A fresh storm has erupted on social media involving IIT Mandi and social media influencer Anuradha Tiwari, with allegations flying, official statements issued, and the battle lines sharply drawn between merit supporters and caste-based politics.
What Triggered the Controversy?
The flashpoint? A ₹99 Entrance Test fee, AI course offered by IIT Mandi, shared by Anuradha Tiwari on X (formerly Twitter). The course, run under government skill development programs, gained traction after Tiwari amplified it for General Category students, helping them access an affordable, merit-based learning opportunity.
What followed was a coordinated backlash.
The Allegation
Critics accused Anuradha Tiwari of misleading the public, charging money under false pretenses, and ignoring reservation norms. Ambedkarite handles and several political accounts termed the course and promotion a “scam”.
But here’s the catch: none of the ₹99 went to Anuradha Tiwari. She simply shared a direct official link to the IIT course:
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bit.ly/aiWithIIT
IIT Mandi Responds
Facing mounting pressure online, IIT Mandi issued an official statement:
“IIT Mandi has no association with Ms. Anuradha Tiwari and does not endorse her claims on reservation. The institute strictly follows all GoI norms regarding reservation and will take appropriate action against those spreading false or misleading information.”
This has sparked further debate on what kind of courses require reservation and whether IITs are hiding behind bureaucratic language.
Anuradha Tiwari Fires Back
Tiwari hit back strongly:
“I Dare IIT Mandi to sue me if there was any misinformation. Sue me in court for 1 crore–– if you have Guts!
Looks like they’re so scared of Ambedkarites— they’re now lying about Reservation in their own course.
Reality of govt colleges run by GC tax money! #ShameOnIITMandi”
She also reiterated that she never charged any money and had even offered to sponsor one General Category student for the advanced ₹50,000+ course that IIT offers as an optional upgrade.
The Truth About the ₹99 Course
The ₹99 was an official IIT Mandi fee for a basic AI certification program.
These skill-based programs are “Open to All” and do not involve caste-based reservations.
The advanced course, priced higher (₹50,000–₹60,000), is again run by IIT, not Tiwari.
My Take: A Merit-Based Threat?
This isn’t about a scam. It’s about a woman who dares to promote merit over caste, and that has shaken an entrenched ideological lobby.
The IIT ecosystem, increasingly dominated by reservation politics and bureaucratic appeasement, has shown a pusillanimous attitude, unwilling to stand for merit openly.
“Only in India do premier educational institutions shy away from promoting merit, and instead hide behind reservations, quotas, and political freebies — a circus where excellence takes a backseat to appeasement.”
One tweet summarised it best:
“So let’s bust this fake scam narrative.
One Anuradha > their entire hate brigade.”
Conclusion: What’s Really at Stake?
This controversy is not about ₹99, nor about a scam.
It’s about who gets to control the narrative in India’s elite educational spaces. When someone outside the system dares to uplift others without caste crutches, the establishment feels threatened.
And that’s the real story here.
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