In exercise of powers conferred by clauses e, g, h and j of sub section 2 of Section 45 read with Section 21 of the Architects Act

## Report on the Council of Architecture Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Amendment Regulations, 2025 **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes the Council of Architecture (CoA) Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Amendment Regulations, 2025, as published in the Gazette of India. This amendment modifies the original 2020 regulations, specifically concerning the retirement age of faculty in architectural institutions. The key change involves clarifying and potentially extending the permissible working age of teaching staff, allowing for re-employment after superannuation up to the age of 70 at the discretion of the institution/university. This amendment aims to address faculty shortages and retain experienced educators within the field of architectural education. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an overview and analysis of the Council of Architecture Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Amendment Regulations, 2025. The analysis is based solely on the information provided in the official gazette notification. The purpose is to inform stakeholders about the specific changes introduced by this amendment. **3. Policy Overview:** This document amends the Council of Architecture Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Regulations, 2020, published on August 11, 2020, and subsequently amended on March 23, 2021, June 30, 2022, July 19, 2023, and July 8, 2024. * **Core Objective(s):** Based on the text, the primary objective of this amendment is to modify the regulations pertaining to the retirement age and re-employment of faculty in architectural education. **4. Background and Rationale:** This amendment likely addresses concerns related to faculty retention and the availability of experienced educators within architectural institutions. The existing regulations may have created a situation where valuable expertise was being lost due to mandatory retirement ages. The amendment seeks to provide flexibility for institutions to retain experienced faculty beyond the standard retirement age, potentially mitigating faculty shortages and ensuring continuity in teaching and research. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This amendment focuses specifically on *Sl.No.9* in *Appendix B* of the 2020 regulations, concerning "Other Notes" within the Council of Architecture Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Regulations. * **Specific Part of Original Policy Changed:** *Appendix B, Sl.No.9* of the Council of Architecture Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Regulations, 2020. * **New Rule/Provision:** The amendment states: "The Retirement Age including Superannuation for Teaching posts of Assistant Professor, Associate Professors and Professors, including Professor Design Chair shall be 65 years or as stipulated by the Central/State Government from time to time. Reemployment after superannuation shall be permissible against sanctioned vacancies and the faculty may continue to serve, at the discretion of the concerned Institution/University, until the age of 70 years." * **Effect of the Change:** The key change is the clarification and allowance for re-employment after the standard retirement age (65 years or as stipulated by the government). While the initial retirement age remains, the amendment allows institutions/universities to retain faculty up to the age of 70, at their discretion, provided there are sanctioned vacancies. This introduces a degree of flexibility that was potentially lacking in the original regulations. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The primary target audience and stakeholders are: * Faculty members (Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, and Professors, including Professor Design Chairs) in architectural institutions. * Architectural institutions and Universities offering architectural programs. * The Council of Architecture itself. * Central and State Governments involved in setting regulations for educational institutions. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Council of Architecture is responsible for enacting and overseeing the implementation of these regulations. Individual architectural institutions and universities are responsible for making decisions regarding the re-employment of faculty. * **Timelines/Procedures:** The amendment comes into force from the date of its publication in the official gazette (June 9, 2025). The procedure for re-employment is not explicitly detailed but is left to the discretion of the concerned institution/university, implying that each institution will need to develop its own internal process for considering re-employment applications. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcomes of these changes include: * **Increased Faculty Retention:** Institutions will have the option to retain experienced faculty members beyond the standard retirement age, preventing the loss of valuable knowledge and expertise. * **Mitigation of Faculty Shortages:** By allowing re-employment, the amendment can help address potential faculty shortages in specialized areas of architectural education. * **Enhanced Quality of Education:** Experienced faculty can continue to contribute to the education and mentorship of architecture students, potentially improving the quality of architectural education. * **Greater Flexibility for Institutions:** Institutions gain greater flexibility in managing their faculty resources and ensuring continuity in their academic programs. **9. Conclusion:** The Council of Architecture Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Amendment Regulations, 2025, introduces a significant change regarding the retirement and re-employment of faculty in architectural institutions. By allowing for re-employment up to the age of 70 at the discretion of the institution, the amendment aims to address faculty retention concerns, mitigate potential shortages, and ensure the continued contribution of experienced educators to the field of architectural education. This amendment offers flexibility and aims to support the quality and continuity of architectural education.

Key Entities Referenced