direct recruitment to assistant professor.