IIM-Ahmedabad to introduce quota for PhD admissions from 2025

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.

The 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.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Wagde said, “If reservations were not implemented after the recent reminder sent to the IIMA director around three weeks ago, we were planning to approach the Supreme Court as the institute in its affidavit submitted last year did not mention the date when they will implement the reservation. Though it was mentioned orally but not in the affidavit.”

Further, regarding the reservation’s implementation, Wagde said, “We will wait for further implementation, following which we plan to seek details on how many applied and were shortlisted.”

Earlier, in an affidavit, IIMA stated on oath that the institute had “voluntarily taken a decision to provide for reservation in the PhD programme also” but had not specified a timeline for when it would implement the same.