Lok Sabha Question No. 5674 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-04
Subject: Vacancies in Department of Health Research
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Anand Bhadauria

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RESEARCH

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5674 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 th APRIL, 2025

## VACANCIES IN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RESEARCH

## 5674. SHRI ANAND BHADAURIA:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there are large number of vacancies of Scientists in Department of Health Research as on date;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether Scientists in various grades are being appointed on contractual basis since last five years which is affecting the continuity of health research;
- (d) if so, the details of the number of contractual appointments of scientists made during the last five years and the current year, year and grade-wise; and
- (e) the reason for stopping of regular appointment of scientists?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

- (a) and (b): The Department of Health Research (DHR) including its autonomous body Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have a total of 901 sanctioned posts of scientists, out of which 143 posts are vacant at present. This vacancy position has been classified grade-wise as follows:

| Name/Level of the post   |   Sanctioned strength |   Incumbency position |   Vacancy position |
|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|--------------------|
| Scientist H &Equivalent  |                    03 |                    01 |                 02 |
| Director &Scientist G    |                    30 |                    21 |                 09 |
| Scientist F              |                    05 |                    00 |                 05 |
| Scientist E              |                    84 |                    74 |                 10 |
| Scientist D              |                    92 |                    80 |                 12 |
| Scientist C              |                   235 |                   209 |                 26 |
| Scientist B              |                   452 |                   373 |                 79 |
| Total                    |                   901 |                   758 |                143 |

(c) and (d): The appointment of regular scientists in DHR is done on deputation basis and is a continuous process. In ICMR, regular positions of scientists are filled through direct recruitment, deputation (including short term contract) or absorption. There is a continuous process of advertising, assessment and recruitment in place to fill vacancies arising due to retirements, resignations etc. Scientists are currently not appointed on contractual basis against the above regular posts.

The contractual Scientists are engaged in Project Monitoring Units for a fixed tenure. Additionally in ICMR, Project staff is also engaged on contractual basis for research projects, which are of specified duration. This requirement of project staff is in addition to the regular strength. The details of contractual engagement of scientists made during the last five years is given in Annexure A.

(e): Does not arise, in view of reply of point (c) above.

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## Year and grade wise details of strength of Contractual scientists engaged in the various programs and schemes of Department of Health Research (secretariat) (strength as on 31 st March of each year)

|                                                  | 31.03.2021                                                        | 31.03.2022                                                           | 31.03.2023                                                                                         | 31.03.2024                                                                               | 31.03.2025                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Total Strength                                   | 08                                                                | 07                                                                   | 16                                                                                                 | 11                                                                                       | 22                                                                                              |
| Grade/ designation of the contractual scientists | i. Scientist D-01 ii. Scientist C-06 iii. HealthPolicy Analyst-01 | i. Scientist D- 01 ii. Scientist C- 05 iii. Health Policy Analyst-01 | ScientistD- 02 Scientist C- 11 Scientist B- 01 Health Policy Analyst-01 Junior Health Economist-01 | i. Scientist D- 02 ii. Scientist C- 07 iii. Scientist B- 01 iv. Health Policy Analyst-01 | i. Scientist-D- 01 ii. Scientist-C- 14 iii. Scientist-B-01 iv. Project Research Scientist II-06 |

## Year and grade wise details of strength of Contractual scientists engaged in the various programs and schemes of ICMR (strength as on 31 st March of each year)

|                                                  | 31.03.2021                                                                                                                 | 31.03.2022                                                                                                                 | 31.03.2023                                                                                                                 | 31.03.2024                                                                                                                | 31.03.2025                                                                                                                  |
|--------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Total Strength                                   | 168                                                                                                                        | 167                                                                                                                        | 183                                                                                                                        | 184                                                                                                                       | 313                                                                                                                         |
| Grade/ designation of the contractual scientists | i)Project Research Scientist I-14 ii)Project Research Scientist II-13 iii)Project Research Scientist III-00 iv)Others -141 | i)Project Research Scientist I-14 ii)Project Research Scientist II-12 iii)Project Research Scientist III-00 iv)Others -141 | i)Project Research Scientist I-28 ii)Project Research Scientist II-14 iii)Project Research Scientist III-02 iv)Others -139 | i)Project Research Scientist I-55 ii)Project Research Scientist II-35 iii)Project Research Scientist III-02 iv)Others -92 | i)Project Research Scientist I -173 ii)Project Research Scientist II-62 iii)Project Research Scientist III-03 iv)Others -75 |

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