Over 2,500 Vacancies in NCERT and CBSE Raise Alarm Over Board Exam Security and Educational Quality

A parliamentary committee report reveals that over 50 percent of sanctioned posts in NCERT and 44 percent in CBSE remain vacant, threatening board exam safety and administration.

Two of India's premier school education institutions are grappling with a severe manpower crunch, according to a recent parliamentary report. The Estimates Committee (2026-27) highlighted that thousands of sanctioned posts remain vacant in the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The committee cautioned that this acute shortage of permanent staff poses serious risks to operational efficiency, academic curriculum design, and the integrity of national board examinations.

Over Half of Sanctioned Posts Vacant in NCERT
In its 10th report focusing on budgetary and policy aspects for providing affordable and quality education, the parliamentary committee highlighted a disturbing trend in NCERT. Despite playing a pivotal role in formulating national educational policies, including the execution of the National Education Policy 2020, NCERT is running at less than half its required capacity. As of October 2025, against a sanctioned strength of 2,844 posts, only 1,248 positions were filled, leaving 1,596 vacancies.

A breakdown of the 1,596 vacant posts reveals shortages across crucial cadres. Academic positions account for 145 vacancies, while 131 school teaching positions lie unfilled. The largest deficit exists in the administrative and support categories, with 916 administrative posts and 404 support staff vacancies. The committee urged the Ministry of Education to give immediate attention to this issue and initiate earnest recruitment efforts to restore the council's functional capacity.

CBSE Shortage and Over-Reliance on Contractual Staff
The situation in CBSE is equally concerning, with 933 out of 2,117 sanctioned posts lying vacant, representing a 44 percent vacancy rate. The most critical shortage is in the Group C support category, where 595 posts remain unfilled. To handle routine administration and examination processing, CBSE has increasingly relied on temporary and contractual staff, a practice criticized by the parliamentary panel.

The committee warned that using temporary staff for sensitive exam-related responsibilities threatens the security, confidentiality, and smooth execution of board examinations. It recommended that CBSE immediately stop relying on contractual workers for sensitive operations and implement a time-bound recruitment drive to fill all 933 vacant positions with permanent personnel.

Rapid Institutional Expansion Outstrips Staffing
The report emphasized that CBSE's administrative load has multiplied over the decades. The number of affiliated schools grew dramatically from 3,787 in 1992-93 to 31,234 by October 8, 2025. To manage this expanding footprint, CBSE now operates through 25 regional offices and five sub-regional offices across the country.

Student enrollment has similarly surged, with Class 12 candidates exceeding 17 lakh and Class 10 candidates crossing 23 lakh by 2025. While noting that CBSE functions as a self-funded autonomous institution without direct ministry grants, the committee cautioned that managing examinations for over 40 lakh students without adequate permanent staff endangers educational standards and institutional stability.

What this means for you
Across India: Over 40 lakh Class 10 and 12 students could face potential risks regarding board exam security, evaluation accuracy, and result processing schedules.

For Students and Parents: Curriculum updates and textbook revisions under NEP 2020 may experience delays due to a shortage of over 270 academic and teaching staff at NCERT.

Questions & Answers

1. How many posts are currently vacant in NCERT according to the parliamentary report?
Out of 2,844 sanctioned posts in NCERT, 1,596 positions remain vacant, representing more than 50 percent of the total strength.

2. Which category has the highest number of vacancies in CBSE?
Group C support staff has the highest shortage in CBSE, accounting for 595 out of the 933 total vacant posts.

3. What concern did the parliamentary committee raise regarding board exam security?
The panel warned that relying on temporary contractual workers for sensitive examination operations threatens the confidentiality, safety, and smooth conduct of board exams.

4. Does CBSE receive financial grants from the central government?
No, CBSE operates as a self-funded autonomous body and receives no financial grants from the Ministry of Education.

5. How many students are appearing for CBSE Class 10 and 12 board examinations?
By 2025, student strength reached over 17 lakh candidates in Class 12 and more than 23 lakh candidates in Class 10.

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