The PhD admission controversy at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has deepened as the Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students’ Association (BAPSA) announced an indefinite sit-in protesting the alleged shortage of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) reserved seats in the 2026-27 academic session.
BAPSA alleges that the university has not advertised the full number of reserved SC and ST seats as required under the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006. They claim that out of the 711 regular PhD seats advertised, the number of seats reserved for SC and ST candidates is less than mandated by reservation policies.
The student organisation has demanded that the ongoing PhD interview process, also known as viva voce, be paused until a revised admission notification and prospectus reflecting accurate category-wise seat details are issued. They have also called for the implementation of recommendations from previous committees on social justice and reservation.
National Commissions Involvement
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has directed JNU to either re-notify the disputed reserved seats before the viva voce examinations or explain the reasons for any shortfall. The commission has sought an inquiry with university authorities.
Similarly, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has requested JNU’s Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC) to examine the reservation concerns.
BAPSA’s Key Demands
- Halt the ongoing PhD viva voce process.
- Issue a revised notification and prospectus detailing accurate reserved seats for SC, ST, OBC, and PwBD candidates.
- Implement the reservation rules strictly as per the applicable policy.
- Act on reports by Rajiv Bhatt Committee (2012), Sukhadeo Thorat Committee (2013), and Abdul Nafey Committee (2016).
- Address alleged caste discrimination in hostel allotments.
- Accelerate promotions for eligible SC, ST, OBC, and PwD faculty members.
NIRF #2 (2025)Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityNew Delhi, DelhiAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1969View detailsJMINAAC A++
NIRF #4 (2025)Jamia Millia IslamiaNew Delhi, DelhiAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1920View detailsDUNAAC A+
NIRF #5 (2025)University of DelhiNew Delhi, DelhiAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1922View detailsCSU
Central UniversityCentral Sanskrit UniversityNew Delhi, DelhiAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1970View detailsIGNOUNAAC A++
Central UniversityIndira Gandhi National Open UniversityNew Delhi, DelhiAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PGEst. 1985View detailsSLBSN
Central UniversityShri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit UniversityNew Delhi, DelhiAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1962View detailsSAU
Central UniversitySouth Asian UniversityNew Delhi, DelhiAdmission: Own Entrance, NET/JRFEst. 2010View detailsWhat This Means for PhD Applicants
Prospective PhD candidates should monitor official JNU channels for updates regarding the admission schedule, interview process, and any revised notifications on reserved seats.
Understanding the Protest
An indefinite sit-in is a form of protest where participants remain assembled without a set end date, advocating for their demands until addressed. This differs from a hunger strike, which involves refusing food as protest.
What to Watch Next
The university administration’s response to the students’ allegations and the inquiries initiated by NCSC and NCST will be key developments. The outcome will determine if and how the PhD admission process resumes and the final reservation seat allocation.
Official links: Official notification
