Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Odisha Governor Sets November Deadline for University Faculty Hiring
Odisha’s Governor met with leaders of the state’s universities.
He asked them to start hiring teachers by early November and finish by the end of the month.
He said universities should choose teachers based on merit and quality.
He suggested interviewing every eligible applicant instead of ruling many out early.
He also encouraged universities to seek green-building certification and use solar power.
The Governor said vice-chancellors should have the same length of term at all state public universities.
Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj supported the suggestions.
A senior official presented information about the progress of faculty hiring.
Governor and university Chancellor Hari Babu Kambhampati directed vice-chancellors to begin recruitment for vacant teaching posts by the first week of November and finish by month-end.
Kambhampati said merit and quality must guide faculty appointments and suggested interviewing all eligible applicants rather than extensive initial shortlisting.
He urged universities to pursue green certification and adopt solar power, including through the Renewable Energy Service Company model.
The Governor also proposed a common tenure for vice-chancellors across State public universities, where terms currently vary between three and four years.
Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj endorsed the suggestions, while Commissioner-cum-Secretary Aravind Agrawal presented recruitment-status details.
- Who
- Odisha Governor and university Chancellor Hari Babu Kambhampati, vice-chancellors of State universities, and Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.
- What
- The Governor directed universities to begin hiring for vacant teaching posts by the first week of November and complete recruitment by the end of the month.
- When
- Saturday; the recruitment process is to begin by the first week of November and finish by the end of November. The article does not specify a year.
- Where
- At a meeting with vice-chancellors at Lok Bhavan in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
- Why
- The Governor described filling vacant teaching posts as the next major challenge after vice-chancellors had been appointed and called for clear recruitment timelines.
Interviewing all eligible applicants
Extensive initial shortlisting
How to select faculty candidates
Interviewing all eligible applicants
Kambhampati suggested calling all eligible applicants for interviews to avoid candidates feeling excluded and to give panels a wider pool.
Extensive initial shortlisting
The article describes extensive shortlisting and initial scrutiny as the alternative process, but does not provide a stated defense of it or identify who supports it.
- Recruitment start target
- By the first week of November
- Recruitment completion target
- By the end of November
- Universities with newly appointed vice-chancellors
- Vice-chancellors of 14 universities were appointed on a single day, the Governor said.
- Faculty selection
- The Governor said merit and quality should be priorities and suggested interviewing all eligible applicants.
- Vice-chancellor terms
- Terms at some universities are three years and at others four years; the Governor suggested a common tenure.
- Green initiatives
- Universities were urged to pursue green certification and adopt solar power, including through the RESCO model.
- Meeting presentation
- Commissioner-cum-Secretary Aravind Agrawal presented the status of teaching faculty recruitment in State public universities.