Collect caste data of applicants, students, Visvesvaraya Technological University tells colleges

Bengaluru: The Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has directed all affiliated institutions to collect data about the caste of all applicants and students already enrolled.

In a circular, the VTU has stated that it has received directions from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) following a report from the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports on the 'Implementation of Article 15 (5) of the Indian Constitution regarding Special Provision for Reservations to Scheduled Castez/Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (SCs/STs and OBCs) in Educational Institutions, including Private Educational Institutions'.

In a communication to VTU, the AICTE stated, "The Committee has observed that such data is important for higher educational institutions as well as the concerned department to understand the social composition of the student body and the prospective pool of applicants seeking admission to various programmes."

"It has also been noted that the current system of making caste declaration optional may lead to caste-blindness in the admission process. However, applicants and students may be given the option to declare that they do not have a caste identity, if they choose. All these forms may be uploaded to the institution's web portal."