SRINAGAR: A total of 32,114 posts, including 18,757 faculty positions, have been filled in Central Higher Educational Institutions (CHEIs) through mission-mode recruitment since September 2022, the Union Ministry of Education informed the Rajya Sabha.
The ministry said the recruitment drive was aimed at filling vacancies, including backlog vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. The data was provided in response to Unstarred Question No. 1153, answered on July 29.
According to the Ministry of Education, all CHEIs under its administrative purview were first asked in August 2021 to undertake special drives to fill backlog vacancies in mission mode. They were again urged to fill vacancies in September 2022, while a fresh direction was issued in October 2025 to clear all backlog vacancies through mission-mode recruitment.
The ministry said vacancies in Central educational institutions arise continuously due to promotions, retirements, resignations, deaths, the opening of new institutions and schemes, as well as increased student enrolment and expansion of capacity.
On the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, the ministry said it was an ongoing process, with autonomous organisations implementing its provisions in phases and regularly assessing progress.
It said NEP 2020 places emphasis on strengthening physical infrastructure, particularly in rural and remote areas, through new buildings, additional classrooms, upgraded facilities, barrier-free access for children with special needs, and improved sanitation and hygiene.
The ministry said initiatives including Samagra Shiksha, PM-SHRI and PM-USHA were contributing to safer and more inclusive infrastructure and learning environments, while PM-Poshan and PM-Vidyalakshmi were aimed at supporting nutrition, financial assistance and retention of students.
Under Samagra Shiksha, the Central share allocated increased from Rs 34,671.73 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 47,676.34 crore in 2025-26. The total Central allocation over the five-year period stood at Rs 2,19,950.29 crore, while expenditure including the State share, as recorded in PRABANDH, totalled Rs 2,67,892.19 crore.
The ministry said digital education had also expanded through the adoption of DIKSHA by all 36 States and Union Territories and autonomous bodies, the operation of 200 PM eVIDYA DTH TV channels and radio services, and large-scale teacher capacity building under NISHTHA.
It said digital infrastructure and technology-enabled learning were being strengthened under the Information and Communication Technology component of Samagra Shiksha, alongside initiatives providing Indian Sign Language content, accessible learning resources and tools such as PRASHAST 2.0.
For rural and remote areas, the ministry said almost all Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, which are predominantly located in rural areas, had been equipped with smart classrooms, computer laboratories, digital devices and reliable internet connectivity.
Digital learning is also being supported through platforms and services including DIKSHA, PM eVIDYA, e-Pathshala, SATHEE, SWAYAM Plus, SWAYAM MOOCs, the National Institute of Open Schooling portal, PM eVIDYA DTH channels, Mukta Vidya Vani radio and other digital applications and portals, the ministry said.
