‘Reservation discrepancy’ in merit lists: FTII student’s association demands halt to admissions, university says rules followed

However, there are additions in some of the courses as a result of this revision only as a one-time measure.”

The students’ association, in a statement released Sunday, said that after the first list was published, a candidate eligible for a reserved category was placed in the waiting list of general category, yet was not selected in the reserved category. “We would like to bring to light that when a reserved-category candidate scores higher marks in both the stages, they are placed in general category as well as in their respective reserved category… When the administration was informed of this discrepancy, they revised the merit lists on 24th October, 2025,” the statement said.

However, the revised merit list did not quell all issues. The Masters of Fine Arts (Screen Acting) final merit list shows that instead of the usual intake of 16, 23 candidates have been admitted. Out of the 23 selected, 8.7 per cent are Scheduled Caste and 4.35 per cent are Scheduled Tribe candidates. This is lower than the government mandated reservation at 15 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively, raising questions on the final merit list as well.

The FTII admission process is conducted through two stages. The first consists of two papers and the second stage consists of a mixed format assessment. The student association has alleged that only a final merit list has been published and stage-wise results have not been declared, making the implementation of reservation policy and the locking of reservation categories opaque.

The association said, “We have witnessed that reservation of candidates is frozen only at some portion of Stage I of the Entrance Test. How and when a candidate’s inclusion in their respective reserved category is frozen is not documented or mentioned in any communication shared by FTI. When deserving candidates from reserved categories score higher in the subsequent rounds of the admission process, their candidatures are restricted to their respective reserved category list. This is a blatant misuse of vertical reservation. It is redundant in its essence and reinforces a discriminatory ‘meritocracy’.”

On Monday, before the meeting with the director, the students’ association members gathered outside the director’s office demanding that the admission process be halted and the payment portal be frozen until rules of reservation policy at each stage are shared in a transparent manner. Posters with quotes like ‘SHARE RULES OF RESERVATION POLICY’ and ‘NO PLACE FOR CASTE DISCRIMINATION’ were pasted on the campus.

In the statement shared on Monday by FTII, the university’s outreach officer said, “With regard to reservation, all Government of India rules are being followed and Administration is engaged with students to address their concerns in this regard. Vice Chancellor met the faculty and students and briefed them about the entire episode. As per students’ demands, access to files regarding entrance exams and tabulations of the various course results have been provided to them to inspect and satisfy themselves about the veracity of all the details of marks and reservation categories.”

“FTII acknowledges the efforts and aspirations of the candidates and deeply regrets the confusion and inconvenience caused by this development,” the statement added.

From the homepage

‘Calculated attempt to silence dissent’: Sonam Wangchuk’s wife tells SC in amended plea challenging his NSA detention

‘Unforgettable experience’: President Droupadi Murmu shares Rafale moment with pilot Pak falsely claimed it captured

Days after ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes kill 104 in Gaza