IIT Delhi holds special admission drive for SC, ST candidates for PhD

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has started a special admission drive for scheduled caste (SC) and scheduled tribe (ST) candidates for admissions to the PhD programme academic session 2025-26. The deadline to submit the special drive PhD application is June 30 till 4 pm.

According to The Indian Express report, an IIT Delhi official said the admission drive aims to address the continuing shortfall in seat occupancy, after a visit by the parliamentary committee in April. The committee aimed to review the implementation of safeguards for marginalised communities in the top institutes.

As per the reservation guidelines for admissions, 15% of seats for reserved for SC and 7.5% for ST candidates. However, as per the IE report, the data submitted by IIT Delhi shows the actual intakes fell short of the given targets, by the central government, mainly at the doctoral level.

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IIT Delhi PhD admission rate rises

The enrollment for PhD at IIT Delhi between 2015-16 and 2024-25 slightly rose to 9.69% from 8.88% for SC candidates, and for ST increased to 3.28% from 0.97%. Whereas, for PG courses, the SC enrollment increased to 13.11% from 11.27%, and for UG programmes rose to 14.92% from 13.85%, over the same period, according to the IE report.

The special drive is also being extended across departments, regardless department has vacancies or not. Other departments have been instructed to consider candidates from reserved categories if eligible.

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IIT Delhi PhD Admission 2025: Relaxation for SC, ST

IIT Delhi will adhere to the minimum eligibility criteria for PhD admissions 2025-26. The criteria for admissions for SC and ST category candidates are as follows.

• The minimum qualifying criteria for SC, ST candidates having MTech, ME, MD, MDes, or equivalent degree is relaxed from 60% to 55% (CGPA relaxed from 6.00 to 5.50).
• For MSc, MBA, MA, MBBS or equivalent degree, having GATE, CSIR, UGC NET, ICAR, ICMR, DST-INSPIRE fellowship is relaxed to 65% from 70%.
• Qualifying degree performance is computed by aggregating performance over all the semesters or years of the qualifying degree, as per the credit or weightage system approved in the institution/board where the degree has been completed.

For any other query regarding the IIT Delhi PhD admissions 2025 special drive, SC and ST category candidates can contact admissions@admin.iitd.ac.in or at 011- 26597109/7103.