Fadnavis Greenlights Massive Recruitment in Public Univs, 100% Hiring in Govt-Aided Engineering Colleges
The move is expected to significantly boost the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) and enhance the overall quality of higher education in the state.
Chairing a high-level review meeting at the state legislature on Monday, Fadnavis directed that all sanctioned faculty and staff positions in non-agricultural public universities be filled immediately. He also approved the recruitment of 5,012 assistant professors in unaided grant-in-aid colleges under the directorate of higher education.
Additionally, he sanctioned 788 teaching and 2,242 non-teaching posts across public universities. The newly established Laxminarayan Innovation Technological University (LITU) has been allotted 105 faculty positions and one equivalent teaching post. An allocation of ₹8 crore has also been approved for the university's administrative and daily operations, on par with other universities.
"The recruitment process will directly impact the quality of higher education and must be expedited without delay," Fadnavis emphasized.
He also announced full-scale recruitment in all government-aided engineering colleges, including VJTI Mumbai and Guru Gobindsingh Engineering College, Nanded.
A revised staffing plan for 603 posts at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University (BATU) was also approved. "The number of technological universities in Maharashtra is low, and we must run them at full capacity to offer more opportunities and improve standards," Fadnavis said.
In a boost to public libraries, the CM approved a 40% hike in library grants and instructed that the proposal be sent to the finance department without delay. Libraries completing 50, 75, or 100 years of service will now be eligible for special incentive grants. Fadnavis also directed the officials to consider recognizing new libraries in place of the 1,706 whose approvals were recently withdrawn.
He further proposed the establishment of a dedicated Department of Science and Technology in Maharashtra.
"With increasing technological integration across sectors, we need to study working models in other states and draft a framework for setting up such a department here," he said.
The review meeting was attended by higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil, additional chief secretaries Venugopal Reddy (Higher education), OP Gupta (Finance), Rajgopal Deora (Planning), Saurabh (unnamed department), LITU vice-chancellor Dr Atul Vaidya, higher education director Shailendra Deolankar, and technical education director Vinod Mohitkar, among others.
Major Higher Education Reforms Cleared by CM Devendra Fadnavis:
# Teaching & Non-Teaching Recruitment:
- 5,012 assistant professor posts approved in unaided grant-in-aid colleges
- 788 teaching and 2,242 non-teaching vacancies sanctioned in public universities
- Full-scale recruitment approved in all govt-aided engineering colleges
- 603 revised posts sanctioned at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University
- 105 faculty and 1 equivalent teaching post sanctioned at LITU
- ₹8 crore operational grant allocated to LITU
# Focus on NEP & Technical Education:
- Recruitment drive aimed at expediting National Education Policy implementation
- Push to strengthen technical institutions like VJTI Mumbai and GCOE Nanded
- Emphasis on running technological universities at full capacity
# Public Library Boost:
- 40% hike in public library grants approved
- Special incentive grants for libraries completing 50, 75, or 100 years
- Proposal to recognise new libraries in place of 1,706 recently de-recognised ones
# New Department Proposal:
- Suggestion to create a dedicated Department of Science and Technology
- Framework to be drafted after studying similar models in other states
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