IIM Indore Faces Heat Over Zero SC/ST/PwD Faculty Appointments Despite 41 Vacancies, RTI Reveals

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore has been criticised heavily after the All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA) pointed out no faculty from the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) categories at all, even though a lot of the sanctioned posts are still vacant. The data reveals that only 109 faculty members out of 150 positions are presently filled, thus 41 posts are still vacant. Even more worrying is the fact that none of the existing faculty members belong to the SC, ST, or PwD communities, thus giving rise to the issue of reservation norms at one of the top management colleges in India.

RTI Data Highlights Skewed Representation

The RTI reply also indicated that, out of the regular 106 faculty members at IIM Indore, there are two assistant professors from the OBC category, and one faculty member from the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). There are no members from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and PwD categories.

Reacting to the data, AIOBCSA President Kiran Kumar Gowd described the situation as “deeply alarming,” stating that such skewed representation undermines the constitutional mandate of social justice and inclusivity in publicly funded institutions.

‘A Systemic Pattern Across IIMs’

AIOBCSA has also pointed out that the issue is not isolated to IIM Indore. The organisation cited similar concerns at IIM Tiruchirappalli, where more than 83 per cent of reserved faculty positions remain vacant, while posts in the general category are reportedly fully occupied.

The student body said it has been filing RTI applications across IIMs since 2018, repeatedly highlighting what it calls a systemic failure to recruit faculty from reserved categories.

Recruitment Notification Draws Mixed Response

IIM Indore has issued a call for applications for faculty positions in the reserved categories. These positions cover areas like Marketing, Economics, Operations Management, Finance, OB/HRM, and Humanities. The applications must be submitted by February 28, 2026.

Nevertheless, the skeptics point out that the institution running multiple recruitment drives without any visible results is a sign of lack of accountability on the part of the institution. Students and groups advocating for social justice have petitioned the Ministry of Education and the IIM Council to supervise the faculty recruitment processes strictly and to ensure that the reserved posts are filled within a stipulated period.

As issues of equity, representation, and access in higher education become more heated, the incident at IIM Indore has thrown the spotlight back on the lack of diversity in the top management institutions of India. The situation is exposing some rather uncomfortable truths about who gets the privilege of teaching, leading, and shaping the next generation of managers.