A large number of vacant positions have been reported in the country’s premier educational institutions, NCERT and CBSE. The Parliamentary Committee’s report expressed concern over these vacancies and recommended immediate filling of the relevant positions. According to the report, due to staff shortages in both institutions, many responsibilities are being handled by contract employees.
1,596 Vacant Positions in NCERT
According to the report, a total of 2,844 sanctioned positions were filled in NCERT as of October 2025. Of these, 1,248 were occupied, while 1,596 were vacant. This means that a significant number of positions remain unfilled compared to the sanctioned positions.
NCERT plays a vital role in the country’s school education system. The institution is responsible for many important tasks, from developing curriculum in accordance with the new education policy to developing educational materials and textbooks. Consequently, the Parliamentary Committee has highlighted the need for immediate action regarding the staff shortage.
44% of posts vacant in CBSE
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is also facing a staff shortage. According to reports, 933 of the 2,117 sanctioned posts are vacant, representing approximately 44% of the total sanctioned posts.
The highest number of vacancies are in the Group C category, with 595 vacant positions. Due to the staff shortage, the board relies on contract staff for many tasks. A parliamentary committee believes that the lack of permanent staff could impact the board’s efficiency as well as the organization and quality of national-level examinations.
CBSE’s Expanded Scope
The number of schools affiliated to the CBSE has grown significantly over the past few decades. In 1992-93, the number of schools affiliated to the board was 3,787, which has now increased to 31,234. The board currently operates through 25 regional and five sub-regional offices.
The report also states that in 2025, over 2.38 million students appeared for the CBSE Class 10 exams and over 1.7 million for the Class 12 exams. Given the increased workload and student numbers, the Parliamentary Committee has recommended expediting the process of filling vacant positions.
Note: Final details regarding positions, qualifications, application dates, and the selection process will be clear only after the official recruitment notification is issued.
