A recent overview reveals that 14% of India’s 130 premier higher education institutions under the Ministry of Education (MoE) — including IITs, IIMs, Central Universities, NITs, and IISERs — are currently operating without permanent leadership. These institutions are being run by acting Vice-Chancellors or Directors serving in interim or extended capacities.
The review covered appointments across 48 Central Universities (CUs), 23 IITs, 21 IIMs, 31 NITs, and 8 IISERs. It found that 18 institutions of national importance — including eight Central Universities, four IIMs, two IITs, three NITs, and one IISER — have yet to appoint full-time heads.
Notably, eight of these institutions — such as IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Shillong, NIT Srinagar, IISER Thiruvananthapuram, IGNOU, Sikkim University, and Rajiv Gandhi University (Arunachal Pradesh) — have been without permanent leadership for over a year.
Why This Matters
The leadership vacuum comes at a critical time, as the government rolls out the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Interim heads often refrain from making long-term or transformative decisions, potentially stalling progress and implementation of reforms.
Traditionally, the search for new leadership begins at least six months before the end of a current head’s term. However, that timeline appears to have been missed in several cases.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee recently flagged this issue in its report on the Higher Education budget for 2025–26. Headed by MP Digvijaya Singh, the committee noted:
“The Committee is deeply anguished by the failure to appoint leadership for these 10 higher education institutions and recommends that the Department (of Higher Education) should take necessary action expeditiously.”
Who Approves These Appointments?
Appointments for Directors and Vice-Chancellors at IITs, IIMs, NITs, IISERs, and Central Universities are made by the President of India, who acts as the Visitor. Recommendations are submitted by designated selection committees or Boards of Governors, with final approval resting with the union government.
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IIT Directors: Appointed by the IIT Council, chaired by the Education Minister.
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IIM Directors: Chosen by each institute’s Board of Governors with Presidential approval.
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VCs of Central Universities: Appointed directly by the President from shortlisted candidates.
Snapshot: Institutions Without Permanent Heads
IITs
- IIT Kharagpur: Led by an acting Director since December 2024.
- IIT Hyderabad: Director’s term ended in August 2024; no successor appointed.
IIMs
- IIM Calcutta: Prof. Saibal Chattopadhyay has been Director in-charge since January 2024.
- IIM Lucknow: Prof. Archana Shukla, after completing her five-year term in April 2024, continues in an interim role.
- IIM Shillong and IIM Kashipur: Also without regular Directors.
NITs
- NIT Srinagar, NIT Uttarakhand, and NIT Andhra Pradesh: All under interim Directors appointed in the second half of 2024. NIT Uttarakhand saw two acting heads within one year.
Central Universities
- IGNOU: Without a regular Vice-Chancellor since 2023. Prof. Uma Kanjilal has served as acting VC since July 2024.
- Rajiv Gandhi University (Arunachal Pradesh): Interim VC since October 2024.
- Sikkim University: Under officiating VC since August 2024.
- Central University of Gujarat: VC Rama Shanker Dubey is on an extended term since November 2024.
The Bigger Picture
The continued absence of permanent leadership across key institutions risks slowing momentum at a time when the sector is undergoing major transformation. As India aims to position itself as a global education hub under NEP 2020, experts argue that timely appointments are essential for stability, long-term planning, and institutional excellence.
Some inputs from Indian Express and PTI
