University of Delhi has strongly dismissed allegations by Rahul Gandhi that interviews are used to eliminate students on the basis of caste, asserting that admissions to most programmes are determined primarily through scores in the Common University Entrance Test and do not require interviews.

In a statement posted late Friday on X, the university said the claim made by the Leader of the Opposition was factually incorrect and risked creating a disruptive atmosphere within the campus community.

“The University of Delhi admits students primarily based on CUET scores, and the standard admission process does not mandate interviews for most undergraduate and postgraduate programmes,” the statement said.

The university added that if Gandhi’s remarks were aimed at faculty recruitment, thousands of teachers have been appointed across categories in recent years. It also urged the Congress leader to verify facts before making public statements.

“We strongly object to such comments, as they create a non-conducive environment in the University. The Leader of the Opposition should have verified the facts before making such a statement,” the university said.

The clarification came after Gandhi, speaking at an event in Lucknow marking the birth anniversary of Kanshi Ram, alleged that interviews are used as a tool to exclude students from marginalized communities.

“Interview is just a way to eliminate students. They ask what your caste is and then you fail in the interview,” Gandhi said during his address.

He also criticized the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), alleging that there is little representation of OBC, Dalit and Adivasi communities among its senior pracharaks and calling it a violation of constitutional principles.

The remarks triggered fresh debate within academic circles. The Indian National Teachers’ Congress (INTEC) and several professors from Delhi University, including members of its academic and executive councils, pointed to publicly available records suggesting that in multiple departments, teaching positions reserved for SC, ST and OBC categories had instances where qualified candidates were declared “not found suitable” following the interview stage.

The exchange has reignited discussions around representation, recruitment processes and transparency in higher education institutions.