Odisha's New Law Aims to Transform Higher Education Hiring Practices

New Legislation for Teaching Positions in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Public Universities (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Act, 2026, has officially been enacted as of Monday, following the approval from Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati.

This new law is set to streamline the recruitment process for vacant teaching roles within state public universities, according to Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.

The legislation was passed after thorough discussions in the Assembly that extended late into the night on March 31.

Minister Suraj expressed appreciation to the Governor, labeling the Act as a pivotal step towards ensuring fair representation for Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) in higher education. He emphasized that this reform will significantly enhance the state's educational framework.

The Act marks a substantial change in the reservation policy by treating each university as a distinct entity for faculty recruitment, moving away from the previous department-specific reservation approach.

Under this new system, reservations will be applied to the direct hiring of faculty members, including Professors, Associate Professors, and Assistant Professors, ensuring fair representation of reserved categories across all universities.

Additionally, the minister noted that several long-standing vacancies for vice-chancellor positions have been filled recently, with appointments made in 14 universities.

Suraj highlighted that local academicians have been appointed to these leadership roles, which is anticipated to bolster the academic environment in the state. He expressed optimism that the newly appointed vice-chancellors will prioritize quality and research-driven higher education.