Utkal University Guest Faculty Recruitment 2026 – Apply for 14 Assistant Professor Posts

Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar, has issued an advertisement for temporary engagement of Guest Faculty in the rank of Assistant Professor, to fill up vacancies against sanctioned posts permitted vide Higher Education Department (HED) Letter No. 4477/HE, dated 1 February 2024. Applications are invited from eligible candidates in the Departments of AIHCA, Botany, Commerce, University Law College, LLM, Library & Information Science, Psychology, and Zoology.

This engagement is meant specifically for retired Assistant Professors/Guest Faculties of the rank of Assistant Professor, and the notice, numbered Estt.I/1291(P)/R-590/2026 and dated 8 August 2026, requires applications in the prescribed format to reach the Office of the Registrar only by Speed Post or Registered Post – no other mode of submission is accepted.

Overview of Utkal University Guest Faculty Recruitment 2026

Department-wise Vacancy Details

Psychology has the highest number of vacancies at 4, while most other departments have 1 to 2 posts each.

Category of Faculty to be Engaged

The vacancy of Assistant Professor will be filled up strictly by engagement of retired Assistant Professors/Guest Faculties who hold the rank of Assistant Professor. This is not open to fresh candidates or those without prior Assistant Professor-level teaching experience.

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Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification: As per UGC Guidelines, 2018, applicable to the post of Assistant Professor in the concerned discipline.

Tenure of Engagement

• The tenure of engagement under this arrangement shall be for a maximum period of 1 year at a time, or till the vacancy is filled in a regular manner, whichever is earlier.
• Continuation of engagement shall be subject to satisfactory performance during a quarterly review.
• This arrangement is purely temporary in nature, and there shall be no regular/contractual/ad-hoc appointment against it under any circumstance or in any manner.
• Engaged retired faculties may continue with teaching till they attain 70 years of age, subject to periodical review of satisfactory performance.

Honorarium

If fewer than the prescribed number of classes are undertaken by retired faculties, the honorarium is paid proportionately, or the shortfall is adjusted against the workload of the immediate next month. No other allowances or financial benefits are permitted in favour of retired teachers/guest faculties. Payment of all statutory taxes, including income tax, will be the sole responsibility of the Guest Faculty/retired Professor/Associate Professor. All statutory deductions, including Tax Deduction at Source (TDS), will be deducted by the University against payable remuneration as per prevailing laws.

Leave Entitlement

Candidates engaged against the post of Professor/Associate Professor/Assistant Professor will be allowed to avail 10 days of leave in a year.

Duties and Responsibilities of Engaged Faculties

• Academic work such as teaching courses, conducting examinations and research guidance. They are entitled to guide research projects of UG and PG students; for research projects or guiding Ph.D. scholars, they may be eligible to become Co-guides depending on their qualification and experience.
• Conducting research and/or taking up sponsored research projects as per the rules and regulations of the funding agency.
• Launching continuing education programmes in new and emerging areas.
• Organising/attending national/international conferences, seminars and symposia with due permission.
• Undertaking timetabling-related and examination-related activities, as assigned.

How to Apply

1. Download the Application Form (Annexure-I) from the University website, https://www.utkaluniversity.ac.in.
2. Fill in the form completely – personal details, father’s name, marital status, date of birth, category (SC/ST/SEBC/UR), PwBD status, correspondence and permanent address, language proficiency, and other required particulars.
3. Attach relevant documents as specified in the prescribed format, along with a passport-size photograph.
4. Superscribe the envelope mentioning the post applied for.
5. Send the completed application by Speed Post or Registered Post only, to reach the Office of the Registrar, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar-751004, on or before 21 August 2026, 5:00 PM.

Applications submitted by hand, courier, e-mail, or any mode other than Speed Post/Registered Post will not be accepted. Candidates are advised to visit the University website for the vacancy position, application form, and further updates; any Addendum/Corrigendum, if issued, shall be published only on the University website.

Important Instructions

• This engagement is meant exclusively for retired Assistant Professors/Guest Faculties of the rank of Assistant Professor – it is not open to fresh, never-employed candidates.
• The arrangement is purely temporary and does not, under any circumstance, translate into a regular, contractual or ad-hoc appointment.
• Candidates should ensure their application reaches the Registrar’s office within the deadline; postal delays are not the University’s responsibility.
• Applications must strictly be sent by Speed Post/Registered Post; any other mode of submission will be summarily rejected.

Why This Vacancy Is Reserved for Retired Faculty

Unlike many Guest Faculty notices issued by colleges, which are often open to any candidate holding the requisite postgraduate qualification, this particular Utkal University advertisement is structured around re-engaging faculty members who have already served as Assistant Professor and subsequently retired. This approach lets the University draw on teachers who already have full command of the syllabus, examination processes and research supervision responsibilities of the department concerned, without going through a fresh selection and induction process. It also explains why the honorarium structure is built around a per-class rate rather than a fixed consolidated salary – since retired faculty are not full-time employees of the University, their monthly earnings depend directly on the number of classes they are assigned and actually deliver, up to the prescribed ceiling of 60 classes a month.

About Utkal University

Utkal University, established in 1943, is one of the oldest and largest universities in Odisha, with its main campus at Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar. It offers postgraduate teaching and research across a wide range of disciplines, including the humanities, sciences, commerce and law. This Guest Faculty engagement drive, drawing on the experience of retired Assistant Professors, is intended to fill teaching gaps in departments such as Psychology, Zoology, Commerce and Law until these posts can be filled through regular recruitment.

Publicity of the Advertisement

The University has also directed that this advertisement be published in two widely circulated Odia daily newspapers – a step taken to ensure that eligible retired faculty members across the state, who may not regularly check the University website, are made aware of the vacancies in time to apply before the 21 August 2026 deadline. Any addendum or corrigendum to this notice, however, will be published only on the official University website, so applicants are still advised to keep checking https://www.utkaluniversity.ac.in for the latest updates once they have applied.

Important Links

• Notification PDF
• Official Website
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• Join WhatsApp Channel
• Join Telegram Channel

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Utkal University Guest Faculty Recruitment 2026?

It is a temporary engagement of retired Assistant Professors/Guest Faculties, in the rank of Assistant Professor, across 8 departments of Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, for a total of 14 posts.

2. Who is eligible to apply for this Guest Faculty engagement?

Only retired Assistant Professors/Guest Faculties of the rank of Assistant Professor, meeting UGC Guidelines 2018 qualifications, are eligible – it is not open to candidates without prior Assistant Professor experience.

3. What is the last date to apply?

The completed application must reach the Office of the Registrar, Utkal University, by 21 August 2026, 5:00 PM, by Speed Post or Registered Post only.

4. What is the honorarium for this engagement?

Up to Rs.60,000 per month (Rs.1,000/class, max 60 classes) for retired faculty with a Ph.D. engaged for PG courses, and up to Rs.45,000 per month (Rs.750/class, max 60 classes) for those without a Ph.D., engaged for PG/UG courses.

5. What is the tenure of this Guest Faculty engagement?

A maximum of 1 year at a time, or till the vacancy is filled through regular recruitment, whichever is earlier, subject to satisfactory performance in quarterly reviews.

6. Up to what age can a retired faculty be engaged as Guest Faculty?

Engaged retired faculties may continue teaching till they attain 70 years of age, subject to periodical review of satisfactory performance.

7. Is this a regular or permanent appointment?

No. This arrangement is purely temporary and does not translate into a regular, contractual or ad-hoc appointment under any circumstance.

8. Can I submit my application by email or hand delivery?

No. Applications must reach the Registrar’s Office only by Speed Post or Registered Post; other modes will not be accepted.

9. How many leave days are the engaged faculty entitled to?

10 days of leave in a year.

10. Which departments have the most vacancies?

Psychology has the highest number of vacancies with 4 posts, followed by A.I.H.C.A., Commerce and Zoology with 2 posts each.