The Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday that more than 5,400 teaching positions remain unfilled across central universities in India, with over half of these vacancies reserved for candidates from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) categories.
According to the latest figures shared by the Union Minister of State for Education, Sukanta Majumdar, a total of 5,410 teaching positions were vacant as of 31 January 2025. Of these, 788 posts were designated for SC candidates, 472 for ST candidates, and 1,521 for OBC candidates. The figures were provided in response to a written query in the Rajya Sabha.
Despite these vacancies, the government has made strides in faculty recruitment. More than 7,825 teaching positions have been filled across central universities through special recruitment drives, reflecting efforts to address the shortfall.
The Education Ministry noted that faculty vacancies arise due to retirements, resignations, and growing student enrolments. The responsibility for filling these positions rests with the respective central universities, which are required to conduct regular recruitment processes.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has been monitoring the situation and has issued directives to central universities to expedite the recruitment process. The government aims to ensure that teaching positions are filled promptly to maintain the academic standards of higher education institutions.
