NCERT has 1,596 vacancies, 44% of CBSE posts unfilled: Parliamentary panel
A parliamentary committee has revealed significant staff shortages at NCERT and CBSE, with over half of NCERT's sanctioned posts and 44% of CBSE's positions remaining vacant.
Intelligence analysis by Gemini 2.5 Flash
A parliamentary panel has expressed serious concern over the high number of unfilled positions at the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The committee urged the Ministry of Education to prioritize filling these vacancies, highlighting the critical role these bodies play in shaping India's education system …
Imagine two very important schools that help decide what kids learn and how they take big tests in India. One is like the head teacher who writes all the lesson plans (NCERT), and the other is like the principal who makes sure all the tests run smoothly (CBSE). A special group of grown-ups in charge of checking on these schools found that many of the jobs, like teachers and helpers, are empty. This means it's harder for them to do their important work, which could make it tough for kids to get the best education and take fair tests.
Analysis
The Tenth Report of the Committee on Estimates (2026-27) has brought to light a critical issue within India's educational infrastructure: severe understaffing at two pivotal organizations, NCERT and CBSE. The parliamentary panel's findings underscore a systemic challenge that could undermine the nation's educational reforms and operational efficiency. The report emphasizes the urgent need for the Ministry of Education to address these shortages, particularly given the ambitious goals set by the National Education Policy 2020.
NCERT
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), an apex body responsible for curriculum development and educational policy, is grappling with a staggering 1,596 vacancies against a sanctioned strength of 2,844 posts as of October 2025. This means more than half of its positions are unfilled, including 145 academic, 131 school teaching, 916 ministerial, and 404 ancillary roles. The committee views this as a significant impediment to NCERT's ability to effectively rethink and reshape education nationally.
The panel specifically noted NCERT's crucial role in developing the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCFFS) and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE), both integral to the NEP 2020 vision. The extensive vacancies raise questions about the capacity of NCERT to deliver on these foundational tasks, potentially leading to delays or compromises in the quality of educational materials and frameworks that guide millions of students across the country.
CBSE
Similarly, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which oversees national board exams and school affiliations, faces a major shortage, with 933 out of 2,117 sanctioned positions, or 44%, remaining vacant. The most significant deficit is among Group C support staff, with 595 unfilled positions. This reliance on temporary and contractual employees for day-to-day operations, especially for sensitive examination-related work, poses a serious risk.
The committee explicitly warned that such a shortage of permanent staff could jeopardize the safety, quality, and smooth running of major national board exams. Given the sharp increase in CBSE-affiliated schools from 3,787 in 1992-93 to 31,234 in 2024-25, and a corresponding rise in student numbers (over 17 lakh in Class 12 and 23.8 lakh in Class 10 in 2025), the operational strain on the Board is immense. The panel recommended fast-track recruitment to fill these critical positions in a time-bound manner.
National Education Policy 2020
The parliamentary committee's report directly links the staffing shortages to the effective implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. NCERT is central to developing syllabi and textbooks aligned with the NEP's vision, and its understaffing could significantly slow down or compromise these critical reforms. The policy aims for a comprehensive overhaul of the education system, from foundational stages to higher education, and requires robust institutional support.
Without adequate human resources, the ambitious goals of the NEP 2020, such as competency-based learning, multidisciplinary education, and digital literacy, may struggle to translate from policy to practice. The committee's call for concerted efforts to fill vacancies underscores the recognition that human capital is indispensable for the successful realization of India's educational aspirations and the long-term impact of the NEP on future generations.
Key points
- Over half (1,596 out of 2,844) of sanctioned posts at NCERT are vacant as of October 2025.
- 44% (933 out of 2,117) of positions at CBSE remain unfilled, with a major shortage in Group C support staff.
- A parliamentary committee flagged these shortages, urging the Ministry of Education to make concerted efforts to fill them.
- The committee warned that staff shortages at CBSE could put national board exams at serious risk.
- NCERT plays a key role in shaping education policy and curriculum, including implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
If the Ministry of Education acts swiftly on the parliamentary panel's recommendations, filling the numerous vacancies at NCERT and CBSE could significantly strengthen India's educational infrastructure. This would ensure better curriculum development, smoother conduct of national examinations, and more effective implementation of the National Education Policy 2020, ultimately benefiting millions of students.
Should these significant staff shortages persist, the quality of education and the integrity of national examinations could be severely compromised. Continued reliance on temporary staff for critical functions at CBSE, and the inability of NCERT to fully staff its academic and ministerial roles, could lead to delays in policy implementation and a decline in educational standards across the country.
