Beyond the mainland: a comparative study of teacher recruitment practices in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep

Abstract

Teacher recruitment is problematic in remote and geographically dispersed communities and can be beyond the scope of the "regular" policy. Contextualised administrative and policy arrangements are needed in remote areas, dispersed settlements, recruiting and retaining quality candidates and motivating teachers. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (A&N) and Lakshadweep have been compared in a structured manner based on data gathered from the NCERT national research project on the Recruitment Practices and Deployment of Teachers across the country, UDISE+ database, the rules of recruitment in the Union Territories, administrative circulars, and the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020). The study points out that while both Union Territories are based on common standards amongst the country, such as CTET qualification requirement and pay scales of Central Government, the structures of recruitment are varied and different. Membership of the A&N is largely based on merit, and the Transfer and Online Posting System (TOPS), a new online system, increases transparency in the deployment process. As compared to Lakshadweep, it out sourced the recruitment to Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) till 2024, and thereafter it formed its own Lakshadweep Staff Selection Board (LSSB) which by early 2026 has not conducted even a single examination. The main differences between the two territories are the severity of vacancies, transparency of the transfer system (digital versus manual) and integration of the community. There are major structural deficiencies in both UTs, such as a lack of separate hardship allowance for teachers, a reactive attitude towards workforce planning, and a lack of sufficient steps to regularize contract teachers. The article ends with a comparison of practices and policy suggestions to enhance the management of teachers in India in remote areas, including islands in particular.