Patna: Teachers in Bihar’s universities and affiliated colleges will now have to meet stricter academic performance standards to secure promotions after the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS)-2026 came into effect on July 24. The new regulations, approved by Governor-cum-Chancellor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain, replace a largely seniority-based system with one that evaluates teaching, research and overall academic contributions.
According to the new regulations, conducting at least 70 per cent of scheduled classes will be mandatory for faculty members seeking promotion. Officials said the move is intended to improve teaching standards and strengthen accountability in higher education.
Promotions to Depend on Performance, Not Just Seniority
Under CAS-2026, promotions to the posts of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor will be based on a comprehensive evaluation rather than years of service alone.
According to the Higher Education Department, the assessment will consider:
Classroom teaching performance
Research publications
Training and refresher courses
Research scores
Administrative responsibilities
Contributions to academic and extracurricular activities
Teachers conducting 80 per cent or more of their scheduled classes will receive an ‘Excellent’ grade, while those completing 70 to 80 per cent will be graded ‘Satisfactory’. Faculty members taking fewer than 70 per cent of classes may become ineligible for promotion.
Annual Performance Reports Become Crucial
The regulations also make the Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR) a key component of the promotion process.
According to the rules, teachers must obtain at least a ‘Satisfactory’ or ‘Good’ APAR rating for the relevant assessment period. Promotions will also require approval from the Screening-cum-Selection Committee, which will evaluate each candidate’s overall academic record.
Research Output Carries Greater Weight
CAS-2026 places increased emphasis on research and academic supervision.
According to the regulations:
Supervising a PhD scholar will earn 10 points.
Supervising an M.Phil. or postgraduate scholar will earn 2 points.
Research papers published in UGC-listed or peer-reviewed journals will form an important part of the evaluation.
Officials said the revised framework aims to encourage research alongside classroom teaching.
Promotion Criteria at Different Levels
The new regulations prescribe separate eligibility conditions for each stage of promotion.
Level-10 to Level-11
To move from Assistant Professor (Level-10) to Senior Scale (Level-11), teachers must complete:
Four years of service with a PhD
Five years with an M.Phil. or postgraduate degree
Six years without a PhD
They must also complete a 21-day orientation programme, a minimum five-day refresher course or research workshop, and publish at least one research paper in a recognised journal.
Level-11 to Level-12
Promotion to Selection Grade (Level-12) requires:
Five years of service at Level-11
A PhD
At least 10 days of refresher courses over five years
Three published research papers
Level-12 to Associate Professor
To become an Associate Professor (Level-13A), teachers must complete:
Three years of service at Level-12
A PhD
Prescribed refresher and MOOC courses
Seven research publications
Supervision of at least one PhD scholar
A minimum research score of 70
Associate Professor to Professor
Promotion to Professor (Level-14) requires:
Three years of service as an Associate Professor
A PhD
Ten research publications
Successful supervision of at least one PhD scholar
A minimum research score of 110
Aim Is to Improve Higher Education Standards
According to the Higher Education Department, the revised Career Advancement Scheme is intended to clear long-pending promotions while encouraging regular classroom teaching, stronger research output and greater participation in academic activities.
Officials said the new framework seeks to align Bihar’s higher education institutions with national academic standards by placing greater emphasis on measurable teaching and research performance.
