Over 5,000 Faculty Vacancies for SC, ST, OBC in Central Universities, IITs, IIMs and IIITs: Govt Data

Central Universities have 4,889 vacancies for reserved categories, including 711 for Scheduled Castes (SC), 428 for Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 1,491 of Other Backward Classes (OBC). This includes 656 vacant professor and associate professor posts meant for SC and ST candidates.

Even as Central government claims progress under its Mission Mode recruitment drive, data presented in Rajya Sabha states that more than 5,000 teaching post reserved for SC, ST and OBC categories remain vacant across institutions like Central Universities (CUs), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) and AIIMS.

As per numbers shared in a written reply by Ministry of Education to a question by Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, comes at a time when opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi have repeatedly been flagging large number of unfilled reserved posts in central institutions. The issue has gained momentum with allegations that government has failed to ensure proper representation of marginalised communities.

Education Ministry's data reveals, as of July 1, 2025, Central Universities alone had 4,889 teaching vacancies for reserved categories, including 711 for Scheduled Castes (SC), 428 for Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 1,491 for Other Backward Classes (OBC). This includes 656 vacant professor and associate professor posts meant for SC and ST candidates. Among IIMs, 391 reserved posts remain unfilled, 92 for SC, 53 for ST, and 164 for OBC faculty. The IIITs reported 468 vacancies for reserved categories.

While IITs did not provide consolidated vacancy numbers, government has clarified that these engg institutes follow a rolling recruitment process. Under Mission Mode drive launched in August 2021 and extended from September 2022, IITs, IIMs, IIITs, and CUs were instructed to fast-track the filling of backlog vacancies, particularly for SC, ST, and OBC posts. 

Reserved Category Faculty Vacancies in Central Institutions (as on July 1, 2025)

Summary of Reserved Faculty Posts Filled Under Mission Mode (Till July 12, 2025)

Government informed that since launch of Mission Mode hiring, 20,712 posts have been filled across CUs, IITs, IIMs, and IIITs, including 11,930 faculty posts, of which 1,458 were filled by SC candidates, 619 by STs, and 2,452 by OBCs. However, this still leaves a significant number of seats unfilled, raising questions about institutional commitment and outreach effectiveness.

Additionally, AIIMS Delhi reported 730 vacancies for reserved categories among faculty and resident doctors, with 250 for SCs, 115 for STs, and 350 for OBCs.

Central Educational Institutions Act mandates 15% reservation for SCs, 7.5% for STs, and 27% for OBCs, in addition to 10% for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

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