OU to conduct SET again in August

• UGC approves test for 27 subjects
• Anthropology and Linguistics dropped
• Exam would be tough: Convener Rajeshwara Reddy

BH Ramakrishna The University Grants commission has given its nod to Osmania University to conduct State Eligibility Test (SET) again in August this year. An expert committee from UGC which has visited the varsity a few months back has satisfied itself with the conduct of the test as well as other infrastructure facilities and has granted further accreditation to it for the next three academic years, starting from June 2013. A letter to this effect was sent to Prof S Satyanarayana, Vice Chancellor of Osmania University. SET is conducted on the lines of NET, held for every six months by UGC for filling up the posts of lecturers, readers and assistant professors at the state level institutions. SET qualification is a must for any person to become a lecturer in any government college or university. "This time the UGC has accepted our request for conducting SET in more subjects i.e. 27, which is three more than last year. In fact, we have requested for 31 subjects but the committee has not given approval for exam in Environmental Sciences, Archeology, Linguistics and Anthropology. The last two i.e. Linguistics and Anthropology were there in the earlier test but were dropped by UGC on the ground that there are very less number of posts in those subjects. The five subjects which were included this time additionally were- Journalism and Mass Communication, Library Sciences, Geography, Sanskrit and Social Work," Prof Rajeshwar Reddy, convener of SET told The Hans India. Those who wish to get SET rank in Anthropology and Linguistics, have no other option but to appear for NET conducted by UGC. In fact, Anthropology subject is taught only in Andhra University and University of Hyderabad and the posts vacant are just four. UGC grants permission to hold SET only on the basis of number of posts as notified or informed by the state government. Last year, nearly 97,000 have appeared for SET and just 8001 were qualified. The paper was rather tough and several student organisations have agitated and submitted several memoranda to the university authorities to lower the cut off mark so that more number of aspirants would qualify. After a great deal of reluctance, a little solace was given and a supplementary list was released. "This time, the exam would be tougher than last year. UGC has directed us to take only the top 15 percent of qualifying candidates for postings. Qualifying SET would be definitely a tough task for students as they are required to pass in all the three papers they are given. I can only tell the students that they should not take the exam easy and they should have a sound footing on fundamentals and knowledge over the vast syllabus," Prof Rajeshwara Reddy cautioned.