Maharashtra notifies new faculty recruitment rules; interview weightage cut to 25%

In a major relief to state universities reeling under an acute staff shortage, the Maharashtra government has notified new rules for appointing faculty and officials, bringing a more transparent and standardised selection process.

Nearly 10 months after the then Governor CP Radhakarishnan stopped long-pending recruitment at Maharashtra's universities and affiliated colleges, the Maharashtra higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil today approved the revised recruitment rules of teachers in public universities in the state.

As recommended by the Governor’s office, the state government has now reduced the weightage for interview performance from 40% to 25%. Teachers’ groups had also pressed for reducing the weightage to 20% for interview to minimise the possibility of corruption and favouritism in appointments.

Maha universities' staff shortage affect NIRF ranking

The state universities are currently reeling under an acute shortage of teaching staff, which has also affected their performance in the recent National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings. The state imposed a hiring freeze in 2012 due to financial constraints. Despite the embargo being lifted later, only a fraction of the vacant posts were filled in the past decade.

The revised rules and approval from the state education minister are expected to restart the recruitment process for several posts including assistant professors, associate professor, dean, and university officials.

In July 2025, the Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis approved filling up 100% posts at engineering government-aided institutions. He had also approved filling 788 teaching posts and 2,242 non-teaching posts. A total of 5,012 vacant assistant professor posts in non-government aided colleges under the Directorate of Higher Education were also given approval.

Maharashtra: Revised rules for faculty recruitment

The Maharashtra government has allocated 75% weightage for academic, teaching, and research (ATR), and 25% for interview for preparing merit list.

Candidates’ academic record, teaching experience, research output, publications, and innovation will be assessed. The remaining 25% — down from 40% – will be based on interview performance.

Candidates scoring above 50 in ATR will qualify for the interview round, as per the revised rules. “Universities will decide the ratio of candidates per vacant post to be called for interviews across cadres,” it said.

The final results of the entire selection process will be announced within a minimum of week after the cadre-wise interview process conclude.

Also read Mumbai University PG departments crumble under staff crunch, enrollment and research take a hit

Assistant professor: Selection criteria

For assistant professors, 55 of the 75 ATR marks will be awarded for academic records — based on the type and ranking of the awarding institution.

Graduates from Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs) or foreign universities ranked within the top 200 in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, or the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) will receive full marks.

Degrees from institutions with National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rank within the top 100 or foreign universities ranked between 200–500 in QS, THE or ARWU rankings will get 90% of the maximum.

Degrees from other state or central universities will get 80%, and those from University Grants Commission (UGC)-approved institutions will be awarded 60% of the total.

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Maharashtra university official recruitment rules

Maharashtra university officials recruitment rules have also been revised. For these posts, a uniform 100 marks will be allocated, out of which 50 marks will be based on educational qualification.

Posts such as registrar; director, board of examination and evaluation; finance and accounts officer; director of sub-campus; director of innovation - incubation and linkages; and director of lifelong learning and extension will be filled.

“The selection process for the posts of dean, director, knowledge resource centre, and director, sports and physical education shall be as per the process and corresponding GR for the selection of Professor,” it said.

Also read Maharashtra to recruit 5,500 assistant professors by March 2026, says minister Chandrakant Patil

25% weightage for interview

Candidates’ performance in the interview round will carry 25% weightage in the overall selection process.

The first two parameters will be evaluated based on the presentation made by the candidate at the time of interview. The average score awarded by all selection committee members will be used to finalise the interview scores.

The selection committee has also been instructed to keep the video recording of the interview proceeding sealed with the signatures of the members present. “Such record shall be treated as confidential and shall be made available only if required by the court of law,” it said.

Correction: The original version said there was a two-year gap. This has now been corrected and the error is regretted.