How many faculty posts are vacant in Indian central institutions?

As of 31 January 2025, 28.56% of the 18,940 sanctioned teaching posts at IITs, NITs, IIMs, IISERs and other central institutions were unfilled, according to a parliamentary standing committee report. Vacancies were worst at senior levels: 56.18% of Professor posts and 38.28% of Associate Professor posts were empty.

Why is there a shortage of AI and Data Science faculty in India?

Seats grew much faster than faculty. In Tamil Nadu, undergraduate AI and Data Science intake rose from 7,049 in 2022-23 to 15,702 in 2024-25. Few computer science graduates pursue postgraduate study or PhDs because they are placed directly after graduation, so colleges are re-skilling core-engineering faculty and hiring Professors of Practice.

What is a Professor of Practice under UGC rules?

A Professor of Practice is an industry or professional expert appointed to teach without the usual academic qualifications. UGC's draft 2025 regulations say such appointments should not exceed 10% of sanctioned posts in a higher education institution.

Home/Insights

2026Acharya Insights

The State of Faculty in Indian Higher Education, 2026

Six forces reshaping who teaches in India, and what to do about them.

Read the findings Apply it to my campus

56% Professor postsunfilled · central institutes

×2.2 AI & DS seatsTamil Nadu, 2 years

Force 1 · Vacancies

Even top institutions can't fill senior posts.

Unfilled teaching posts by level

Central institutions · 31 Jan 2025 · 18,940 posts

Professor

56.2%

Associate Prof.

38.3%

All posts

28.6%

Assistant Prof.

18.0%

Source: Parliamentary standing committee, via ThePrint

Reserved backlog1,521 of 3,652 OBC posts unfilled

No regular head20 of 48 central universities

Private colleges uncountedNo reliable national data

Force 2 · The AI teaching gap

Seats doubled. Faculty didn't.

AI & DS UG intake, Tamil Nadu

2022-23

7,049

2024-25

15,702

Source: Analytics India Magazine

Few go to PG/PhDCS grads get placed after UG

Re-skill core facultyMech, Civil, EEE into AI

Bring in practitionersProfessors of Practice

Forces 3–6

Rules, rivals and reputation

03 · RegulationUGC's 2025 draftProfessor of Practice route, PhD for promotion, contract cap may go.

04 · AccreditationNAAC goes binaryData cross-checks with heavy penalties for false data.

05 · CompetitionForeign campuses arriveSouthampton, Deakin, Wollongong and more bid for senior faculty.

06 · CredibilityPay and recognition strainFew private universities pay 7th CPC. Paid awards target faculty.

What to do

Five moves for 2027

1Verify your faculty dataPassport

2Build AI faculty from withinAcademy + Pro

3Treat retention as strategyPulse

4Give faculty time backCopilot

5Recognise excellence crediblyCertified + Rewards

Sources

Sources and notes

Government and parliamentary figures are most reliable. Drafts and estimates are indicative; check official notifications.

Your campus, measured

See where your faculty stand.

A Faculty Health Check applies this analysis to your campus in two weeks.

Book a Faculty Health Check