The Controversy Ignites: Rahul Gandhi's Allegations at Samvidhan Sammelan

On March 14, 2026, during the Samvidhan Sammelan event in Lucknow commemorating the birth anniversary of Bahujan Samaj Party founder Kanshi Ram, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi raised serious concerns about caste discrimination in India's higher education institutions. Speaking to an engaged audience, Gandhi alleged that Delhi University (DU), one of India's premier central universities, employs interviews as a tool to systematically exclude students from marginalized communities. He stated, "I went to Delhi University. An interview is a method to eliminate students. They ask what your caste is, and then you fail in the interview." This remark was part of a broader critique highlighting the underrepresentation of Dalits, backward castes, Adivasis, and minorities in key sectors including education, judiciary, and bureaucracy.

Gandhi's comments tapped into longstanding debates on social justice and affirmative action in Indian academia, drawing immediate attention on social media and news outlets. The statement quickly went viral, sparking discussions on equity versus merit in university admissions.

Delhi University's Firm Rebuttal and Call for Fact-Checking

Delhi University responded promptly via its official X account, dismissing the claims as baseless and urging Gandhi to verify facts before making public statements. The university emphasized that student admissions are primarily merit-based through the Common University Entrance Test (CUET), with no provision for interviews in most undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programs. DU's statement read: "The University of Delhi admits students primarily based on the CUET scores, and the standard admission process does not mandate interviews for most undergraduate and postgraduate programmes... We strongly object to such comments, as they create a non-conducive environment in the University."

To counter the narrative, DU released detailed category-wise enrollment data for the 2025-26 academic session, demonstrating substantial representation from reserved categories. This data-driven response aimed to highlight the transparency of the process and refute any notion of manipulation.

Decoding CUET: How Delhi University Handles Admissions in 2026

The Common University Entrance Test (CUET), introduced by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2022, standardizes admissions to 45 central universities including DU. For the 2026 cycle, CUET UG and PG scores are mandatory, managed through DU's Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) portal at admission.uod.ac.in.

The process unfolds in steps: Candidates register for CUET via the National Testing Agency (NTA), select preferred subjects and programs, receive normalized scores, and then apply via CSAS by filling college and course preferences. Seats are allocated in multiple rounds based purely on CUET ranks, eligibility criteria (like Class 12 marks for UG), and reservation quotas—no subjective interviews involved for standard programs.

Exceptions exist for niche programs like certain PhD or MPhil tracks, where interviews may supplement written tests, but these constitute a tiny fraction of total seats. This shift from legacy entrance exams ensures nationwide access and minimizes local biases.

Reservation Framework: Balancing Equity and Merit in DU

India's reservation system, enshrined in the Constitution via Articles 15 and 16, mandates quotas in public institutions: 15% for Scheduled Castes (SC), 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes (ST), 27% for Other Backward Classes (OBC-Non Creamy Layer), and 10% for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). DU adheres strictly, with supernumerary seats for PwD (Persons with Disabilities) at 5%.

In practice, DU's CSAS applies horizontal and vertical reservations, relaxing cutoffs for reserved categories while prioritizing merit within quotas. For instance, SC/ST candidates need 45% aggregate in qualifying exams versus 50% for general. This framework has evolved from the Mandal Commission recommendations in 1990, addressing historical caste-based exclusion.

Revealing the Numbers: DU's 2025-26 Enrollment Breakdown

DU's released data paints a picture of inclusive admissions. For UG programs (total 70,395 seats):

For PG (10,422 seats), reserved categories exceeded quotas in some areas: OBC at 29.88%, SC 14.27%, ST 5.89%, EWS 11.54%. These figures surpass national averages from All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2024-25, where SC/ST enrollment hovers at 14% and 5.8% respectively across universities.

Photo by Zoshua Colah on Unsplash

Faculty Hiring vs. Student Admissions: A Common Misconception?

While student admissions are CUET-driven, faculty recruitment involves interviews, where "Not Found Suitable" (NFS) declarations for reserved posts have drawn scrutiny. Groups like Indian National Teachers’ Congress (INTEC) cite examples from DU departments where SC/ST/OBC vacancies remain unfilled despite applicants. Rahul Gandhi's remarks may blur this line, as he referenced institutional underrepresentation broadly.

DU counters that thousands of faculty have been hired across categories recently. For aspiring academics, explore opportunities at higher-ed-jobs/faculty or university-jobs on AcademicJobs.com.

Broader Caste Challenges in Indian Higher Education

Caste dynamics persist despite policies. Historical cases like Rohith Vemula's suicide at University of Hyderabad (2016) spotlight institutional harassment. Recent UGC guidelines (2025) mandate anti-discrimination cells, grievance redressal, and sensitization programs in universities.

• SC/ST enrollment grew 4.5% YoY per AISHE 2025, but dropout rates remain higher at 12% vs. 8% general.
• Private institutions lag, with parliamentary panels urging quotas there.
• Subtle biases in peer interactions and curriculum reported by Dalit students.

Read more on career advice for navigating academia at higher-ed-career-advice/how-to-write-a-winning-academic-cv.

Voices from the Ground: Students, Faculty, and Experts Weigh In

DU students' unions like AISA welcomed Gandhi's intervention, citing microaggressions, while ABVP defended merit. Professors like N. Sukumar (DU) note ongoing NFS issues in hiring but affirm student admissions' fairness. UGC officials reiterate CUET's role in objectivity.

Experts advocate hybrid models: CUET for screening, skill tests for advanced programs. Social media trends on X amplified both sides, with #DUCasteBias garnering thousands of posts.

Implications for Meritocracy and Social Justice

The row underscores tensions between affirmative action and perceived reverse discrimination. Proponents argue reservations level the playing field; critics fear dilution of standards. Data shows reserved category students perform comparably post-admission, per UGC studies.

For those eyeing higher ed careers, platforms like rate-my-professor offer insights into campus culture.

Regulatory Safeguards and Future Reforms

UGC's 2026 guidelines enforce roster systems for faculty, mandatory diversity audits, and AI-proctored CUET to curb malpractices. States like Karnataka advance Rohith Vemula Bills against campus casteism.

Future: Potential CUET 2.0 with domain-specific weights, foreign university campuses boosting competition. Visit UGC.gov.in for updates.

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Charting an Inclusive Path Forward

This controversy spotlights the need for dialogue. DU's transparency sets a benchmark, but addressing faculty gaps and subtle biases is crucial. Students and professionals can leverage resources like higher-ed-jobs, higher-ed-career-advice, and rate-my-professor to thrive. Engage in the comments below—your experiences shape higher education's future.