Vacancies in Colleges and Universities

Press Information Bureau 

Government of India

Ministry of Human Resource Development 

Vacancies in Colleges and Universities 

The UGC has reported that 1244 positions of Professors are vacant, as on 31st March, 2014 in 39 Central Universities. Vacancies and filling up of posts is dynamic in nature due to reasons such as superannuation etc. and no specific date can be mentioned against occurring of these vacancies. 

The Central Government is taking all steps to ensure that quality is not compromised at any cost. The main reasons for shortage of candidates for the post of Professor are the non-availability of suitable candidates; shortage in the feeder cadre of Associate Professor, sanction of additional teaching posts in view of the expansion in the XI Plan period and increase in intake capacity of students, etc. Several States have also placed a ban on recruitment to teaching positions.

 In order to meet the shortage of teachers, the age of superannuation for teachers in Central Educational Institutions has been enhanced to sixty five years and the conditions governing mobility of academic staff have been relaxed. University Grants Commission (UGC) has advised all the Central Universities to fill up the teaching positions at the earliest. Teachers’ re-employment on contract basis beyond the age of sixty five years upto the age of seventy years is permitted subject to availability of vacant posts and fitness.

The UGC has also taken measures for meeting the shortage of teachers at all levels. These measures include permitting the Universities to engage adjunct/guest faculty to meet the shortfall; allowing contractual appointments for faculty; revamping Academic Staff Colleges etc. The UGC has undertaken enhanced funding for strengthening science based education and research in universities; disbursement of grant for presentation of research papers in international conferences; enhancing the quantum of research grant to Universities aimed at encouraging research. 

Faculty shortages are more acute in the State universities and colleges. Many states have actually imposed ban on recruitment of regular faculty. In order to address this critical issue along with other issues pertaining to state university system, the Central Government has recently approved Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) with an outlay of Rs.22,855 crores. A total of 5000 new faculty positions will be supported under RUSA during 12th Five Year Plan. 

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has been continuously monitoring the program of filling the vacancies of teachers in the Central Universities. The UGC has asked the Vice-Chancellors/ Directors of UGC funded Central Universities, State Universities and Deemed to be Universities to fill all vacant teaching positions before the start of the next academic session. 

This information was given by the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Smt. Smriti Irani in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha question.