Rajasthan Approves 225 Pharmacist Posts, Plans CSR Services Instead of Regular Recruitment

The news

Rajasthan's Medical Education Department has approved 225 permanent pharmacist posts at pay level L-10 for government medical college hospitals but is preparing to fill them through corporate social responsibility (CSR) instead of regular recruitment. The administrative and financial approval was issued on 2 September 2026, with a revised letter on 5 November 2026, covering hospitals in 30 districts for the financial year 2026-27. The decision has raised questions about employment opportunities for job aspirants and accountability in daily medicine distribution.

Jaipur received the largest allocation of 45 posts, including 20 for SMS Hospital, eight for RUHS Jaipuria Hospital, seven for RUHS Hospital, four for JK Lone Hospital, and two each for Gangauri Hospital, SR Goyal Hospital and the State Cancer Institute. Jodhpur was allocated 20 posts, Ajmer and Udaipur 13 each, Bikaner 12, and Kota's allocation of 11 is proposed. The State Pharmacist Employees' Association state president Tilak Chand Sharma said that while new posts are being created, the move to use CSR instead of regular recruitment will disappoint youth who have been preparing for government jobs for years.

What is the legal framework for CSR in India?

Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 governs corporate social responsibility in India. The CSR provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 came into effect on 1 April 2014. Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013 lists permitted CSR activities including health care and education.

What is the difference between a sanctioned post and actual recruitment?

A sanctioned post is a position formally approved within an organisation's staffing structure; approval alone does not mean the position is filled. In this case, the department has approved 225 posts but is preparing to obtain services through CSR, which involves companies contributing to social or environmental objectives, rather than through regular government recruitment. This distinction matters because regular recruitment establishes direct accountability and provides permanent employment, while CSR-funded services may be temporary and lack the same level of responsibility for medicine storage and distribution.

Why is the department choosing CSR over regular recruitment?

The decision has drawn criticism from the State Pharmacist Employees' Association, which argues that medicine distribution at government hospital drug distribution centres is a recurring patient service requiring accountable staff. The association's state president noted that using CSR instead of regular recruitment will disappoint youth preparing for government jobs. The department's commissioner, Babulal Goyal, said the matter falls under the director (non-gazetted) of the Medical and Health Department.