NCERT Staff Shortage 2026, 1,625 Posts Vacant, Hiring Gap Raises Concerns

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is grappling with a major staff shortage, with 1,625 vacancies remaining unfilled across its central and constituent institutions, government figures show. The staffing gap — which accounts for approximately 57 per cent of all sanctioned posts — has sparked concern over the organisation’s ability to deliver on its core academic and support mandates.

Government Data Shows Widespread NCERT Vacancies

According to data shared in Parliament, NCERT has 2,844 sanctioned positions across various categories, but only 1,219 have been filled so far. This leaves a significant 1,625 posts vacant, affecting academic units and crucial support functions. The vacant positions are spread across:

• Group A (senior posts): 208 of 647 posts unfilled (about 32 per cent vacancy).
• Group B (mid-level posts): 907 of 1,276 posts unfilled (about 71 per cent vacancy).
• Group C (support staff): 1,109 of 1,520 posts unfilled (about 73 per cent vacancy).

The Group B and Group C categories show particularly high vacancy rates, indicating substantial gaps in mid-level management, clerical and technical support staff that are crucial for daily operations.

NCERT Hiring Freeze and Contractual Reliance

The data also points to a prolonged absence of recruitment activity within NCERT. The organisation did not conduct regular hiring processes for two consecutive years, leading to accumulation of unfilled posts. Over recent years, NCERT has increasingly depended on contractual staff to manage operational needs, with hundreds of temporary workers engaged as a stop-gap measure. This reliance on contractual employees — who lack long-term job security and benefits compared with permanent staff — has raised questions on workforce planning and organisational efficiency.

Impact on Research and Education Functions

NCERT plays a central role in shaping school curriculum frameworks, educational research, teacher training resources and pedagogical standards nationwide. With a large share of vacancies, especially in non-academic and support functions, the organisation’s capacity to deliver policy research, manage textbook development processes, coordinate with state boards and support teacher education programmes may be affected. Experts and policymakers have warned that prolonged staffing shortfalls in key educational institutions can undermine strategic planning and implementation of national educational priorities. Efforts to fill the vacancies via formal recruitment processes and improve workforce stability are expected to be critical to restoring NCERT’s operational strength.