The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has decided to do away with 10 per cent relaxation given to OBC candidates at the entrance examination or interview stage for MPhil and PhD courses from the upcoming academic session. However, they will be entitled to a concession of 5 marks in the eligibility criteria.
A decision in this regard was taken at a standing committee meeting of the university last week which was attended by Deans of various schools.
At present, the university treats both OBC and General candidates at par when it comes to eligibility criteria for admissions to various courses. They need to have secured a minimum of 55 per cent marks in the qualifying examination.
The OBC students have been demanding a concession at both the stages for long. last year, a candidate had also approached the court challenging denial of admission by JNU as he had stood second in the entrance exam but did not meet the eligibility criteria.
The SC/ST candidates, however, are given a relaxation as they only require to pass the qualifying examination with 34 per cent marks.
“It will be unfair to give the concession at both the stages so it has been decided that the OBC candidates will be given a relaxation in eligibility but they will have to compete with the general category students in the entrance exam or the interview,” a source said.
“If less number of OBC candidates meets the eligibility criteria then the seats that remain vacant under the category will be given to general category students,” the source added.