The Ministry of Education provided a detailed response to a parliamentary question regarding vacancies in universities, explaining the governance structure and recruitment processes for higher education institutions. Education being a subject of the Concurrent List, both Centre and States/UTs share responsibility for Higher Education Institutions and schools.
Central Higher Education Institutions (CHEIs) under the Ministry are statutory autonomous organizations established under Central Acts of Parliament, with faculty recruitment conducted internally according to their Acts and Regulations. Recruitment powers vest with respective Boards of Governors/Executive Committees/Boards of Management. State Universities are established through State Acts, and vacancies are filled by concerned State Governments/Universities themselves, with vacancy details not maintained centrally.
Institutions Deemed to be Universities are regulated by UGC under the UGC (Institutions deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2023, with faculty appointments made by the Executive Council on recommendation of Selection Committees. Vacancies occur continuously due to promotion, retirement, resignation, death, new institutions, schemes, projects, and expanded student capacity requirements.
The Ministry has implemented several measures to attract quality faculty, including year-round advertisements, search-cum selection procedures, special recruitment drives, mission mode recruitment, and alumni/scientist invitations. Recruitment processes involve transparent multi-step screening with composition of selection committees specified in institutional Acts and Statutes. UGC launched the 'CU-CHAYAN' common portal for faculty recruitment across Central Universities to enhance transparency.
Under the National Education Policy 2020 emphasis on quality improvement, several initiatives have been institutionalized including financial support to states through RUSA/PM USHA schemes. The Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Program launched in 2023 has trained over 4 lakh faculty members through 151 training centers nationwide.
Mission Mode recruitment drives were specifically undertaken: CHEIs were requested to fill backlog vacancies in August 2021, September 2022, and October 2025. From September 2022, all CHEIs including Central Universities conducted these drives, resulting in 32,114 posts filled up to May 23, 2026, including 18,757 faculty positions.