Delhi University Cancels Hindi PhD Interview Schedule Amid Protests; JNU Faces Reservation Allegations

Delhi University (DU) cancelled its recently issued notification for Hindi PhD admission interviews following student objections over short notice and the limited number of shortlisted candidates. Meanwhile, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has also encountered controversy over PhD admissions, with student organizations raising concerns regarding seat allocation and selection details.

DU Hindi PhD Interview Schedule Cancelled

The notification, issued on October 27, instructed candidates to report to the college at 9:15 AM on October 28—just hours after the schedule was announced. Students raised objections regarding the inadequate notice period, questioning why only a limited number of applicants were called for interviews despite more than 150 available seats.

Following protests and objections, the Hindi department cancelled the interviews scheduled for October 28, 29, 30, 31, and November 2, 2026, until further notice. The university has not yet announced new dates or officially specified the reason for withdrawing the notification.

• Student and ABVP Demands: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) demanded that all applicants be given an opportunity to appear for interviews, along with proper representation for National Eligibility Test (NET) qualified candidates and those qualifying under the 'Only for PhD' category.
• Administrative Response: The university has not officially linked the withdrawal of the notice to the protests, nor has it provided a detailed written clarification for the decision.
• Current Status: The scheduled selection process is on hold pending a new notification, though the entire PhD admission process has not been cancelled.

JNU PhD Admission Controversy and Allegations

Following the developments at DU, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has faced separate PhD admission concerns raised by student groups.

• Seat Allocation Claims: The Students Federation of India (SFI) alleged that JNU has not allocated seats in accordance with mandated reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Persons with Disabilities (PwD). SFI claimed a shortfall of 15 seats for ST candidates and 4 seats for SC candidates based on prescribed quotas.
• Selection List Discrepancies: ABVP alleged discrepancies between selection details displayed on the JNU website on October 27 and lists published on October 28, prompting demands for an inquiry into the selection process.

Verification and Next Steps

Applicants and observers can verify official admission updates, revised interview dates, and formal notices directly through the official Delhi University and JNU websites. Stakeholders are advised to rely exclusively on official university communiques rather than unverified reports.