IIMs lag in implementing faculty reservation rosters, nearly a year on

The Indian Institutes of Management have yet to finalize their faculty reservation rosters, nearly twelve months after the central government issued its directive on the matter. The ministry initially broached the subject during a meeting on September 23, 2025, when it instructed all IIMs to prepare comprehensive rosters detailing their compliance with reservation policies and to submit these documents for review.

The slow pace of implementation underscores the complex administrative and operational hurdles IIMs face in aligning their faculty recruitment and appointment processes with government-mandated reservation requirements. While the institutes acknowledged the directive, completing the rosters has proven a lengthy process, requiring detailed audits of existing faculty compositions and mapping out future hiring practices.

Government officials have expressed concern over the extended timeline, emphasizing the need for expedited action to ensure equitable representation in faculty positions across these institutions. The IIMs, meanwhile, have cited the intricate nature of the exercise and coordination requirements among multiple campuses as factors contributing to the delay.

The unresolved roster issue continues to draw scrutiny from both the ministry and advocacy groups monitoring reservation implementation in higher education. Officials are expected to follow up with IIMs to accelerate the completion process and ensure compliance with the original directive.