‘South Indians not allowed to apply…’: Noida job posting sparks backlash, netizens say, ‘Is this even fair?’

A job advertisement posted on LinkedIn by a Noida-based consulting firm has sparked widespread outrage for its discriminatory clause that explicitly states that South Indian candidates are not eligible for the position.

The job offer, which sought candidates for a Data analyst position in Noida, outlined responsibilities such as collaborating with stakeholders, working with cross-functional teams and delivering high-quality data solutions. It also required applicants to have more than four years of relevant experience.

However, the list generated controversy with its final statement: “South Indian candidates are not eligible for this post.”

Sharing a screenshot of the post, an X (formerly Twitter) user captioned it: “South Indians are not allowed to apply for jobs.”

The job offer has drawn widespread criticism, with many calling it downright discriminatory and highlighting the issue of regional bias in hiring practices.

One user condemned the list and stated: “Disgusting. Report him.”

Another user pointed out that the exclusion could be related to the Hindi proficiency requirement, which was listed as a key qualification for the position. He wrote, “Brother, the job requires people to communicate in Hindi and write in Hindi. Hence the reason for not accepting South Indian candidates. But still, I think they should have avoided the last statement: There may be South Indians who speak and write very well in Hindi.”

Several other users pointed out that many South Indians, particularly those in Kerala, know Hindi well due to their education. One user commented, “That is not the way. To say directly that South Indians will not be allowed. I have seen many people, especially from Kerala, who were good in terms of writing in Hindi (I think their academics have Hindi as their language). Additionally, some “All of them were able to talk enough to communicate and will be able to survive. “I don’t know about other states.”

Another user questioned the fairness of the situation and said: “Is this even fair? Most of our people leave for other states or countries in search of jobs, but we object when we demand regional reservations.”