IIT Delhi Launches First Special PhD Admission Drive for SC/ST Candidates to Improve Inclusivity in Doctoral Research.

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) launched its first-ever Special PhD Admission Drive exclusively for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates on June 20, 2025, to address under-representation.

      - This drive was launched in response to data presented during a Parliamentary Standing Committee visit in April 2025, which revealed that SC enrollment in IIT Delhi’s PhD programs between 2015–2024 ranged from only 8.88% to 9.69%, and ST enrollment from 0.97% to 3.28%, both significantly below the mandated reservation norms of 15% (SC) and 7.5% (ST) in central institutions.

      - The special drive will remain open from June 20 to June 30, 2025, with candidates required to apply through the official PG Admissions Portal of IIT Delhi. The aim is to enhance diversity in doctoral programs and ensure that minimum reservation percentages are effectively implemented through direct, exclusive outreach.

      - Under the revised eligibility criteria, SC/ST candidates with degrees such as M.Tech/ME/MD/M.Des can now apply with a minimum 55% marks or 5.5 CGPA, and those with MSc/MA/MBA/MBBS degrees need 65% marks along with valid national-level qualifications like GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering), UGC-NET (University Grants Commission - National Eligibility Test), or CSIR-NET (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - National Eligibility Test).

Main Point :-   (i) Departments have been instructed to accept eligible SC/ST applicants even if no seats were originally advertised, under a supernumerary model. This allows inclusion of eligible students without affecting existing general category seat allocations, promoting equity without reducing merit-based intake elsewhere.

      (ii) The selection process under this drive mandates that no department shall impose higher or additional criteria on SC/ST candidates beyond the minimum qualifications set by the institute. This is to avoid systemic exclusion and ensure genuine access based on merit and potential.

(iii) Through this initiative, IIT Delhi aims to not only correct historical disparities but also set a precedent for other Indian Institutes of Technology and centrally funded technical institutions (CFTIs) to take proactive, data-driven steps towards academic equity and inclusion.