IIT Delhi's Conference On Caste And Race Sets Up A Row; Fact-Finding Committee Formed

A conference organised at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has sparked a debate in academic and political circles as well. The event was reportedly held from January 16 to 18, 2026, at the institute’s Senate Hall.

The controversy centres on the conference title “Celebrating 25 years of Durban: Indian Contributions to Combatting Caste and Racism”, organised by the Critical Philosophy of Caste and Race (CPCR) research study group under IIT Delhi’s Department of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The questions were being raised over the choice of speakers and the nature of discussions at the event, prompting the institute to set up a fact-finding committee.

Former interim Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Mannem Nageswara Rao, took to social media X to challenge the conference and the existence of the CPCR group, alleging that its activities were anti-national and aimed at undermining national unity.

In a post addressed to IIT Delhi Director Prof. Rangan Banerjee, he pointed out that the CPCR group was part of an ‘anti-Hindu deep state initiative’. He alleged that the group has been organising similar conferences since 2024 and questions the institution’s stand to hold such events to allow them on the campus.

Mr Rao demanded an immediate disbanding of the CPCR group, its future activities, disciplinary action against faculty members involved, and a probe into the group’s funding sources.

The backlash primarily stems from objections to the speaker lineup and the thematic focus of the conference, which examined caste, racism and the intersections within Indian society. Critics argue that some discussions and speakers promote negative narratives which impact India’s international standing and equate caste with race.

Responding to the criticism, IIT Delhi has sought explanation from the concerned faculty and a fact-finding committee with independent members has also been set up to invetigate matters related to the conference.

The CPCR group has previously organised conferences at IIT Delhi, including a March 2024 event devoted to discussions on caste and racism, based on a special issue of the international journal Critical Philosophy of Race. That conference explored comparative studies of caste and racial discrimination and featured academic contributions from Indian and international scholars.

Subhashini Ali, the CPIM leader took to the instagram and wrote, “Caste oppression is a lived reality for millions. It has to opposed not denied?”