AIIMS Faculty Vacancies Hit 4-Year High in 2025-26, Vacancy Rate at 40.2%

Faculty vacancies at the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have reached a four-year high in the academic year 2025-26, with 2,561 vacant posts—the highest since 2022-23. The government revealed this alarming figure in Parliament, highlighting a vacancy rate of 40.2%, which mirrors the rate recorded in 2023-24.

The data was shared by Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State for Health, in a written response to a query raised by Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Javed Ali Khan regarding faculty shortages and operational status across 23 AIIMS institutes.

AIIMS Faculty Vacancies: A Four-Year Overview

Despite efforts to improve recruitment, 2025-26 marks the highest number of vacancies in the last four years, reflecting persistent challenges in hiring and retaining faculty across the AIIMS network.

Which AIIMS Institutes Are Most Affected?

Six AIIMS institutions saw their highest faculty shortages in 2025-26:

• AIIMS Delhi – 462 vacancies (35.4%)

• AIIMS Jodhpur – 186 vacancies

• AIIMS Rishikesh – 147 vacancies

• AIIMS Mangalagiri – 158 vacancies (51.1%)

• AIIMS Bhubaneswar – 103 vacancies

• AIIMS Gorakhpur – 98 vacancies

Institutes with Over 50% Faculty Vacancies in 2025-26:

• AIIMS Awantipora (J&K) – 100% (All 94 posts vacant)

• AIIMS Madurai (Tamil Nadu) – 73.2%

• AIIMS Rajkot (Gujarat) – 58.5%

• AIIMS Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh) – 51.1%

14 AIIMS institutes reported over 30% faculty vacancies, including the prestigious AIIMS Delhi, raising serious concerns about the impact on medical education and healthcare delivery.

Status of New and Upcoming AIIMS Institutes

Out of 23 AIIMS:

• 19 are fully functional

• AIIMS Madurai is partially operational

• AIIMS Awantipora (J&K), Darbhanga (Bihar), and Rewari (Haryana) are under construction

Only AIIMS Awantipora received sanctioned faculty posts (94) in 2023-24, but none have been filled. AIIMS Darbhanga and Rewari have no sanctioned faculty posts yet, despite ongoing construction.

Government Measures to Address the Shortage

Health Minister Prataprao Jadhav emphasized that recruitment is a continuous process, and the government has taken several steps to expedite hiring:

• Standing Selection Committees at each AIIMS to fast-track recruitment

• Retired faculty from government medical colleges and Institutes of National Importance can be hired on contract up to the age of 70

• A Visiting Faculty Scheme allows senior Indian and international faculty to teach at newer AIIMS campuses

Despite these measures, vacancy rates remain alarmingly high.

Why Are Faculty Positions Hard to Fill?

According to Dr. Ajai Singh, former Executive Director of AIIMS Bhopal, the high vacancy rate is linked to the migration of medical professionals to the private sector.

“Doctors prefer corporate hospitals due to significantly higher salaries and better career opportunities. Government medical institutions need to offer competitive incentives to retain talent,” he said.

The shortage of experienced faculty directly impacts the quality of medical education, especially hands-on clinical training essential for future doctors.

Conclusion: Urgent Need for Policy Reforms

The growing faculty shortage across AIIMS poses a serious challenge to India’s healthcare and medical education systems. While the government has initiated efforts to recruit more faculty, experts believe improving pay scales, offering career growth, and ensuring better working conditions in public hospitals are essential to attract and retain top medical talent.

If left unaddressed, the faculty crisis at AIIMS could hinder India’s mission to provide world-class medical education and universal healthcare access.