Archive · 29 Sep 2026
RTI Finds No ST Professors at IIT Bombay Amid Vacancies
An RTI request asked IIT Bombay about the social backgrounds of its teachers.
The response said none of its 412 professors were from the Scheduled Tribe category.
It listed five professors from the Scheduled Caste category and six from the Other Backward Classes.
Some SC, ST and OBC faculty members were present among associate and assistant professors.
The institute also had 450 empty teaching positions.
This meant many approved teaching jobs were not filled.
The RTI data raised concerns about representation of disadvantaged communities among senior teachers.
The institute did not explain why the teaching posts were vacant.
None of IIT Bombay’s 412 professors belonged to the Scheduled Tribe category as of September 10.
The professor ranks included five Scheduled Caste and six Other Backward Classes faculty members.
IIT Bombay reported 450 vacant teaching posts out of a sanctioned strength of 1,225.
In 2024, the institute selected two SC, one ST and three OBC candidates, according to RTI data.
The response did not provide category-wise figures for sanctioned or vacant posts, and did not explain the vacancies.
- Who
- IIT Bombay faculty members, Gowd Kiran Kumar, and applicants seeking information through RTI requests.
- What
- An RTI response disclosed faculty representation by social category, recruitment figures and 450 vacant teaching posts.
- When
- The faculty figures were reported as of September 10; recruitment data covered 2023 and 2024. The article states that the vacancies were recorded on September 10, 2026.
- Where
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay in Mumbai.
- Why
- The information was sought to examine faculty representation and teaching-post vacancies, prompting concerns about progress for marginalized communities.
- Professors surveyed
- 412
- ST professors
- 0
- Sanctioned teaching strength
- 1,225
- Vacant teaching posts
- 450
- 2024 ST selections
- 1 candidate from 22 applicants
- 2024 OBC selections
- 3 candidates from 106 applicants
- 2023 selections
- 4 SC candidates from about 523 applicants; no ST or OBC candidate was selected