New Delhi, February 11 More than 1,840 industry experts and professionals have been appointed as Professors of Practice (PoP) in 349 universities and colleges across the country, the Ministry of Education said on Wednesday.
The information was shared by Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar in response to a written question in Rajya Sabha.
"A total of 1,841 PoPs have been engaged across 349 higher education institutions (HEIs) as of January 5, 2026, as part of reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes skill-based learning and stronger industry-academia collaboration," the minister said.
"The position of Professor of Practice is a temporary position, distinct from sanctioned posts. It also provides an opportunity for individuals in leadership positions in various fields to serve as Professors of Practice on a honorary basis, in order to give back to society and contribute to nation building," he added.
The largest number of Professors of Practice have been hired by private universities (715), followed by deemed universities (699), state universities (212), and central universities (15). Another 200 such appointments were made at colleges, the data showed.
State-wise figures reveal that Tamil Nadu leads with 395 PoPs, followed by Maharashtra (193), Gujarat (179), Karnataka (170), and Uttar Pradesh (157). Smaller states and Union Territories have also adopted the model, although at a lower scale.
"The maximum duration of service for a Professor of Practice at a given institution should not exceed three years, and can be extended by one year in exceptional cases, with a total service limit of four years under any circumstances," the minister said.