(a) the number of faculty and librarians positions that are lying vacant in various
universities of the country including central universities, State-wise, university-wise
and category-wise;
(b) the details of the sanctioned and vacant positions which have been reported from various
universities under the Union Government; and
(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to fill up the vacant posts particularly
of teachers in those universities?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(DR. SHASHI THAROOR)
(a) & (b) : As per the report of the Task Force, constituted by this Ministry, to make
appropriate recommendations for alleviating shortage of faculty, State Universities,
Central Universities, Deemed Universities and affiliated Colleges are short of qualified
faculty to the extent of roughly 40%, 35%, 25% and 40% respectively. Report of the Task
Force is available at http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/6675510_taskforce.pdf. The UGC
maintains the statement of vacancy in teaching positions in Central Universities only,
Central University-wise, and not state-wise.. This statement is available at http://www.
ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/0342004_vacant-position-CU-as-on-01-01-2014.pdf.
(c): 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. The 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. Para 12.2 of the UGC Regulations on Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of
Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the
Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education 2010 clearly mentions that all the sanctioned /
approved posts in the university system shall be filled up on an urgent basis.
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.
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 are being 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. This issue was also reviewed
in the conference of Vice-Chancellors of the Central Universities held on 5th February, 2013
under the chairmanship of the Hon’ble President of India. The matter was again reviewed in
the conference of the Vice-Chancellors of the Central Universities held on 19th July, 2013
under the chairmanship of the Hon’ble Minister of MHRD and on 6th January, 2014 by the Hon’ble
President of India.