Large-Scale Recruitment Likely in Higher Education Institutions as Thousands of Posts Lie Vacant
Thousands of teaching positions in higher education institutions across the country remain vacant, largely due to the non-availability of suitable candidates from reserved categories.
To address this chronic shortage and ensure that institutional functioning is not disrupted, the government is considering increasing the total number of sanctioned posts so that institutions can maintain a minimum required workforce.
Vacancies Affecting Institutional Functioning
The large number of unfilled posts is adversely impacting the day-to-day functioning of educational institutions.
One proposal under consideration is to increase the overall number of posts, which would automatically raise both general and reserved category positions.
Under this model, even if suitable candidates from reserved categories are not available, a sufficient number of candidates could be recruited against general category posts to ensure the smooth functioning of institutions.
Lengthy Process to Convert Reserved Posts into General Posts
Sources indicate that while there is a provision to convert vacant reserved category posts into general category posts, the process is extremely time-consuming.
It requires repeated rounds of advertisements, followed by approvals from the concerned ministry and the Department of Personnel.
Additionally, no-objection certificates must be obtained from commissions representing reserved categories. This entire procedure takes considerable time and often becomes politically contentious.
There is also a provision to transfer vacant posts from one reserved category to another.
However, due to the lack of eligible candidates across all three reserved categories, this mechanism has proved largely ineffective.
Six Central Universities in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh currently has six central universities.
These include Allahabad University, Banaras Hindu University, Aligarh Muslim University, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, the Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University located at Fursatganj in Amethi (which provides specialised education in the aviation sector), and the agriculture-based Rani Lakshmibai Central Agricultural University in Jhansi.
Vacancies in Top Institutions, AIIMS and Medical Colleges
Across the country’s top educational institutions, including AIIMS and other medical colleges, a large number of professor-level posts remain vacant. One of the primary reasons is the non-availability of qualified candidates from reserved categories.
Despite the government working on this issue at multiple levels, there has been little improvement so far.
To ensure that institutional work does not suffer due to staff shortages, the government is now also considering a formula to increase the number of posts so that the minimum required faculty strength is always maintained.
Nearly 40% Professor Posts are vacant in AIIMS
According to information provided by the government through Parliament and RTI responses, nearly 40 per cent of professor-level posts in AIIMS are vacant.
Out of 23 AIIMS approved across the country, 19 are currently operational. There are 6,376 sanctioned posts, of which 2,561 are lying vacant.
The biggest reason for this shortfall is the non-filling of OBC, SC and ST category posts. As many as 49.5 per cent of posts are reserved for these categories.
Sources suggest that around 90–95 per cent of the vacant posts belong to reserved categories.
Similar Situation in Central Universities
A similar trend is visible in the country’s 45 central universities, where nearly 5,400 professor-level posts are vacant.
Among these, approximately 83 per cent of ST posts, 75 per cent of SC posts, and 80 per cent of OBC posts remain unfilled.
AIIMS Conducting Interviews Four Times a Year
To fill vacant positions, the government has initiated several measures. According to sources, AIIMS now conducts interviews every three months, resulting in four recruitment cycles each year.
Similarly, large-scale recruitment drives are being undertaken in universities to fill reserved category posts.
Some institutions have also started the recruitment process as early as six months before a post is expected to fall vacant.
Despite these efforts, the availability of eligible candidates from reserved categories continues to be a matter of concern.
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