The recent job notification from IIT Roorkee for a Research Associate position in Civil Engineering has sparked significant debate. The post, which has only one seat, includes a clause giving preference to SC/ST candidates. While affirmative action has its place in correcting historical injustices, the application of such preferences in highly specialized and technical research roles—especially in top-tier institutions like IITs—raises questions about whether caste should play a role in areas that demand pure merit and expertise. When opportunities for critical roles like infrastructure research are influenced more by birth identity than by academic performance or capability, the entire purpose of research itself is undermined.

This situation reflects a deeper malaise in India’s academic and scientific ecosystem, where the balance between social justice and meritocracy often tilts awkwardly. The collapse of new bridges, the failure of high-cost flyovers, and poor infrastructure quality are often linked to negligence, corruption, or lack of technical competence. When technical research and innovation—especially in civil engineering, a field directly tied to public safety—are filtered through the lens of quotas and reservations, it not only demoralizes deserving candidates but also compromises the nation’s developmental outcomes. Excellence cannot thrive in a system that does not reward it.

Such policies inadvertently push India's best minds away from the country, as many students and professionals seek opportunities abroad where merit is often the primary filter. If the research wings of premier institutions start prioritizing surnames over skillsets, we shouldn't be surprised when our bridges collapse within months of inauguration or when innovation stagnates. india needs to seriously rethink how it defines "equality" in domains that require high precision, innovation, and intellect. Build research on merit, not on caste—or risk watching not just our infrastructure, but the very foundation of our knowledge systems, disintegrate.
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SIBY JEYYA

04/08/2025 08:42 AM