0
0
New Delhi, August 5, 2025: A staggering number of teaching and non-teaching positions remain unfilled at India’s premier medical institutes, according to recent government data presented in Parliament. Union Minister of State for Health, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, stated that 2,783 faculty and 22,861 non-faculty posts are vacant across the 23 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), JIPMER (Puducherry), and PGIMER (Chandigarh).
Faculty Shortfalls at a Glance
The collective sanctioned faculty strength at AIIMS stands at 6,376, of which 2,561 posts (40.16%) are currently vacant. Non-faculty positions do not fare better: with 58,953 jobs sanctioned across all AIIMS, 19,529 (around 33%) remain open.
JIPMER Puducherry has 445 sanctioned faculty posts, with 91 (over 20%) unfilled, while 25% of its non-faculty roles are vacant. PGIMER Chandigarh has 131 vacant faculty posts out of 732 (17.8%) and 1,874 non-faculty vacancies out of 8,265 sanctioned posts (22.6%).
State-Wise Details
A detailed breakdown reveals particularly high vacancy rates at several new AIIMS institutes:
-
AIIMS Delhi: 462 out of 1,306 faculty posts vacant (35%).
-
AIIMS Jodhpur: 186 out of 405 vacant.
-
AIIMS Raipur: 116 out of 305 unfilled.
-
AIIMS Madurai: 134 out of 183 vacant (over 70%).
-
AIIMS Awantipura: All 94 faculty posts vacant.
Institutes at Rewari and Darbhanga have yet to receive sanctioned faculty positions.
Government Measures
In response, the Ministry of Health assured Parliament that steps have been taken to address these staff shortages, including:
-
Establishing standing selection committees at each institute to accelerate recruitment.
-
Engaging retired faculty up to 70 years of age on a contract basis, especially at the newer AIIMS locations.
-
Launching a Visiting Faculty Scheme to attract professors from Indian and international institutions for short-term teaching assignments.
The Minister emphasized that “creation of posts & recruitment is a continuous process” essential for the effective functioning of specialized departments in these Institutions of National Importance.
Concerns and Impact
Lawmakers have raised concerns over the potential impact of these persistent vacancies on medical education quality, research productivity, and delivery of healthcare services. The government, however, insists that filling these posts is ongoing and prioritized for optimal functioning.
“All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, and new AIIMS set up under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthaya Suraksha Yojana are providing state-of-the-art facilities… creation of posts & recruitment is a continuous process,” stated the Minister.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on information presented by the Union Minister of State for Health in Parliament and as reported by Medical Dialogues. Readers are advised to consult official updates and Ministry communications for the latest and most accurate details.
