higher education

Lost Opportunities and Several Steps Back: The UGC Draft Regulations 2025 for ‘Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions’

by rti_adminon August 16, 2025August 16, 2025Leave a Comment13

Vivek Kumar Singh, Manisha In response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Radhika Vemula and Abeda Salim Tadvi—the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, who both died by suicide following caste-based discrimination on university campuses—the University Grants Commission (UGC) has released the Draft Regulations 2025 for the ‘Promotion of Equity in Higher …

Features

The Tyranny of Merit

by rti_adminon November 5, 2023November 5, 2023Leave a Comment7

Pranav Jeevan P Being born with talent is a genetic lottery, especially if it is with a talent that is rare and uncommon and if there is any market or public demand for it during their lifetime. Similar stochasticity is present in the social and economic position we are born into, as that defines whether …

Assertion

Which came first? Caste or Reservation?

by rti_adminon April 21, 2023April 21, 2023Leave a Comment9

Rahul Kumar Gautam The Past life of Dalits Since the time of Vedas, the people of India have been divided into a hierarchical caste system based on their occupation. According to Hindu scriptures, Brahmins are at the top. Dalits were separated from the four caste hierarchy classes (Varnas) and were referred to as Avarna. According …

Features

Caste based structural exclusion in Azim Premji University

by rti_adminon April 16, 2022March 20, 2023360

Ankush Uttam Helode When I hear these two words—‘Mother and Father’—it pains me a lot. This is drawn from my personal experience: my mother was so determined to pursue education when she was young, but couldn’t get one owing to her parent’s socio-economic status which made her cry many times. When I asked her what …

Features

The myth of ‘Departmental Politics’

by rti_adminon November 13, 2021March 20, 20232

Deepali Salve Ever since I got into university for higher education, one word that I have constantly heard is “politics”. As I did not face casteism/exploitation till my graduation, I was far away from experiencing what casteism exactly is! There was an illusion in my mind as a child that teachers engaged in beating …

Assertion

Govt. of India should send One Lakh SC ST youths abroad for Higher Education

by rti_adminon June 21, 2021March 20, 202310

Anshul Kumar Men sitting on the pinnacle of the palace “So, I went one day to Linlithgow and said, concerning the expense of education, “If you will not get angry, I want to ask a question. I am equal to fifty [high school] graduates, am I not?” He had to agree to that. Then …

Assertion

Are IITs safe for Dalit Students?

by rti_adminon June 15, 2021March 20, 20231

The Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC), IIT Bombay Aniket Ambhore, a student of electrical engineering, had fallen to his death from the sixth floor of hostel 13 on September 4, 2014. An SC student, he was alleged to have committed suicide. After his parents wrote to the IIT director, a three-member committee was set …

Assertion

Asserting voices of marginalized youth in university space

by rti_adminon August 17, 2020March 20, 20231

Sudarshan Kasbe In 2017 two dalit students pursuing higher education committed suicides in premier institutes of India which really shook the nation. These suicides cannot be looked at as independent events but are subject to critical scrutiny by researchers in the wake of the hierarchical structure present in Indian education system. After 73 years of …

Features

Dalit Women in Higher Education in Odisha

by rti_adminon June 3, 2020March 20, 202310

Saraswati Suna “I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.” ~ Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Education is a path for equal opportunity and ensures possibilities for individual growth, social mobilities and economic empowerment to the oppressed, Dalit and marginalized communities. However, education throughout Indian history has only …