India's premier educational body, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), is grappling with a severe staffing crisis, with more than half of its sanctioned positions currently unfilled. This critical data was presented in the Rajya Sabha on December 17, 2025, revealing a system heavily dependent on short-term contractual employees.
Scale of the Staffing Shortfall
According to the information shared by the Ministry of Education, NCERT has a total sanctioned strength of 2,844 posts across its headquarters, regional institutes, and various departments. Shockingly, only 1,219 positions are currently occupied, leaving a staggering 1,625 posts vacant. These vacancies span across Group A, B, and C categories, affecting the organization's core academic and administrative functions.
The data was provided in response to an unstarred question posed by Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam. It highlights acute shortages in major NCERT units including those in Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Mysore, the Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET), the North East Regional Institute of Education (NERIE), and the Pandit Sundarlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education (PSSCIVE).
Critical Gaps in Key Institutes
The situation is particularly dire in several vital units. For instance, at the Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET), only 45 out of 116 sanctioned posts are filled. Similarly, the North East Regional Institute of Education (NERIE) is functioning with just 26 staff members against a sanctioned strength of 55. The shortage is most severe in Group C posts, which form the essential backbone for administrative and technical support across the organization.
The representation of reserved categories also reflects significant gaps. Currently, only 229 Scheduled Caste, 122 Scheduled Tribe, 274 OBC, and 36 Persons with Disabilities posts are filled across NCERT's entire establishment.
Rising Dependence on Contractual Hiring
While permanent posts remain empty, NCERT has increasingly turned to contractual appointments to manage its workload. Data from the last five years shows a consistent and high reliance on such temporary staff.
- In 2022-23, NCERT hired its highest number of contractual employees at 760.
- The previous year, 2021-22, saw 746 contractual hires.
- Even in the most recent fiscal year, 2024-25, the organization engaged 655 contractual employees.
In contrast, permanent recruitment has been sporadic and inconsistent. No permanent appointments were made in 2020-21 and 2021-22. The process resumed in 2022-23 with the recruitment of 85 academic and only one non-academic staff member.
The largest round of permanent hiring occurred in 2023-24, with 96 academic and 194 non-academic employees appointed. However, the numbers declined again in 2024-25, with only 48 academic and 21 non-academic recruits. Over the five-year period from 2020-21, NCERT has recruited a total of 229 academic and 216 non-academic permanent staff members.
Ministry's Response and the Road Ahead
Addressing concerns over these persistent staffing gaps, the Ministry of Education stated that recruitment is a "continuous process." The Ministry emphasized that efforts are ongoing to fill the vacancies in strict accordance with existing recruitment rules.
However, the presented data paints a clear picture of an institution struggling to secure permanent talent, forcing it to lean heavily on a transient workforce. This reliance on contractual staff raises questions about institutional memory, long-term project continuity, and the overall stability of India's key educational research and framework-setting body.
The situation at NCERT underscores a broader challenge in filling government academic positions, potentially impacting the quality and consistency of national educational resources, curriculum development, and teacher training programs.
