After yearslong criticism by activists and intellectuals, the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A) has introduced reservation in PhD programme.
So far, IIM-A did not have reservation for scheduled castes (SCs), scheduled tribes (STs), other backward classes (OBCs), or persons with physical disabilities.
In the notification for the PhD admissions for 2025, IIM-A said that the “Government of India’s guidelines for reservation are followed during admissions”.
What is IIM-A’s new reservation policy?
The IIM-A is introducing affirmative action in the form of relaxation in the eligibility criteria for applications.
While rest of the candidates need 55 per cent or equivalent marks master’s degree or two-year post graduate diploma or 65 per cent or equivalent in four-year/eight-semester bachelor’s degree to be eligible for admissions, those from the reserved categories will have a relaxation of 5 per cent.
“If a candidate belongs to the following reserved categories – Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST)/Persons with Disabilities (PwD)/Non-creamy Other Backward Classes (NC-OBC)/Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), the minimum degree marks requirement for eligibility as part of the basic eligibility criteria given above will be relaxed by 5 percentage points,” says the IIM-A in the notification.
The IIM-A has further reduced the registration fees from Rs 500 to Rs 250 for reserved categories.
In the message in admissions brochure, IIM-A Director Bharat Bhasker encouraged students from the reserved categories to apply.
“IIMA seeks highly motivated individuals with intellectual curiosity and outstanding academic backgrounds. We encourage women, non-Indian nationals, Persons with Disabilities, and those belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other Backward Classes to apply to the programme,” said Bhasker.
Though the reservation is being implemented, no specific seats appear to be reserved as there is no specified number of seats in the institute to be filled in a year.
‘Follow it in spirit’
Anil Wagde, who has been central to the movement for reservation in IIM-A, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that while it was great to see the development, he urged the institute to follow the affirmative action policy “in spirit as well”.
“We hope IIM-A keeps its word. We will monitor the process and will seek details of the admission once the process is complete,” said Wagde further, as per Careers 360.
Separately, The Telegraph quoted Wagde as saying that even as reservation in the PhD programme is being implemented, the fight for reservation in the recruitment of teachers will continue.
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