New Delhi: Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are facing faculty shortage as 212 teachers have taken early retirement and around 35% of teaching posts are vacant presently.

Minister of State for Human Resource Development D. Purandeswari said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha on Friday, "Approximately 35 percent of the teaching posts are presently vacant in 15 IITs. A total of 212 faculty members have taken early retirement during the last decade."

No record of such members offering their services abroad was available, he added.

The minister said that the IITs have been taking various steps to attract outstanding candidates for faculty positions.

The IITs can appoint Non Resident Indian (NRIs) and persons of Indian origin to permanent faculty positions. However, the foreign nationals are appointed on contract basis for a fixed tenure not exceeding five years. IANS