A parliamentary panel has raised an alarm over significant staff shortages at two key educational bodies. Over half of sanctioned positions at the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) are vacant. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) also faces substantial unfilled posts, according to the Tenth Report of the Committee on Estimates (2026-27).
NCERT Faces Major Vacancies
NCERT has 56% of its posts empty. This amounts to 1,596 vacant positions out of a total of 2,844. These vacancies span academic, teaching, ministerial, and ancillary roles.
Breakdown of NCERT Vacancies
| Category | Vacant Positions | Percentage Vacant |
| Academic Posts | 145 | N/A |
| School Teaching Posts | 131 | N/A |
| Ministerial Posts | 916 | N/A |
| Ancillary Posts | 404 | N/A |
| Total Vacancies | 1,596 | 56.1% |
CBSE Staffing Shortfall
The CBSE has 44% of its staff positions unfilled. A total of 933 posts are vacant from its sanctioned strength of 2,117. The majority of these are Group C support staff.
Breakdown of CBSE Vacancies
| Category | Vacant Positions | Percentage Vacant |
| Group C Support Staff | 595 | N/A |
| Total Vacancies | 933 | 44% |
Concerns Over Contractual Staff and Impact
The committee expressed serious concern over the reliance on contractual employees. These temporary staff are handling administrative duties and confidential matters, including board exams. This dependency poses security risks and impacts exam quality.
The vacancies could also hinder curriculum updates. They may delay textbook publications and the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The committee stressed education's crucial role.
Recommendations for Action
The Ministry of Education is urged to act. The panel recommended launching recruitment drives promptly. These drives should fill all vacant academic and administrative posts.
For CBSE, the committee advised stopping the use of contractual staff for confidential examination work. The report also called for increased education spending. The goal is to reach NEP 2020's target of 6% of GDP from the current 4.1%. This increase should be at least 10% annually.
