Odisha Governor directs filling of teaching posts amid 70% vacancy in public universities
Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati has ordered public universities to fill 70% of vacant teaching positions by the end of November 2026. The directive emphasizes merit-based recruitment and a streamlined interview process to address the critical faculty shortage.
Why it matters
The massive vacancy rate in state-run universities poses a significant threat to the quality of higher education and academic research in the region.
With 70% teachers’ posts lying vacant in State-run universities across Odisha, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, who is also Chancellor of the Universities, on Saturday (October 3, 2026) directed to initiate the recruitment process for vacant teaching posts by the first week of November and complete it by the end of the month.
Speaking at a meeting on the ongoing recruitment of teaching faculty in State public universities at Lok Bhavan premises here, Mr. Kambhampati said, “filling vacant teaching posts was the next major challenge after the appointment of Vice-Chancellors in State universities.”
It is to be mentioned that Vice-Chancellors of 14 Universities were appointed on a single day after he assumed office as Governor.
“Merit should be the priority in the appointment of teaching faculty. Quality and merit cannot be compromised,” Mr. Kambhampati said, stressing the need to recruit the best available faculty.
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