Over 2,500 posts lie vacant across India’s key science bodies DBT, DST, and CSIR
New Delhi: India’s premier scientific institutions—the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Department of Science & Technology (DST), and the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)—are grappling with a significant shortfall in staffing.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh revealed that more than 2,500 posts remain unfilled across these departments, including a large number of scientist and research positions.
A total of 2,539 vacancies span director-level roles, scientist positions, and student/research posts.
According to the data, the Department of Science & Technology has one vacant post at the director level, 187 unfilled scientist positions, and 41 student or researcher roles. Of these, 16 scientist vacancies are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC), nine for Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 33 for Other Backward Classes (OBC).
The Department of Biotechnology reported six vacant director posts and 114 unfilled positions for scientists, with 12 reserved for SC candidates, six for STs, and 20 for OBCs. Additionally, there are 51 open student and researcher roles, including eight SC, four ST, and 14 OBC-designated positions.
The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, which operates a vast network of national laboratories across India, shows the most striking gap. It currently has two vacant posts at the director level and a staggering 2,238 unfilled scientist positions. Within this figure, 278 posts are earmarked for Scheduled Castes, 136 for Scheduled Tribes, and 468 for candidates from Other Backward Classes. CSIR, notably, has no sanctioned posts listed for students or researchers, suggesting a potential bottleneck in developing future scientific talent.
Over the past five years, the respective departments have made some progress in hiring under-reserved categories. The DST has recruited 16 SC and 8 ST scientists, while DBT has brought in 22 SC and 5 ST scientists during the same period. CSIR, being the largest among the three, has hired 69 scientists from the SC category and 36 from the ST category over the last five years.
Despite the large number of unfilled posts, Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that the recruitment process is ongoing and follows all mandated government reservation norms. He further clarified that promotions under the Modified Flexible Complementing Scheme (MFCS) have not been delayed or denied to SC/ST scientists, addressing concerns about equal advancement opportunities within the system.
The minister also noted that recruitment and promotion within these institutions is a continuous and procedural activity. Positions are filled based on vacancy notifications, eligibility criteria, and established processes. He assured the House that the government remains committed to equitable hiring practices and strengthening the human resource capacity of its scientific departments.
As India accelerates its push toward becoming a global leader in innovation, technology, and research, filling these scientific vacancies, particularly those reserved for historically underrepresented groups, will be critical.
The strength of any research ecosystem lies not only in infrastructure and funding but also in inclusive participation and diverse talent pipelines. Ensuring timely appointments and promoting equity within government science bodies will play a pivotal role in shaping the country’s research and innovation landscape in the years to come.
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