PRAYAGRAJ, July 18 -- More than 350 posts of block education officers (BEOs) are currently vacant in the Uttar Pradesh basic education department. Fresh recruitment is expected to begin only after the state government finalises a new set of service rules. The vacancies increased following the promotion of 164 BEOs to Basic Shiksha Adhikaris (BSAs) and equivalent positions on May 26. Against a sanctioned strength of 1,031 BEO posts across the state, only 672 officers are currently in position, leaving 359 posts vacant, officials concede. The directorate of basic education sent a recruitment requisition for BEO posts to the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) last year. However, the commission returned the proposal, noting that the existing recruitment rules required amendments before the selection process could begin. The government is now preparing a fresh set of service rules instead of merely amending the existing UP Educational (General Education Cadre) Service (Amendment) Rules, 1992. Recruitment will begin only after the new rules are notified, a senior official of the state basic education department aware of the move said. Confirming the development, additional director (basic) Manoj Kumar Dwivedi said the number of BEO vacancies has increased following the recent promotions and that recruitment would proceed once the new rules are in place. The last major BEO recruitment was conducted by the UPPSC in 2019, when applications were invited for 309 vacancies. Under the proposed changes considered by the basic education department last year, the word "equivalent" was removed from the prescribed educational qualification. Earlier, candidates possessing a postgraduate degree or an equivalent qualification from a recognised university were eligible to apply. The revised proposal restricted eligibility to candidates holding a postgraduate degree from a university, deemed university, or recognised institution. The proposed amendments also removed the LT diploma from the list of preferred qualifications. Previously, candidates possessing an LT diploma, BTC, BEd or any equivalent qualification were entitled to preference. Under the revised proposal, preference in direct recruitment would be given to candidates holding a BEd degree from an institution recognised by the National Council for Teacher Education, provided all other conditions remained the same. Another proposal sought to fill 100% of BEO posts through direct recruitment. Under existing provisions, 80% of the posts are filled through direct recruitment by the UPPSC, while 10% each are reserved for promotion from headmasters and from extension teachers and craft teachers....