JNU PhD admission 2026: panel formed to examine ST reservation allegations

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has established a five-member committee to investigate allegations of irregularities in putting in place Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservation norms for PhD admissions in the 2026-27 academic session. The committee was constituted by the vice-chancellor through a notification dated October 26, 2026, following representations from student organisations regarding alleged violations.

The formation of this panel comes amid concerns raised by student bodies, including the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU), regarding the allocation of reserved seats. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has also taken cognisance of the matter, adding another layer of scrutiny to the university’s admission process.

Committee Composition and Mandate

The five-member committee is chaired by Vivek Kumar, who serves as the Dean of the School of Social Sciences. Its members include the university’s ST liaison officer, the chief adviser of the Equal Opportunity Office, the deputy registrar (legal), and the assistant registrar of the SC/ST/OBC Cell. The committee has been authorised to co-opt additional members if deemed necessary for its examination.

The primary mandate of this panel is to thoroughly examine the representations received from student organisations concerning the reservation of ST seats in PhD programmes. This includes reviewing the university’s procedures and compliance with established reservation policies for the 2026-27 academic session.

Allegations of Reservation Shortfall

The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) has brought forth specific allegations regarding the allocation of ST seats. If you look at the SFI, out of a total of 711 PhD seats available, only 38 have been allocated to ST candidates. Given the 7.5 per cent reservation requirement for ST candidates, the SFI claims this results in an alleged shortfall of 15 seats.

Beyond ST reservations, the SFI has also flagged alleged discrepancies in the allocation of seats under the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) categories. These allegations collectively point to broader concerns about the university’s adherence to reservation policies in its PhD admissions for the current academic year.

Student Demands and External Intervention

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) has voiced its demands regarding the newly formed committee. Specifically, the JNUSU has called for student representation within the committee to ensure transparency and accountability in its proceedings. This demand reflects the student body’s interest in direct involvement in addressing the alleged irregularities.

Further amplifying the issue, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes has taken cognisance of the matter. This action by the commission followed a complaint filed by Gopika Babu, the JNUSU vice-president, indicating the seriousness with which these allegations are being viewed by external regulatory bodies. The involvement of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes suggests a potential for broader implications if the allegations are substantiated.

Further reading

• MCD MTS: Apply for recruitment within 15 days
• MCD MTS recruitment: Submit files within 15 days
• NEET UG reforms: Parliamentary panel calls for NTA accountability, age cap review
• NEET UG reforms proposed: age, attempt limits, two-stage tests after 2026 cancellation

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

View all posts →