The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has indicated that it will implement reservation in PhD admissions from 2025, fulfilling a long-standing demand by the Global IIM Alumni Network.
A clause mentioned in the online applications for doctoral programmes issued last weekend by IIMA stated, “Government of India guidelines for reservation are followed during admission.” The online applications opened on September 19 and are accepted until January 20.
Of all 20 IIMs, IIMA was the only one remaining to implement the reservation. In 2021, Anil Wagde, a Global IIM Alumni Network member, moved the Gujarat High Court, seeking the implementation of reservation in IIMA’s PhD programmes.
short article insertThe PIL submitted that not providing reservation in the PhD programme in IIMA, which commenced in 1971, amounted to “gross violation” of constitutional provisions, the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, and the University Grants Commission’s norms. It stated that at least 15 of the 20 IIMs offer reservations in similar programmes.
IIMA then submitted to the Gujarat High Court last year that it might implement reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), as well as disabled candidates in doctoral programmes in the academic year starting 2025.