India Adds 3.65 Lakh Teachers in a Decade, But 34% Posts Remain Vacant
India’s higher education teaching workforce grew by nearly 27% over a decade, but a significant share of sanctioned posts remains vacant in centrally funded institutions.
India’s higher education system added nearly 3.65 lakh teachers over a decade, taking the teaching workforce from 13.68 lakh in 2013-14 to 17.32 lakh in 2023-24, according to an SBI Research report based on AISHE data. The increase represents a 27% rise in teacher strength.
The report also found that the share of female teachers increased from 39% to 45% during the period. The proportion of SC teachers rose from 6.9% to 10%, while OBC representation increased from 23.5% to 32%.
India’s overall pupil-teacher ratio in higher education stood at 23 in 2023-24. However, there were significant state-level differences, with the ratio at 14 in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Goa, compared with 57 in Bihar and 48 in Jharkhand.
Despite the growth in teacher numbers, vacancies remain a concern. The report, citing parliamentary data, said 34% of sanctioned teaching posts across central universities and centrally funded institutions were vacant. IITs had a vacancy rate of 39%, while IIITs recorded 54%.
World Teachers’ Day is observed on October 5. In 2026, it marks 60 years of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, with UNESCO focusing on protecting and advancing the profession.
