5,825 teaching posts lying vacant in central universities; government tells Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Education informed Lok Sabha today that 5,825 teaching and 15,390 non-teaching posts are lying vacant in the central universities as of April 1, 2023.

So far, more than 4,000 teaching posts and 1,500 non-teaching posts have been filled under the ongoing mission-mode recruitment drive, Subhas Sarkar, minister of state for education said in a written reply.

According to Sarkar, the vacancies arise on account of retirement, resignation and an increase in the number of students taking admission to various central universities.

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The education ministry and the University Grants Commission (UGC) continue to work closely with the central universities to streamline the recruitment process, the minister added. However, central Universities, being autonomous bodies created under Acts of Parliament, are responsible for filling these positions.

Sarkar said that the education ministry has directed the UGC and the central universities to fill the posts in the mission mode.

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Earlier, UGC had asked the states and union territories to fill vacant faculty positions and universities and colleges on time. In a letter addressed to secretaries and higher education councils of all states and UTs, the UGC secretary emphasized the shortage of faculty members in the colleges and universities affects the teaching and learning system which necessitates the timely recruitment of “eligible and competent” faculty and the higher education institutions (HEIs) should take appropriate steps for appointment of professors at the earliest.