New Delhi: Around 35 percent of teaching posts are lying vacant in 15 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) with 212 faculty members taking early retirement in the last decade, the Rajya Sabha was informed Friday.

"Approximately 35 percent of the teaching posts are presently vacant in 15 IITs... a total of 212 faculty members have taken early retirement during the last decade," Minister of State for Human Resource Development D. Purandeswari said in a written reply.

"No record of such members offering their services abroad was available," he added.

The minister said the IITs have been taking various steps to attract outstanding candidates for faculty positions.

"The IITs can appoint Non Resident Indian (NRIs) and persons of Indian origin to permanent faculty positions. However, the foreign nationals are appointed on contract basis for a fixed tenure not exceeding five years."