Australia's most decorated living soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, has been granted bail over alleged war crimes. The Victoria Cross recipient and former corporal in Australia's Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment was taken into custody last week, charged with five counts of the war crime of murder
Raw mangoes are far more than just the base for preserved pickles or delicious drinks; they shine equally in savoury dishes. These fruits add a bright and zesty punch to dishes that lift everyday curries and gravies. When used in a savoury curry
Watch: US Central Command releases footage of navy redirecting ship amid Hormuz blockade as Iran war stalemate persistsIt said US forces are actively enforcing blockade targeting Iran's ports and coastline, involving more than 10,000 personnel, besides naval vessels and aircraft Updated on: Apr 17
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has assured cinema owners that the company will maintain a minimum release slate of 30 films a year if regulators approve its proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery. Skydance CEO promised movie theater owners on Thursday that the company will
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday (April 16, 2026) announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon effective from midnight. “I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel
India's government has launched a once-in-a-generation attempt to redraw the country's political map, saying it is driven by a push to reserve a third of seats for women in parliament and state assemblies. The government unveiled the proposed constitutional amendment - requiring a two-thirds
In a shocking incident from the Tamil film industry, a video from Rajinikanth’s upcoming movie Jailer 2 has been leaked online ahead of its release. While the clip is being circulated on social media platforms, the makers have issued a statement urging everyone not to use, share or repost it
As news of the ceasefire spread through Israel's northern communities, sirens blared three times this evening warning of incoming rockets from Lebanon. In the sky above the northern city of Nahariya, Israel's air defence interceptors shot up to block them, triggering loud explosions
With 65% teaching posts vacant, Madras University students fear academic setbacks
With 65% teaching posts vacant, Madras University students face academic setbacks Premium
Krishnamoorthy (name changed) is a first-year master's student in the Humanities and Social Sciences at one of the country's oldest and most prestigious institutions, the University of Madras. He and about half a dozen of his friends are worried about their fate tied to university examinations scheduled for mid-December. As 65% of sanctioned teaching posts remain vacant in the university, students express concerns about the part of syllabus left untaught, leaving them unprepared and unsure.
Mr. Krishnamoorthy recalls how he had been full of enthusiasm when he joined the programme. Along with seven core subjects, he had eagerly chosen two electives. He expected classrooms bringing diverse perspectives, in-depth discussions, and the kind of academic life that alumni, including former Presidents, Nobel laureates, and renowned academicians and scientists, had often described.
But to his surprise, the classes that were originally scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., often ran only from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and even within that shortened schedule, one or two classes would sometimes be cancelled at the last minute. He points out that this inconsistency stems from his department having only two full-time Assistant Professors, one of whom is also the Head in-charge of Department—and that professor is set to retire later this year. Besides them, the department depends on two guest lecturers, who end up covering most of the syllabus. The Head in-charge is occupied with administrative work for much of the day and handles only one subject, while the other Assistant Professor teaches at least two subjects.
In addition to the core subjects, Mr. Krishnamoorthy has two electives, which are taught by Teaching-cum-Research Fellows—Ph.D. scholars. A master's programme typically consists of core courses, elective courses, soft-skill courses, an internship, and a dissertation. While students may choose electives from other departments based on their interests, the faculty shortage here has resulted in these courses frequently being taught by research fellows instead of regular teaching staff.
The concerns raised by Mr. Krishnamoorthy and his classmates echo those of students in many other departments as well. According to a Right to Information response obtained by advocate K. Arun Kumar in April this year and accessed by The Hindu, of the university's 71 departments and 22 centres, sixteen departments have only one faculty member, while twenty have just two. The sanctioned strength stands at 94 Professors, 127 Associate Professors, and 294 Assistant Professors — a total of 515 posts. However, only 63 Professors, 20 Associate Professors, and 97 Assistant Professors are currently in position, which means barely 180 posts are filled, leaving more than 65% of the sanctioned posts vacant.
While students complain about academic challenges such as the lack of multiple perspectives, limited in-depth discussions, and incomplete coverage of the syllabus, the faculty say they are aware of these issues but point out that the burden of work has become overwhelming.
In one of the oldest and legacy-rich departments in the country, a professor, Kalam (name changed), recalls joining the University of Madras in 2004. According to him, the approved strength for the department was seven faculty members: one Professor, two Associate Professors, and four Assistant Professors. But, at that time, his department had five professors, including himself, to teach around 40 students enrolled in the master's programme across the first and second years. He says that over the years, their five-member faculty has dwindled to just one. “The only recruitment we had was around 2014, and that colleague retired last academic year. I too will be retiring in the next couple of years.”
“Even today, despite all the challenges, the student strength remains roughly the same,” he added. But he points out that the sharp decline in faculty has had a serious impact on research admissions. Under University Grant Norms (UGC) norms, an Assistant Professor can guide up to four Ph.D. candidates, an Associate Professor can guide six, and a Professor can guide eight at any given time. “Back then, when we had a good faculty strength, we had a healthy number of Ph.D. scholars coming from our department,” he says, “But now, with only me left in the department, there are just four scholars — which is also the total Ph.D. strength of the discipline today from our department.”
He explains that the department is getting by with the help of guest faculty and adds that the university has recruited four people. However, he points out that the role of guest lecturers is limited. Since he is the only full time Assistant Professor and also the Head in-charge of the department, he must handle administrative work, mentor students through their internships and dissertations, conduct seminars, and teach two subjects for each class. “At times, I even have to take classes for the first and second-year students together,” he notes.
Apart from students in his own department, around 70 students from other departments also choose his discipline as an elective. He adds that, besides all this, he is also expected to write and publish research work, guide Ph.D. scholars, and complete personal, government, or sponsored projects as agreed upon.
A guest lecturer from one of the university's departments, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, shares that they are paid around ₹30,000, while teaching-cum-research assistants receive a little over ₹15,000. He points out that the university continues to rely on them at such low wages, even as full-time recruitment remains stalled.
A university professor, who is also a member of the teachers' association, shares that the crisis stems from two sides. Half of the problem, he says, is the absence of a Vice-Chancellor. The University of Madras has had no Vice-Chancellor since mid-2023, and the matter is currently before the Supreme Court, where the State government and the Governor are contesting their respective powers to appoint Vice-Chancellors in State-run universities.
The other half of the crisis, he notes, is the failure to conduct regular recruitment year after year, which has allowed vacancies to steadily accumulate. According to an earlier report in The Hindu, the University of Madras had even been unable to print or distribute mark statements and provisional certificates to students graduating from its affiliated colleges because it lacked the funds to purchase stationery and get them printed. He adds that the university's ongoing financial distress further complicates the process of filling these vacant posts now.
Along with this, the Tamil Nadu Federation of University Faculty Associations has submitted a representation to the State government, requesting that the retirement age for faculty members in Government Universities be raised from 60 to 65 years. This has already been implemented in five other States, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh. Such a move, he argues, could temporarily help not only the University of Madras but also several other State-run public universities in Tamil Nadu grappling with similar issues of large vacancies and impending retirements.
A mail has been sent to the University of Madras registrar seeking a response, and we are yet to receive a response.
(This is written by Bhaskar Basava, an independent journalist based in Hyderabad, covering politics, human rights, and environmental issues, primarily from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He is now expanding his work to include education across all States.)
(Sign up for THEdge, The Hindu's weekly education newsletter.)
Published - December 01, 2025 07:00 pm IST
university / Chennai
Source: The Hindu
Related Posts: Rishab Shetty Reveals He Changed His Name As Per Astrology 120 Bahadur's Name Not To Be Changed New Name Of MGNREGA Sounds Like A Bollywood Film Name Odisha to prepare master plan to prevent loss of human lives due to landslides How to create a personal learning road map and master new professional skills Logitech MX Master 4 wireless mouse review RBI issues 244 consolidated Master Directions MBA= Master Of Bluff Administration China’s Master Teacher model vs Logitech MX Master 4 launched in India with haptic feedback
Assam HS result 2026 will not be announced today, April 17, Cabinet Minister for Higher and School Education Ranoj Pegu has confirmed. Despite several social media posts claiming that the Class 12 Assam results would be declared today, the minister has dismissed the circulating online news as a
2 hours ago
A Democrat-backed measure to constrain US President Donald Trump's ability to wage war with Iran has once again failed in the House of Representatives, just a day after a similar resolution was blocked in the Senate. The House war powers resolution, which failed in a tight vote of 213-214
2 hours ago
Wipro’s promoter group plans to participate in the company’s Rs 15,000-crore share buyback announced on April 16, CFO Aparna Iyer said. The IT major on Thursday said its board has approved its largest-ever buyback via the tender route, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of
2 hours ago
Union Home Minister Amit Shah stood up to make a crucial point in the Lok Sabha on Thursday—one that the government clearly believes could blunt a growing political attack. His assurance was simple: when the House expands to 850 members, every state will get about 50% more seats
2 hours ago
From actor to TN DCM: the rise of Udhayanidhi Stalin as a third-generation political leader in the DMK | 5 factsUdhayanidhi Stalin, a third-generation leader of the DMK, has transitioned from film to politics with remarkable speed. Here are 5 key facts you need to know. Published on: Apr 17
2 hours ago
Last August, U.S. Navy officials carrying out a test of unmanned vessels realised they had hit a single point of failure: Starlink. A global outage across Elon Musk’s satellite network affecting millions of Starlink users had left two dozen unmanned surface vessels bobbing off the
2 hours ago
Gold prices fall amid US war on Iran, 24K at ₹1.53 lakh; check latest rates in your cityOver the past week, 24-carat gold has eased by 0.41%, while it is down 5.74% over the past month. Updated on: Apr 17, 2026 10:57 AM IST By hindustantimes.com Share via Copy link Gold prices declined on Friday
2 hours ago
World Hemophilia Day is a globally recognised event observed every year on April 17 to raise awareness about hemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders. The day was initiated in 1989 by the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) to celebrate the birthday of its founder, Frank Schnabel
2 hours ago
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, while addressing a gathering, said, "Their (BJP) plan is to bring in the NIA, detonate the bomb, and then blame it on someone else. They'll bring in some people from outside, accuse you, and arrest the boys tomorrow. It's just a matter of a few days. Be patient
2 hours ago
New Delhi: The government is likely to roll out production-linked incentives to boost mobile phone exports from the country by May with an outlay of over USD 5 billion, about Rs 46,000 crore, sources aware of the development said. The Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing (LSEM) was
2 hours ago
A single dad in Tennessee started filming himself cooking meals for his two young kids. But somewhere along the way, something much bigger happened. His videos have become a space where people show up, open up, and feel a little less alone. As reported on Today.com, Blake
2 hours ago
In Berlin, a wall comes downThe appointment of Marie-Louise Eta is a significant shift in a sport not very amenable to change Published on: Apr 17, 2026 8:00 AM IST By Dhiman Sarkar Share via Copy link “Every women who has decided to play soccer
2 hours ago
BDS student death: Extortion case booked against loan appBDS student death: Extortion case booked against loan app Published on: Apr 17, 2026 11:14 AM IST PTI Share via Copy link Kannur , A case of extortion was booked against an online loan app on Friday for allegedly mentally harassing and
2 hours ago
Babil Khan shares memory of Irrfan caring for wife Sutapa during cancer battle: ‘Used to tie his phone to his head’Babil Khan honours his late father, Irrfan Khan, by sharing intimate memories and photographs that reveal the family's resilience during tough times. Apr 17, 2026
2 hours ago
At the age of 13, Ashwin Srisailam had already chosen a spiritual path that would carry him from a monastery in Andhra Pradesh to the private lives of pop icon Michael Jackson and Rick Allen, the legendary one-armed drummer of Def Leppard. Now 46
2 hours ago
Tamannaah Bhatia comforts emotional fan who breaks down in tears during meet. WatchTamannaah Bhatia, recognizing a fan's emotional distress during a public appearance, requested paparazzi to dim lights to help her regain composure. Apr 17, 2026
2 hours ago
BPSC 71st Mains Admit Card 2026 releasing today at bpsc.bihar.gov.in, here's how to downloadBPSC 71st Mains Admit Card 2026 has been released. Candidates to download the hall ticket given here. Published on: Apr 17, 2026 11:14 AM IST By HT Education Desk | Edited by Papri Chanda Share via Copy link
2 hours ago
Petrol, diesel prices on 17 April: Petrol and diesel prices at state-run outlets remain largely unchanged on Thursday, 17 April, in India’s domestic market. However, aviation fuel and commercial gas prices continue to reflect earlier volatility caused by the disruption in energy supply chain due
2 hours ago
Congress leader Karti Chidambaram criticizes the government's proposed Delimitation Bill. He likens it to an insurance sales pitch where assurances differ from the fine print. Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed concerns about the bill potentially harming Southern states' representation
2 hours ago
The Commission for Air Quality Management on Thursday imposed Stage I measures under the Graded Response Action Plan in the National Capital Region after air quality slipped into the “poor” category. GRAP is a set of incremental anti-pollution measures that are triggered to prevent further
2 hours ago
Four collision avoidance manoeuvres (CAM) were performed for Geo-synchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites, while 14 CAMs, including one for the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), were performed for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. New Delhi: More than 1
2 hours ago
Gilbert Arenas bizarre Kim Kardashian analogy on Doc Rivers' Bucks exit goes viralThe Milwaukee Bucks' firing of Doc Rivers has sparked debate, particularly through Gilbert Arenas' podcast. Updated on: Apr 17, 2026 8:32 AM IST Edited by HT US Desk Share via Copy link Firing of Doc Rivers by the
2 hours ago
‘Zero connection with Jeffrey’: Trump denies Epstein link claims about Melania, calls it fake newsOn his differences with Pope, Trump insisted there was no personal conflict, even as he disagreed with the Pope’s stance on Iran. Published on: Apr 17
2 hours ago
More AI, less UI: Canva’s Cliff Obrecht underlines a result oriented pivotObrecht is describing what is not simply a refreshed feature set, but a structural shift in how Canva sees relevance Published on: Apr 16, 2026 6:37 PM IST By Vishal Mathur Share via Copy link Amidst a flurry of
2 hours ago
What does it take for a chef to make it to the world’s most influential list, and still have people waiting endlessly for a table? For Vikas Khanna, it is not just about what’s plated, it is about what’s shared. Named among the Time 100 Most Influential People of 2026
2 hours ago
Former Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president N. Ramachandran passed away here on Thursday. He was 77 and is survived by his wife and two children. Ramachandran, who had a long and distinguished career as a sports administrator, headed the IOA from 2014 to 2017 after previously serving as
2 hours ago
CBSE has instructed schools to exercise strict caution, as errors in LOC submission may lead to disqualification or subject mismatch during the examination process. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has declared the Class 10 results 2026 on April 15
2 hours ago
