Maharashtra to recruit 5500 Assistant Professors by 2026, announces minister Chandrakant Patil

Maharashtra to recruit 5500 Assistant Professors by 2026, announces minister Chandrakant Patil

The Maharashtra government has announced a massive faculty recruitment drive. The state's Higher and Technical Education Minister, Chandrakant Patil, declared on Saturday that the process to recruit 5,500 assistant professors for senior colleges across Maharashtra will be completed before March 2026.

The announcement, made during the 28th convocation of Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University in Nanded, signals a major push to address faculty shortages and enhance the quality of education in state-run institutions.

Minister Patil provided a detailed breakdown of the government's plan, offering hope to thousands of aspiring academics awaiting job opportunities. He confirmed that the initiative will see 5,500 vacancies for assistant professors filled in senior colleges. Additionally, the government has also approved 2,900 non-teaching posts to support the academic ecosystem. Patil confirmed that the necessary financial and administrative clearances are in place, stating that both the Finance and Planning departments have given their consent, indicating that the proposal has moved beyond the planning stage. The minister set a firm deadline, assuring that all appointments will be finalized before the end of the 2025-26 financial year. A formal Government Resolution (GR) is expected to be issued shortly to outline the detailed procedure, eligibility criteria, and application process.

Minister Patil also addressed previous delays in recruitment for university positions, a concern for many in the academic community. He revealed that a sanction to recruit 700 assistant professors specifically for universities had been stalled. The delay was attributed to a suggestion for a different method of recruitment put forward by the then Governor of Maharashtra, C. P. Radhakrishnan. As the Chancellor of state universities, the Governor's approval is crucial for such processes. With Radhakrishnan’s appointment as the Vice President of India, the state government now plans to re-initiate the discussion with the new Governor, Acharya Devvrat, to expedite the university recruitments.

The recruitment drive is not an isolated event but part of a larger strategy to elevate the stature of Maharashtra's higher education on the global stage. Minister Patil emphasized the need to strengthen universities to attract international students. He cited a successful pilot initiative this year where a single agency was appointed to handle international enrollments. The effort brought 4,000 students from 65 countries to Maharashtra, though he noted a concentration in major hubs like Pune and Mumbai. The new faculty appointments are expected to improve educational quality and research output, making institutions across the state more attractive to a global audience.

Addressing the convocation gathering, Minister Patil lauded the potential of the youth to transform society. He connected the dots between education, government initiatives, and ethical entrepreneurship. "The Maharashtra government has opened doors of opportunities through initiatives like Startup India, Make in India, and Digital India," Patil said. "You have the power to experiment, to innovate, and to carve out new paths. But remember, entrepreneurship and career should always be rooted in values and social responsibility."

Candidates are advised to monitor the official websites of the Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Department and the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) or respective university boards for the official GR and subsequent advertisements.