Lok Sabha Question No. 76 (STARRED), answered on 2022-02-07
Subject: Vacant Posts in Museums
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Su Thirunavukkarasar, Gaddam Ranjith Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *76

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2022

## VACANT POSTS IN MUSEUMS

## * 76.  SHRI  THIRUNAVUKKARASAR SU: DR. G. RANJITH REDDY:

## Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  sanctioned  strength/actual  strength/vacancy  position  in  respect  of  different posts  in  various  museums  across  the  country  including  Salarjung  Museum  in Hyderabad and the time since when these posts are lying vacant; (b) whether  the  vacant  positions  have  resulted  in  damage  and  warranted  further maintenance and upkeep of museums in the country, State/UT-wise; (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  fill  the  vacant  posts  in all the museums; (d) if so, the details thereof and the time by which all the vacant posts are likely to be filled up and if not, the reasons therefor; (e) whether the Ministry intentionally keeps vacancies for more than five  years  to  abolish  such  vacancies  once  the  period  of  five  years  is  over and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and the number of vacancies for different posts in various museums abolished during
- (f) the last five years?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) to (f):  A Statement is laid on the table of the House

## STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. * 76 FOR REPLY ON 07.02.2022

- (a)  to  (e)  Total  sanctioned  strength  of  the  eight  museums  under  Ministry  of  Culture (Salar  Jung  Museum,  Allahabad  Museum,  National  Museum,  Indian  Museum, Victoria Memorial Hall Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art, National Council of  Science  Museums  and  Indira  Gandhi  Rashtriya  Manav  Sanghrahalaya)  is 1675,  of  which  1309  (i.e.  78.15%)  are  currently  filled  up.  The  sanctioned strength, actual strength and vacancy position in respect of various museums in the country, is placed at Annexure 1.

Filling up of posts is a continuous process and steps are taken to ensure that the vacancies are filled in time through issuing advertisements, sending requisitions to  UPSC/SSC,  revision  of  Recruitment  Rules  wherever  required,  holding  DPC and selections etc.

The vacancies have not adversely affected the functioning of the museums or resulted in any damage. It may be noted that most of the museums have taken steps to upgrade their infrastructure such as re-curating galleries; digitizing their collections through Jatan software and Google Arts; improved illumination; use of AR/VR technologies; setting up offsite museums, among other improvements.

- (f) Vacancies  in  the  museums  have  accrued  on  account  of  natural  attrition, voluntary  resignations,  promotion  to  higher  grade,  non  eligibility  of  eligible candidates  in  feeder  grades  etc.  A  total  of  431  vacancies  have  been  deemed abolished in the museums. However, it is pointed out that steps have also been taken  to  revive  these  posts  with  approval  of  Ministry  of  Finance  wherever necessary. For instance, 27 posts of National Museum have been revived and process is underway for revival of 4 posts of NGMA.

## ANNEXURE 1

## Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 76 for 07.02.2022

Sanctioned  strength,  actual  strength  and  vacancy  position  in  respect  of  various museums in the country:

| Sl No.   | Name of the Museum                        |   Sanctioned strength |   Actual |   Vacancy |
|----------|-------------------------------------------|-----------------------|----------|-----------|
| 1.       | Salar Jung Museum                         |                   120 |       87 |        33 |
| 2.       | Allahabad Museum                          |                    69 |       38 |        31 |
| 3.       | National Museum                           |                   202 |      114 |        88 |
| 4.       | Indian Museum                             |                    97 |       77 |        20 |
| 5.       | Victoria Memorial Hall                    |                   145 |       71 |        74 |
| 6.       | National Gallery of Modern Art            |                    77 |       68 |         9 |
| 7.       | National Council of Science Museums       |                   892 |      804 |        88 |
| 8.       | Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sanghralaya |                    73 |       50 |        23 |
| TOTAL    | TOTAL                                     |                  1675 |     1309 |       366 |