Large Scale Recruitment Drive Planned in Higher Education Institutions

The government is planning a significant recruitment campaign across higher education institutions after a large number of teaching positions, particularly those reserved for specific categories, have remained vacant for a long time. The shortage of faculty members has begun to affect academic functioning, prompting authorities to consider increasing the overall number of sanctioned posts to ensure required staffing levels.

In several central universities and medical colleges, many professorial and associate level positions are unfilled. Officials have indicated that vacant posts, especially in reserved categories, have created operational challenges for institutions. To resolve this, the government is examining proposals to expand the total number of posts so that even if reserved seats remain unfilled due to a lack of eligible candidates, general category appointments can still be accommodated without reducing representation norms.

According to available information, around 45 central universities across the country have nearly 5,400 vacant teaching posts. These include positions for Professors, Associate Professors and Assistant Professors. A substantial portion of these vacancies fall under reserved categories. In some institutions, up to 40 percent of sanctioned positions are reportedly vacant.

Data presented in Parliament earlier also highlighted that out of thousands of approved teaching posts, a significant number remain unoccupied. In certain universities, more than 6,000 posts are sanctioned, yet over 2,500 positions are vacant. Nearly half of the sanctioned posts are reserved under various constitutional provisions, and reports suggest that 90 to 95 percent of the vacant positions belong to reserved categories.

The government has directed central institutions to speed up recruitment processes. Universities have been asked to launch special drives to fill reserved category posts on priority. An online recruitment portal has also been introduced to simplify and streamline appointments in central universities.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed that vacancies in higher education institutions should be filled within a specified time frame. Following concerns that more than 70 percent of posts were vacant in some institutions, directions were issued to complete recruitment within a few months.

Officials say that the process of converting reserved vacancies into general category posts is lengthy and involves multiple approvals from regulatory bodies and ministries. Because of this, filling posts through reclassification is not considered a quick solution. Instead, increasing the total number of sanctioned posts is being explored as a practical alternative.

Efforts are also underway to conduct interviews and selection procedures in a time bound manner. In some institutions, interviews for faculty recruitment are now being completed within three months to prevent delays.

The proposed expansion in total posts is aimed at ensuring that universities function smoothly without compromising reservation policies. By increasing the sanctioned strength, authorities hope to maintain representation while also addressing faculty shortages that impact teaching and research activities.