Guest Teachers in India Want Full-Time Jobs and Better Pay

Guest teachers in India are asking for permanent jobs and fair pay. Many have taught for many years but have low pay and worry about their jobs. They want their work to be seen as equal to full-time teachers.
By Newsroom | Education, India |

Concerns Over Job Security and Compensation Amplify

Guest lecturers across various states in India are increasingly voicing their demands for the regularisation of their services. These educators, many of whom have served for over a decade, are highlighting concerns about their job security and inadequate compensation. The situation is particularly pronounced in government colleges and universities where a significant reliance on guest faculty exists, often due to a shortage of permanent professors. These demands are gaining momentum as guest lecturers argue that their contributions to shaping students' careers are on par with those of regular faculty, yet their professional and financial standing remains precarious.

Background and Timeline of Demands

The call for regularisation of guest lecturers is not a new phenomenon, with instances documented as far back as late 2023.

  • December 2023: Guest lecturers in Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka, were reported to be demanding regularisation of their services. This included over 600 guest lecturers in Government First Grade Colleges affiliated with Mangalore University, with individuals like Vinuta and Sheena G. having served for 16 and 13 years, respectively. (Article 4)

  • August 2024: In Punjab, the Guest Faculty Assistant Professors Association, represented by Dr. Ravinder Singh Mansa, called for the regularisation of services for those who have served over 20 years. Approximately 878 guest professors were noted to be working in 49 government colleges across the state. (Article 6)

  • November 2024: The Tripura NET-SLET-Ph.D Forum and the Tripura Guest Lecturer Sangh raised similar concerns in Tripura. They highlighted an acute shortage of permanent faculty, with only 388 permanent professors against a requirement of 2,100. This reliance on guest lecturers, however, was accompanied by remuneration that allegedly violates UGC norms. (Articles 3, 5)

  • July 2025: Reports from Karnataka indicated a broader call for regularisation, accompanied by concerns about the cost of new government initiatives. (Article 1)

  • Recent Weeks (Implied from "6 days ago"): Demands for regularisation continued to be reported in Mangaluru, Karnataka, with associations like the State Guest Teachers’ Welfare Association reiterating their plea. (Article 2)

Evidence of Grievances

Multiple sources detail the core issues faced by guest lecturers:

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  • Length of Service: Several guest lecturers have dedicated significant portions of their careers to teaching.

  • Vinuta (Karnataka) has served for over 16 years. (Articles 2, 4)

  • Sheena G. (Karnataka) has served for 13 years. (Articles 2, 4)

  • Guest faculty in Punjab have served for over 20 years. (Article 6)

  • Compensation Discrepancies: Remuneration is often significantly lower than recommended standards and inconsistent with the work performed.

  • In Tripura, guest lecturers receive Rs 500 per lecture, capped at Rs 20,000 per month. This contrasts with UGC norms of Rs 1,500 per lecture and a maximum of Rs 50,000 per month. (Article 3)

  • Faculty Shortages: Government institutions rely heavily on guest faculty due to a deficit in permanent positions.

  • Tripura has only 388 permanent professors against a requirement of 2,100. (Articles 3, 5)

  • Punjab has approximately 878 guest professors working in 49 government colleges. (Article 6)

  • Impact on Education Quality: The faculty shortage and the precarious situation of guest lecturers are cited as factors affecting academic performance.

  • In Tripura, over 15,000 students have reportedly failed in recent years, linked to the faculty crisis. (Article 3)

Arguments for Regularisation

Guest lecturers and their associations are presenting several points in favour of their demands.

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Contribution and Parity

Guest lecturers contend that their work directly contributes to student education and that they perform duties equivalent to permanent faculty.

  • Karnataka: Vinuta stated, "guest lecturers are working on par with regular lecturers in shaping the careers of students." (Articles 2, 4)

  • Punjab: Guest professors have taken on responsibilities managing colleges, often due to low pay attracting no other applicants. (Article 6)

UGC Norms and Financial Standards

There are explicit calls for adherence to University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines regarding lecturer remuneration and qualifications.

  • Tripura: The Tripura NET-SLET-Ph.D Forum pointed out that their pay structure is a "stark violation of UGC norms." They are demanding compliance with UGC standards for fair pay and job security. (Article 3)

Addressing Faculty Deficit

The regularisation of guest lecturers is presented as a practical solution to the significant gaps in permanent faculty.

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  • Tripura: The state's reliance on guest lecturers is a direct consequence of a "staggering deficit" in permanent faculty. (Article 5)

  • Punjab: Many of the 878 guest professors are nearing retirement, indicating an ongoing need for stable academic staffing. (Article 6)

Government Initiatives and Associated Costs

Recent government spending announcements, though not directly linked to guest lecturer regularisation, provide a backdrop of significant financial allocations.

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  • Karnataka: An estimated Rs 4,500 crore is allocated for various development projects, including road infrastructure (Rs 1,400 crore for non-patchable roads, Rs 600 crore for missing link roads) and drinking water facilities (Rs 2,300 crore). New solar parks are also planned, with an investment of Rs 2,950 crore. (Article 1)

Expert Perspectives and Association Statements

Official statements from associations and the underlying data highlight the systemic issues.

"The government should regularise our services.”— Dhiraj Kumar, President, Dakshina Kannada unit, State Guest Teachers’ Welfare Association. (Articles 2, 4)

"We have been serving as guest lecturers for over 16 years… on par with regular lecturers in shaping the careers of students."— Vinuta, Guest Lecturer. (Articles 2, 4)

"Their remuneration of Rs 500 per lecture… is a stark violation of UGC norms, which stipulate Rs 1.5 thousand per lecture with a maximum of Rs 50,000 monthly."— Tripura NET-SLET-Ph.D Forum. (Article 3)

"Guest faculty assistant professors who have been serving in state government colleges for over 20 years… need immediate regularisation and implementation of new pay scales."— Dr. Ravinder Singh Mansa, State President, Guest Faculty Assistant Professors Association, Punjab. (Article 6)

Conclusion and Implications

The consistent and widespread demands from guest lecturers across Karnataka, Tripura, and Punjab underscore a significant issue within India's higher education system. The core grievances revolve around a lack of job security, inadequate compensation that deviates from established UGC guidelines, and the direct impact of these conditions on educational quality due to chronic faculty shortages.

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The lengthy service periods of many guest lecturers, often exceeding a decade, suggest a reliance that has become endemic rather than a temporary measure. Associations representing these educators are calling for immediate action, framing regularisation not just as a matter of fairness to the lecturers but as a necessary step to improve the standard of higher education.

The financial figures associated with other government projects in Karnataka, while unrelated in direct purpose, indicate the scale of public funds being allocated, raising questions about resource prioritization. The sustained appeals from multiple states suggest a need for a national-level consideration of policy reforms to address the status and compensation of guest faculty, ensuring both professional dignity for educators and academic integrity for students.

Sources

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What do guest lecturers want?
They want to become full-time teachers and get paid fairly for their work.
Q: Why do they want this?
Many have taught for over 10 years with low pay and no job security.
Q: Is this happening in only one place?
No, guest lecturers in states like Karnataka, Tripura, and Punjab are asking for this.
Q: How much are they paid?
In Tripura, they get Rs 500 per class, which is less than what the UGC suggests.