IIT BHU rejects the only OBC candidate shortlisted for PhD admission, no SC, ST admitted

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology-Banaras Hindu University (IIT BHU) shortlisted seven candidates for PhD admission under the Department of Humanistic Studies, of which six were from general category. The All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA) highlighted that out of the seven students, there was just one OBC candidate, whose application was rejected.

The OBC students group also pointed out that no scheduled caste (SC) or scheduled tribe (ST) candidate was shortlisted for the IIT BHU PhD admission. “7 students called for PhD interviews in BHU's IIT. 6 upper caste students were selected. There was 1 OBC, who was rejected,” it said.

IIT BHU invited online applications for PhD admission for even semester of the academic session 2022-23 in October. Candidates were allowed to apply for IIT BHU PhD admission till November 11, 2022. It also informed that the complete process normally takes 45 days for completion.

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ChintaBAR, an independent student body recognised by IIT Madras, last year collated data provided by the ministry of education and found that the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have admitted only 2.5% ST students despite having good representation. Nine Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have also reportedly violated the PhD reservation norms in admission.

It further revealed that only 137 out of 3,430 ST candidates and 574 out of 17,075 SC students were given PhD admission in 2021 all IITs combined together. While OBC representation in all IITs, except IIT Madras, was below the mandate of 27%.

“Although the statistics regarding the institute-funded seats were provided by most IITs, there is a sense of ambiguity and lack of data in terms of seats that fall under sponsored/other fellowship,” ChintaBAR had said.

Another RTI data showed that 5 departments in IIT Bombay have not admitted a single ST candidate in the last 8 years.

As per the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admissions) Act, IITs are mandated to reserve 7.5%, 15%, 27% PhD seats for ST, SC and OBC respectively. However, a committee constituted by the education ministry in 2020 had recommended that the IITs, IIMs be exempted from following reservation policies in faculty recruitment.