India’s reservation system has its own share of controversies and the debate over whether it should be allowed still continues. Critics argue that reservation not only affects the education department but also adds to India’s growing unemployment problem. Despite polarising opinions on the issue, there are times when one can not ignore the sheer bias going on in the name of reservation.
University of Delhi on Friday has released the interview schedule and cut off marks for the PhD admissions of Mathematics students. And what came as a shocker was that the cut off marks for the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students was Zero while the same for unreserved category was 94 marks and that of Other Backward classes(OBC) was 84 marks. As per Indian Express report, the university has released the names of 223 candidates who have been selected for the interview rounds. Among those, about 32 candidates competing for seats in the SC/ST categories.
It was hard to digest for many students and people that SC/ST candidates do not require a basic pass percentage (30-40%) to get the admissions.
Also Read: Telangana Assembly passes Bill to hike reservation for Muslims, STs
The notification sparked sharp criticism with many taking to social media to express their anger. Here are some of the reactions.
DU Cut-off for PHD , reflecting the future of indian education system.
We are really tending towards zero pic.twitter.com/XizQhQFls8— saket bihari (@litlko) August 4, 2017
Governing bodies being stalled to get undeserving candidates selected as lecturers in DU. To plunder funds.No TV debates on Nationalism? https://t.co/byDPwlBXOu
— Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) August 2, 2017
its DU cut off list for phd adms ___ ___ ___ __ . _____ ____ __ __ __! pic.twitter.com/o9GAVUKTuV
— Naveen Kumar Tiwari (@NaveenK34797371) August 4, 2017
We need change @narendramodi @PrakashJavdekar
SC/ST students r eligible 4 PhD in math (DU)even if they score 0 but for others you need 84+ pic.twitter.com/AZDLSPsHzD— Gaurav …. (@ashugaurav13) July 31, 2017
DU Maths PhD interview criteria is Zero Marks for SC/ST (Gen- 94/200). Imagine, a person who can’t score single marks can be ur Professor _
— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) August 3, 2017
DU: PhD Maths cut off for SC/ST =0, Some of them will become Professor & scientists. @NamoINDIAPM @PrakashJavdekar pic.twitter.com/Oz9KbeNX2C
— Nishant Kumar (@TalkNishant) August 4, 2017
What kind off equality is this sir du has granted cut off for special drive we are not students ! If we belong to general category https://t.co/CwE8xjh15t
— Yashaswi Srivastava (@YashaswiSrivas4) August 3, 2017
So an SC student with 40 marks should get opportunity ahead of a GC student with 90%+ marks? Interesting _ https://t.co/dVj1kIFUz3
— A (@AzzzyArora) August 2, 2017
its DU cut off list for phd adms ___ ___ ___ __ . _____ ____ __ __ __! pic.twitter.com/o9GAVUKTuV
— Naveen Kumar Tiwari (@NaveenK34797371) August 4, 2017
The best solution is to have a brand new ‘Reservation Policy’ framed on the ‘basis of Income’.
— Armyvist-_______ (@dwivedi_suresh) August 3, 2017
Whats wrong? Ppl getting negative marks have become doctors n practising medicine____
— Prashant Shukla (@Prashan17544781) August 3, 2017
However, the fact remains that the zero per cent cut-off for the SC and ST category here actually meant that there was no cut-off for the reserved categories. This is a fairly common practice across many departments to fill up SC and ST seats, which often fall short of students.
PTI quotes head of the Maths Department further to state: ” There is no minimum marks for SC, ST students. We have to call everyone for the interview. Final selection will be based on the performance in the interview.”
