University of Mysore faces staff shortage, resource crunch as NIRF ranking slides
Mysuru: The University of Mysore (UoM) which is one of India's oldest higher education institutions, has suffered a significant decline in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF 2025).
According to a report published by The Hindu, the university is facing the challenges of faculty shortage, decreased revenues and dropping student enrollment.
The university was ranked 71st in the country this year, slipping 20 places from its 2024 position of 51. Vice-Chancellor N K Lokanath attributed the decline primarily to a severe lack of permanent faculty. Of the nearly 400 sanctioned teaching posts, only 23 per cent are filled by full-time staff, while almost three-fourths remain vacant. “There have been no recruitments in nearly two decades,” he said, warning that the strength of permanent faculty may reduce further to 15 per cent in the next four years due to retirements.
Officials pointed out that staffing levels directly influence NIRF scores, as faculty numbers, research, and publications carry significant weightage. “Temporary teachers are unable to lead research teams or contribute extensively to academic publications, which impacts rankings,” Lokanath said.
The university’s financial position has also weakened. Once responsible for colleges across Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, and Hassan districts, UoM now oversees only Mysuru, as the State government’s policy of creating universities in every district has reduced both its student base and affiliation fee revenues. Enrolment in traditional arts and humanities courses has also fallen, with students shifting to skill-oriented and applied science programmes.
Despite the setback, UoM retained the 20th position among State-run public universities nationwide. However, officials and academics stressed that urgent intervention by the Karnataka government is needed to restore its standing. “Recruitment of permanent staff must be prioritized to strengthen research, improve quality of education and arrest further decline,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
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Tarique Rahman sworn in as new Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Dhaka (PTI): Tarique Rahman was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday, days after leading his party to a forceful victory in the crucial general elections.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to 60-year-old Rahman at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad instead of Bangabhaban, in a departure from a long-standing tradition.
Earlier in the day, Rahman was elected as leader of the parliamentary party by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party lawmakers.
Rahman's BNP has bagged 209 out of 297 seats, while right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 seats in the 13th Parliamentary elections. Deposed premier Sheikh Hasina's Awami League was barred from contesting polls.
