Karnataka announces plan to recruit 1,000 permanent faculty for 32 state universities
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has moved to address the chronic shortage of teaching staff in state universities. Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddi assured Vice-Chancellors of 32 universities that at least 1,000 permanent faculty members will be recruited during the current academic year.
The assurance came during an internal meeting held on Saturday with Vice-Chancellors of universities, including Bangalore University, Karnatak University, and Gulbarga University. The minister is understood to have taken serious note of the vacant positions and directed officials to prepare a file for clearance by the Finance Department.
State universities in Karnataka have been grappling with a significant number of vacant faculty posts, affecting teaching quality and research output. The shortage has persisted over several years, despite repeated demands from academic bodies and student organisations for timely recruitment.
During the meeting, Vice-Chancellors also raised the need for additional funding. They sought grants from the Union government, funds through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives by private companies, and support from multilateral agencies such as the Asian Development Bank. The request reflects the growing financial pressure on state universities, which often depend on government allocations and tuition fees to meet operational costs.
The VCs further urged the Minister to ensure timely payment of scholarships under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) funds. These scholarships are intended to support higher education for students from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and any delay can force students from marginalised communities to drop out.
Minister Rayaraddi is said to have responded positively to the demands, promising to take up the matter with the Finance Department and other concerned agencies. He also assured steps to improve infrastructure and strengthen the financial position of the universities.
The development comes amid wider discussions on reforming higher education in Karnataka. Experts point out that filling faculty vacancies is essential to maintain academic standards and to meet the requirements of the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasises quality research and student-centric learning.
The government's decision to recruit 1,000 permanent faculty members, if implemented fully, would provide some relief to universities that have been relying on temporary or guest lecturers to cover classes. However, given the total number of vacancies across 32 universities, further recruitment drives may be necessary in the coming years.
