This is the first major recruitment announcement since 2022, when initial steps were taken but later halted following the Governor's directive (File)In a major faculty recruitment in higher education in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has approved the recruitment of 788 teaching and 2,242 non-teaching posts in non-agricultural public universities across the state. Additionally, the state government has sanctioned the recruitment of 5,012 assistant professors in grant-in-aid colleges under the Directorate of Higher Education.The decision was announced after a high-level review meeting chaired by CM Fadnavis at Vidhan Bhavan, focusing on key issues under the Department of Higher and Technical Education. This is the first major recruitment announcement since 2022, when initial steps were taken but later halted following the Governor’s directive.The approval paves the way for restarting the recruitment process for government-sanctioned posts in public universities and in aided colleges that had been stalled since last year following a stay imposed by the then Governor.In late 2024, the Governor’s office had suggested exploring the possibility of conducting faculty recruitment through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) or establishing an independent recruitment board. However, this proposal was later rejected by the University Grants Commission (UGC). But the ongoing confusion caused lack of clarity leading to delay in the hiring process and faculty recruitment remained on hold.“With today’s decision, it is now clear that faculty recruitment will proceed as per UGC regulations,” an official from the state’s Higher Education Department stated. “The filling of long-pending vacancies will significantly enhance the quality of higher education, in line with the implementation of the National Education Policy,” added the official.Further, the government has also placed strong emphasis on strengthening technical education. The Chief Minister approved 105 teaching posts and one teacher-equivalent post at the Laxminarayan Institute of Technology (LIT) in Nagpur. A revised staffing structure for 603 posts at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University has been cleared. Whereas 100 percent recruitment has also been approved at premier institutions such as VJTI Mumbai and Shri Guru Gobind Singh Engineering College, Nanded.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis