New Delhi: More than half of the sanctioned posts at the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) are vacant, while nearly 44% of approved positions at the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) remain unfilled. The shortage has been flagged by the Committee on Estimates of the 18th Lok Sabha, which has called for urgent steps to fill vacant positions in the two key school education bodies.

The findings are part of the committee’s tenth report for 2026-27, titled ‘Budget and Policy Aspects for Providing Affordable and Quality Education in the Country including Review of Central Board of Secondary Education’. The report was presented in the Lok Sabha on August 12, 2026.

NCERT Faces Shortage of More Than 1,500 Staff

The parliamentary committee highlighted NCERT’s significant staff shortage and noted the organisation’s important role in shaping school education policies and implementing reforms, including those linked to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

According to the report, as of October 2025, NCERT had 2,844 sanctioned posts across its various branches. However, only 1,248 posts were filled, leaving 1,596 positions vacant.

The vacancies comprised:

• 145 academic posts

• 131 school teaching posts

• 916 ministerial posts

• 404 ancillary posts

The committee said the large number of vacancies at NCERT requires urgent attention from the Ministry of Education, considering the organisation’s role in rethinking and reshaping education at the national level.

It recommended that the Ministry make sincere efforts to fill the vacant positions, particularly given the importance of education to the country’s overall development.

CBSE Operations Expand as Staff Shortage Grows

The committee also raised concerns about the shortage of permanent staff at CBSE, particularly as the board’s operations and affiliated school network have expanded significantly.

According to the report, the number of schools affiliated with CBSE increased from 3,787 in 1992-93 to 31,234 in 2024-25, as of October 8, 2025. To manage its expanding operations, CBSE has established 25 regional offices and five sub-regional offices.

The number of students enrolled in Classes 10 and 12 has also increased substantially. By 2025, the number of Class 12 students had risen to more than 1.70 million, while Class 10 had more than 2.38 million students 

933 CBSE Posts Remain Vacant

Amid this expansion, the Committee on Estimates identified what it described as a major shortage of permanent staff at CBSE.

Of the board’s 2,117 approved positions, 933 were vacant, accounting for approximately 44% of the total sanctioned strength.

The largest shortage was reported among Group C support staff, with 595 vacant positions. The committee also noted that CBSE is relying on temporary and contractual employees to handle several day-to-day responsibilities.

The panel warned that the shortage of permanent employees could affect the safety, quality and smooth conduct of major national-level board examinations.

Panel Calls for Fast-Track Recruitment

The committee strongly recommended that CBSE reduce its dependence on temporary and contractual workers, particularly for sensitive examination-related responsibilities.

It called for all vacant positions to be filled through fast-track recruitment within a fixed timeline. According to the panel, strengthening the permanent workforce is essential to ensure that CBSE can effectively manage its growing responsibilities and examination operations.

NCERT Continues Work Under NEP 2020

The Ministry of Education informed the committee that NCERT has developed the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCFFS) and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE).

The Ministry is also working on the development of syllabi and textbooks based on these frameworks, in alignment with the objectives of NEP 2020.

The committee’s recommendations put the focus on filling long-pending vacancies at both institutions, particularly as NCERT and CBSE continue to handle key responsibilities related to curriculum development, school education and national-level examinations.