(a) whether there is any shortage of teachers in the central universities;
(b) if so, whether the Government has decided to increase the retirement age
of teachers of these universities;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(d) whether this move of the Government may lead to mass scale
unemployment in the country; and
(e) if so, the corrective measures taken or proposed to be taken by the
Government to recruit fresh teachers in these universities?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(DR. SHASHI THAROOR)
(a) In 40 Central Universities under the purview of this Ministry, 30.48% posts
are reported to be lying vacant as on 31.12.2013.
(b) & (c) The age of superannuation for teachers in CUs has already been enhanced
to 65 years. To mitigate the situation arising on account of the shortage of teachers,
it has also been decided that subject to fitness, teachers may be allowed for re-
employment on a contract basis beyond the age of 65 years upto the age of 70 years. The
CUs have also been permitted to engage adjunct/guest faculty/contractual faculty.
(d) No, Madam. On the contrary, the Central Universities are experiencing shortage
of persons with requisite eligibility qualifications to fill up vacancies.
(e) The Ministry and the University Grants Commission (UGC) have been continuously
writing to the Vice Chancellors of all the 40 Central Universities (CUs) under the
purview of this Ministry to make all-out efforts to fill up the vacant posts of faculty.
The vacancy of teachers was also discussed prominently in the Conference of Vice
Chancellors of the Central Universities held on 6th and 7th Feb, 2014 under the
Chairmanship of the Hon’ble President of India, in which VCs were requested to fill
up the vacancies in a time bound manner. The Ministry and UGC have taken the following
measures to mitigate the situation arising on account of the shortage of teachers and
to attract talent to teaching profession and retain them there:-
i. Through Operation Faculty Recharge Programme, the UGC is creating a pool of
high quality teachers at all levels for deployment in the Universities.
ii. The pay package and promotional opportunities of teachers have been made
more attractive, with the implementation of the 6th Central Pay Commission, in
comparison to other services.
iii. The number of Junior and Senior Research Fellowships has been increased
from 28000 to about 38000. Similarly, the rates of such Fellowships have been
increased by about 50%.
iv. The norms for the disbursement of grants to scholars for presentation of research
papers in international conferences have been liberalised.
v. Research grants to encourage research activities in the CUs have been enhanced.