Faculty development programs (FDPs) have emerged as a strategic intervention in the scenario of higher learning in India. In fact, FDPs and their nexus with career advancement would be less meaningful in the absence of their continued relevance to the academic requirements of the faculty. This study is aimed at re-examining faculty development programs in the framework of their 'relevance' to the challenges in the arena of higher learning. In the research, the authors carried out an in-depth analysis of the alignment of FDPs with the needs of the faculty in the domain of teaching, research, the use of technologies, professional growth, and the need for national development. For the paper, the authors used empirical data obtained from Orientation and Refresher programmes conducted by the Academic Staff Colleges in Delhi. In the concluding part of the paper, the authors propose suggestions that can improve the relevance of FDPs in the changing scenario of higher education in the country.