ESTABLISHING A CENTRALIZED RECRUITMENT COMMISSION FOR ACADEMIC STAFF IN INDIA: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CURRENT PRACTICES AND THE NEED FOR STANDARDIZATION – International Journal of Social Sciences and Management Review

ESTABLISHING A CENTRALIZED RECRUITMENT COMMISSION FOR ACADEMIC STAFF IN INDIA: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CURRENT PRACTICES AND THE NEED FOR STANDARDIZATION

Authors: Dr. Nabee Khan & Dr. Venudhar Routiya

ABSTRACT

The recruitment of academic staff in India’s higher education sector currently lacks a centralized, standardized approach, leading to significant inconsistencies, transparency issues, and potential biases in the hiring process. While the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and State Public Service Commissions (SPSCs) provide a structured and merit-based recruitment model for civil and administrative officers, no such unified mechanism exists for academic staff in Central and State universities and colleges. This research paper explores the shortcomings of the current decentralized recruitment practices, including the subjective nature of direct interviews and the varying interpretations of University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, which contribute to disparities in the quality of academic personnel.

Utilizing a mixed-method approach, the study combines quantitative data from surveys of 500 respondents (250 males and 250 females) and qualitative insights from in-depth interviews with stakeholders such as university officials and policy experts. The findings reveal significant challenges, including a lack of transparency, susceptibility to favouritism, and inconsistent recruitment standards across institutions. These issues highlight the urgent need for a centralized academic recruitment commission to ensure uniformity, meritocracy, and fairness in the hiring processes.

The paper advocates for the establishment of a centralized recruitment body, modeled after the UPSC and SPSCs, to enhance the integrity and quality of academic hiring. Such a system could standardize recruitment criteria, reduce biases, and promote transparency, thereby aligning India’s higher education sector with global best practices and ensuring a high standard of education across all institutions..

Keywords: Centralized Recruitment, Academic Staff, Transparency, Bias in Hiring, Standardization.

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