**Executive Summary**
The document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 1458 in the Lok Sabha, answered on February 9, 2026, regarding the impact of prolonged vacancies of academic staff in government schools. The Minister of State in the Ministry of Education addresses concerns about vacancies in Central Government Schools, specifically Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) and Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs). Vacancies are continuously filled according to KVS and NVS recruitment rules.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Scope of Vacancies:**
* Vacancies arise due to new KVs/NVs, retirements, resignations, promotions, transfers, and school upgrades.
* Efforts are ongoing to fill vacancies as a continuous process.
* **Interim Measures:**
* Vice Principals are deputed as In-charge Principals when Principal positions are vacant.
* Teachers are engaged on a contractual basis to maintain the teaching-learning process.
* **Recruitment and Standards:**
* Efforts are made to recruit regular teachers promptly.
* High academic standards and student performance in KVs and NVs are maintained.
* Reservation norms are strictly followed in recruitment and promotion.
* **Vacancy Statistics and Timelines:**
* As of November 2025, there are 8714 teaching vacancies including 161 Principal vacancies in KVS, and 5045 teaching vacancies including 93 Principal vacancies in NVS which have been notified for direct recruitment.
* The Tier-I examination was conducted in January 2026.
* In December 2025, KVS issued a notification to fill 2153 teaching vacancies, including 157 Principal vacancies, through Limited Departmental Examination/Limited Departmental Competitive Examination.
**Impact Analysis**
**Students**
* **Impact:** Minimising disruption to the teaching-learning process is prioritised. High standards and performance are maintained through temporary and permanent staffing solutions.
* **Action Required:** None explicitly stated for students.
**Teachers/Principals**
* **Impact:** Opportunities for temporary or permanent positions within KVs and NVs. Adherence to recruitment and promotion norms.
* **Action Required:** Potential applicants should monitor notifications for job openings and departmental exams.
**School Administration (KVS/NVS)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for managing vacancies and implementing interim solutions. Must adhere to recruitment rules and reservation norms.
* **Action Required:** Continue recruitment efforts, deploy interim measures like Vice Principals as In-charge Principals, and manage contractual teacher engagements.
**Ministry of Education**
* **Impact:** Oversees the management of teacher vacancies within KVs and NVs to ensure quality education.
* **Action Required:** Maintain oversight of the recruitment process and ensure adherence to timelines.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Education: The primary government body responsible for addressing the impact of teacher vacancies in government schools.
Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs): A system of Central Government Schools under the Department of School Education and Literacy.
Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs): A system of Central Government Schools under the Department of School Education and Literacy.
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS): Organization responsible for the recruitment rules and administration of Kendriya Vidyalayas.
Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS): Organization responsible for the recruitment rules and administration of Navodaya Vidyalayas.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1458
ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
Impact of Prolonged Vacancies of Academic
Staff in Government Schools
1458. Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth:
Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the adverse impact of prolonged teacher and
principal vacancies on student learning outcomes, attendance and overall academic
performance in Central Government schools in the country, if so, the details thereof
and the manner in which this crisis is being addressed indicating the timeline for filling
up the vacancies;
(b) the reasons for not conducting detailed audit of vacant teacher and principal posts in
all Central Government schools in the country and the absence of accountability
mechanisms for delayed appointments;
(c) whether it is a fact that minority or underrepresented groups continue to face systemic
delays in teacher promotions and principal appointments in Central institutions, if so,
the reasons therefor along with the urgent steps taken by the Government to ensure
fairness;
(d) the reasons for persistence judicial and administrative bottlenecks preventing timely
recruitment of teachers/principal and failure of the Government to implement
remedial/interim arrangement such as acting principals/senior teachers in central
schools in the country; and
(e) whether it is a fact that the Government has not adopted fast-track recruitment or other
innovative solutions including additional resources/administrative support to fill critical
teacher and headmaster positions despite repeated warnings that schools cannot
function effectively with such prolonged vacancies, if so, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (e) Central Government Schools namely Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) and
Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVs) are under the Department of School Education and
Literacy, Ministry of Education.
Vacancies keep on arising due to opening of new KVs and NVs, retirement,
resignation, promotion of employees, transfer, employees going on lien to another
department and up-gradation of schools. Filling up of vacancies is a continuousprocess and efforts are made to fill up the vacancies as per the provisions of the
relevant recruitment rules of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Navodaya
Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS).
In case of a vacancy of Principal in KV/NV, Vice Principal of the Vidyalaya is
deputed as In-charge Principal until the post is filled on a regular basis.
Teachers are also engaged on contractual basis for temporary duration by KVS
and NVS to ensure that the teaching-learning process is not hampered. Efforts are
made to recruit regular teachers at the earliest so that interest of students does not
suffer. The consistently high percentage results achieved by KVs and NVs over the
years clearly demonstrate that academic standards and students’ performance are
duly maintained and are not compromised.
The reservation norms as notified by the Government of India from time to time
are being scrupulously adhered to by KVS and NVS in matters of recruitment and
promotion.
As per information received from KVS and NVS, a total of 8714 teaching
vacancies including 161 vacancies of Principals in respect of KVS and 5045 teaching
vacancies including 93 vacancies of Principals in respect of NVS have been notified
in the month of November, 2025 for the direct recruitment. The Tier-I examination has
been conducted in January, 2026.
In addition to above, a notification has also been issued by KVS in the month
of December, 2025 for filling up of 2153 teaching vacancies including 157 vacancies
of Principals in KVS through Limited Departmental Examination/Limited Departmental
Competitive Examination.
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