NCERT Plagued by Over 50% Vacant Posts, Affecting Curriculum Planning
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The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is facing a severe staffing crisis with over 50% of its sanctioned posts lying vacant. According to official data, out of the 2,844 sanctioned posts, only 1,219 were filled, leaving 1,625 posts vacant – a vacancy rate of 57.1%. The bulk of vacancies were in the Group C category, with 1,109 vacancies, followed by Group B with 308 vacancies, and Group A with 208 vacancies.
The data also shows that in the last five years, NCERT hired 445 permanent staff and 3,567 contractual staff, with no permanent recruitment in 2020-21 and 2021-22. The Parliament panel on education had directed NCERT to fill up all vacancies by the end of 2025 and recommended that it stop contractual appointments.
Academicians have expressed concerns that the prolonged vacancies and reliance on contractual staff weaken any academic institution, affecting curriculum planning, textbook development, and production. The staffing shortfall has come into sharper focus as NCERT faces scrutiny over its withdrawn Class 8 social science textbook.
Former dean of the faculty of education at Delhi University, Anita Rampal, said that insecure and vulnerable temporary positions make it difficult to question significant decisions or contribute meaningfully to institution-building. She highlighted delays in textbook publishing and release, which reflect serious inefficiency and callousness towards children.
