Faced with an acute manpower shortage, the Competition Commission is looking to hire 22 people for various director-level posts, including those of joint directors, and deputy directors in financial analysis, economics and law. These posts are to be filled up on a deputation basis. A CCI announcement said the applicants must be "employees of central or state governments, government companies or autonomous bodies or regulatory authorities or universities or academic or research or judicial institutions etc of central/state governments." The Competition Commission of India (CCI), which keeps a tab on unfair business practices across sectors, had as many as 72 posts vacant at the end of March this year. In recent times, the watchdog has been making efforts to strengthen its manpower amid a rising number of complaints related to alleged unfair business practices coming to it. Besides, CCI gets notices seeking approval for mergers and acquisitions. Besides 22 senior posts, four posts of office manager for corporate services and private secretary are to be filled, according to the announcement. In total, applications have been sought for a total of 26 positions -- 5 directors, 6 joint directors, 11 deputy directors, 3 office managers and 1 private secretary. Out of the sanctioned strength of 197, as many as 72 positions were vacant at the fair trade regulator at the end of March 31, 2016, as per latest data provided by the Corporate Affairs Ministry. The number of vacancies was slightly higher than 68 seen in 2014-15 while it was 92 in 2013-14.