The Ministry of Education has informed Parliament that despite a significant recruitment drive, faculty vacancies persist across centrally funded higher education institutions, including Central Universities, Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). In a written reply to unstarred questions in the Rajya Sabha, the Ministry highlighted that while thousands of positions have been filled, the process remains ongoing due to the continuous nature of vacancies.
Recruitment Drive in Mission Mode
Since September 2022, all central institutions have undertaken a special recruitment drive in mission mode to address backlog vacancies. This initiative includes reserved posts for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). As of October 24, 2025, a total of 29,979 posts have been filled across centrally funded institutions, with 17,494 of these being faculty positions. Central Universities, IITs, and NITs together accounted for 27,133 appointments, including 16,078 faculty posts.
Autonomous Nature of Institutions
In his reply, Minister of State for Education Dr. Sukanta Majumdar emphasized that Centrally Funded Higher Educational Institutions (CFHEIs) are autonomous bodies. They conduct faculty recruitment independently in accordance with their respective Acts and regulations. Vacancies arise regularly due to factors such as retirements, promotions, resignations, institutional expansion, and increased student intake.
Ongoing Vacancies and Challenges
Despite the recruitment efforts, the Ministry acknowledged that vacancies continue to be a challenge. The exact number of sanctioned and vacant posts varies across institutions and states, as recruitment powers rest with individual governing bodies. More than 17,490 faculty positions have been filled under the mission mode recruitment drive till October 2025, yet the persistent vacancies highlight the need for sustained efforts.
Ad-hoc and Contractual Appointments
On the issue of ad-hoc, contractual, and guest faculty, the government clarified that such appointments are made only as short-term, stop-gap arrangements to meet immediate academic requirements. These appointments are undertaken on a need basis, while regular recruitment continues to fill sanctioned posts permanently.
Systemic Measures for Improvement
The Ministry pointed to several systemic measures aimed at enhancing transparency and speed in recruitment. These include:
- Year-round and rolling advertisements for vacancies
- Search-cum-selection procedures
- The UGC’s CU-CHAYAN portal, which provides a common platform for faculty recruitment across central universities
Impact on Education Quality
While acknowledging concerns that teacher shortages can affect student–teacher ratios and research output, the government maintained that sustained recruitment efforts and policy interventions under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 are aimed at strengthening faculty capacity and improving educational quality across institutions. The ongoing mission mode drive reflects a commitment to addressing these challenges and ensuring a robust academic environment.
