Not Found Suitable: Reality of Dalit, Adivasi and OBCs in Indian Universities
N Sukumar | 28 July 2025 | The Indian Express
Various bodies governing academic institutions have established systems to ensure transparency and accountability in recruitment, promotions, and related academic activities. The teaching experience, papers published in refereed journals, research projects, and other accomplishments are the blueprints on which academic careers are built. All these “academic” activities are not value-neutral and must be read through a socio-political prism. Often, the media highlights caste-based discrimination during recruitments/promotions. Still, nothing changes.
Last week, while responding to a question from Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha, the Centre informed the RS that 80 per cent of the posts sanctioned in central universities for professors under the OBC category and nearly 83 per cent in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category are currently vacant. However, there is no centralised data on “not found suitable” (NFS). It was recently reported that the University of Delhi snubbed a scientist belonging to the SC community as NFS to be promoted as professor. Similar instances could also be found during direct recruitments for reserved positions….