Maharashtra has relaxed eligibility rules for faculty promotions under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS). The Directorate of Technical Education announced the changes on Thursday. These updates affect government and aided technical institutes.
Key Changes Affecting Faculty
The new regulations ease requirements for lecturers. Many faculty members who were regularized from contractual or temporary roles will now benefit. They were given until December 31, 2023, to complete refresher courses.
The government has also removed a mandatory PhD requirement. This applies to lecturers hired before March 5, 2010. These changes aim to promote faculty members to higher pay bands under CAS. The government issued a Government Resolution (GR) detailing these relaxations on Wednesday.
Background to the Changes
This decision follows a Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal order on February 7, 2025. The tribunal partially accepted petitions from lecturers. They challenged a June 2022 GR and a related circular on CAS norms. A five-member committee reviewed the June 2022 GR. Dr. Pramod Naik, Joint Director of Technical Education (Mumbai region), led the committee. Their recommendations were submitted in October 2025.
Specific Rule Adjustments
The amended GR alters several CAS clauses. Academic, training, and qualification requirements are now less strict. This particularly helps teachers regularized from temporary service.
Refresher Course Deadlines Extended
Lecturers regularized in 2015-16 had a December 31, 2023, deadline for refresher courses. This aligned with All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) extensions. Faculty who met this deadline will receive retroactive CAS benefits. Those completing courses later will get benefits from their completion date. This protects many faculty from earlier disqualification.
PhD Waiver for Pre-2010 Faculty
A significant change waives the PhD requirement. This applies to lecturers promoted to the higher “Pay Band-4” under CAS. These lecturers were appointed before March 5, 2010. Previously, a PhD was mandatory for this pay band, as per June 2022 GR and AICTE norms.
Other Qualifications Relaxed
Lecturers appointed in 2003 and 2004 in Science and Humanities will now qualify for CAS. They can use MA or MSc degrees. This reverts to the practice under the Fifth Pay Commission. Stricter, later benchmarks are now bypassed.
Contractual or temporary lecturers hired in 2003-04 are exempt from the ME/MTech requirement for CAS. Those hired after 2003-04 have three years from the GR’s date. They must obtain the required qualification within this window. Failure to comply means benefits will not accrue. However, retrospective financial advantages will be granted upon compliance.
English lecturers regularized in 2015-16 can now get full CAS benefits. They will use educational qualifications applicable at their appointment. This avoids stricter, later-introduced norms.