Faculty are directly responsible for the quality of academic instruction, research and all services at IITB. Recruitment and retention of top faculty has loomed as one of the most critical issues of the day.

Faculty pay is low and government controlled. Ordinarily the opportunity to do cutting-edge research is the primary recruitment incentive for young faculty seeking to make a mark in their field, and this often overrides financial considerations, but facilities and equipment for research at IITB are generally below par. The number of top graduate students to assist in research is also below par, further diminishing research prospects for new faculty. Also affecting new faculty recruitment is available housing. New or renovated living space that is clean and comfortable needs to be created for new faculty. All of this affects capacity to recruit new faculty, in particular, as the number of retirements increases and the need to recruit more and more faculty blossoms.

To help address the looming faculty recruitment crisis, some funds have recently been provided for development of faculty, which includes travel funds for going to technical meetings. More money is needed for the purpose of faculty development and for a research start-up fund for new faculty.