By JNU, for JNU

JNU (a famous university in India) is adding 5% more seats for students. That sounds like good news because lots of students want to get in—last year, about 16 lakh students signed up for the entrance exam!

But there’s a problem. These extra seats are only for the children of teachers who work at JNU.

This is called a “special quota,” which means some seats are kept aside for certain groups. JNU already has a similar rule for non-teaching staff (like workers or janitors), which many people feel is fair because it helps families who may not have many advantages.

But teachers are already a more privileged group—they usually have better income, education, and connections. So giving their children extra seats feels unfair to many others who are trying hard to get in.

JNU is known for being fair and diverse. It has helped students from different backgrounds, including those from poorer areas, by giving them extra points to support them. That’s why this new rule feels surprising and not in line with its values.

Also, instead of making more seats available for everyone, this rule only benefits a small group. Many people think universities should increase seats for all students, not just a few.

In short:
It’s okay to add more seats—but they should be open to everyone, not just people with connections inside the university.