There are approximately 36.5% and 40.8% vacancy in teaching positions in sixteen IITs and thirty NITs respectively. The reasons for faculty shortage are due to retirement, resignation, increase in students’ intake and non-availability of qualified candidates for taking up teaching assignments.
The Institutes have been taking various initiatives to attract outstanding candidates for faculty positions. Some of these measures include year-round open advertisements, holding of selection committee meetings through video conferencing, invitation to alumni, scientists and faculty to reach out to potential candidates, advertisements in international journals, outstanding young faculty awards, etc.
As regards NITs, the Institutions are engaging contract and adjunct staff as well as using the online mode of teaching to overcome these shortages. Moreover, faculty in NITs has now been given pay parity with faculty in IITs with a view to attract quality faculty.
Further, the MHA has reduced the salary limit for employment Visa to foreign faculty from US$ 25,000 to US$ 14,000 with a view to make it possible for foreign faculty to join IITs and NITs.
This information was given by the Union Minister of HRD, Smt. Smriti Irani in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha question.