Nearly one in four of India’s premier centrally run higher education institutions is currently operating without a regular vice-chancellor or director, with 37 of 155 Institutions of National Importance (INIs) relying on interim, acting, in-charge or additional-charge arrangements, or extensions.
The leadership gaps are not always the result of sudden vacancies. In several institutions, the process to appoint a successor began months or even years before the incumbent’s tenure ended, yet a new regular head was not appointed in time.
The analysis covered all 48 Central Universities (CUs), 23 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), 31 National Institutes of Technology (NITs), 25 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), 21 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and 7 Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) under the Union education ministry.
Vice-chancellors and directors serve as the highest academic and administrative authorities at these institutions, overseeing academic programmes, faculty recruitment, finances, infrastructure and long-term planning. Experts said prolonged interim arrangements could push institutions into a “standby mode”, slowing major decisions and weakening accountability and strategic planning.
The status of an Institution of National Importance is conferred by Parliament through an Act, giving these institutions a special statutory identity because of their national significance.
Central Universities and IIITs face the biggest gaps
The situation is most acute among Central Universities and IIITs. Of the 48 Central Universities, 20—or 41.7%—are either functioning with interim or in-charge heads or have VCs continuing on extensions. Eleven of these do not have a functioning regular VC, while nine have VCs continuing through extensions or other arrangements.
Among the 25 IIITs, 10, or 40%, do not have full-time regular directors.
Leadership gaps also exist at three of the 21 IIMs, three of the 31 NITs and one of the seven IISERs. The IIT system is comparatively stable, with all 23 IITs currently having regular directors.
Successors not appointed despite early recruitment process
At IIT Patna, director Prof T. N. Singh, who took charge on September 10, 2021, completed his five-year tenure on September 9, 2026. The institute had advertised the post on November 20, 2025—nearly 10 months before his tenure ended. Yet, no successor had been announced as of September 9.
Singh is “likely to get an extension till the appointment of a new director or one year,” a person familiar with the development said.
Similar situations have emerged in Central Universities. At the Central University of Andhra Pradesh, Prof C. Sheela Reddy was appointed interim VC on August 19 after the extended tenure of Prof S.A. Kori ended. The post had been advertised in May 2025.
At North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, Prof Saroj Kanta Barik took charge as VC-in-charge on July 27, a day after regular VC Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla completed his five-year tenure. The post had been advertised in May 2026.
At the University of Hyderabad, Prof J. Anuradha assumed charge as VC-in-charge on March 12 after Prof B.J. Rao demitted office. The post was advertised in February 2026.
Interim arrangements stretch beyond a year
Some institutions have remained under interim leadership for prolonged periods. Dr Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya in Sagar has one of the longest-running arrangements, with Prof Yashwant Singh Thakur serving as acting/in-charge VC since July 2025. He took over after regular VC Prof Neelima Gupta left on attaining the age of 70.
The university has therefore operated under an interim head for more than a year, despite the post having been advertised in May 2025.
In other cases, extensions have prevented a formal vacancy altogether. The VCs of the Central University of South Bihar and Central University of Karnataka were granted one-year extensions on July 6, shortly before their tenures expired. Similar extensions were granted at Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Central University of Haryana and Central University of Himachal Pradesh between July 20 and 22.
Dual-charge system raises concerns
IIITs are particularly dependent on additional-charge arrangements. Directors of institutions including IIT Kharagpur, IIT Hyderabad, MNIT Jaipur, NIT Calicut and VNIT Nagpur are simultaneously holding additional responsibilities elsewhere.
“Leading or managing one institution is hard enough; leading two is just probably impossible. You will end up not doing justice to one of them,” said IIIT-Delhi founding director and Emeritus Professor Pankaj Jalote.
“Dual charge will be compromising,” he said, adding that the institution receiving the additional-charge head was likely to get less attention.
Three IIMs—Bangalore, Raipur and Tiruchirappalli—are also currently headed by directors-in-charge.
At IIM Bangalore, Prof U. Dinesh Kumar took charge after Prof Rishikesha T. Krishnan’s tenure ended in July 2025. At IIM Raipur, Prof Sanjeev Prashar is serving as in-charge director following the resignation of Prof Ram Kumar Kakani. At IIM Tiruchirappalli, Prof Godwin Tennyson took charge after Prof Pawan Kumar Singh’s tenure ended.
The IISER system remains relatively stable, with IISER Bhopal the only institution without a regular director. Its previous director completed the tenure in June 2026, after which an additional-charge arrangement was put in place. Applications for the regular post were invited between July 24 and August 23.
Experts warn of impact on long-term decisions
A former IIT director, speaking on condition of anonymity, said prolonged interim leadership could push institutions into a “standby mode”, affecting faculty recruitment, the launch of new academic programmes, infrastructure projects, international collaborations and long-term financial commitments.
“The process has to become predictable, professional and time bound,” the former director said, arguing that the search for a successor should begin at least six months before an incumbent’s tenure ends.
A former Central University VC said files concerning VC and director appointments are “approved by the PMO” before being notified by the education ministry, contributing to delays.
A former higher education ministry official explained that once a post is advertised, the ministry constitutes a search-cum-selection panel, scrutinises applications and forwards eligible candidates to the panel.
“Later, the panel recommends three names, after which the minister selects one and sends it to the Visitor for appointment,” the former official said on condition of anonymity.
The President of India serves as the Visitor of these Institutions of National Importance.
