Professor clears the air as Navya Naveli Nanda joins IIM Ahmedabad, facing online criticism

Navya Naveli Nanda, granddaughter of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, has enrolled in the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad for an online MBA programme. The 26-year-old announced her admission to the Blended Post Graduate Programme (BPGP) via Instagram on Sunday night, calling it a "dream come true."

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However, her announcement sparked controversy online, with critics questioning the legitimacy of the course and speculating whether her admission was influenced by her family's star status. Some even suggested that she might have benefited from a quota.

In response, IIM Ahmedabad’s Associate Professor Promila Agarwal addressed the allegations on social media, clarifying that the institute does not offer quotas for any of its programmes. Agarwal asserted that Nanda was admitted purely on merit, having cleared the required cut-offs and interviews like any other candidate. She highlighted that Nanda has a "solid CV" and fully deserved her place in the programme.

Agarwal also noted the programme’s low acceptance rate, further underscoring the merit-based nature of Nanda’s admission. The professor's statement sought to dispel any doubts about the fairness of the admission process.