A question paper given to students at Periyar University in Tamil Nadu caused outrage after a caste-related question was asked in the first-year exam held on Thursday.

However, Vice Chancellor Jagannathan assured an investigation into the matter.

The caste-related question– "Which one is the Lower Caste which belongs to Tamil Nadu" with four caste options– was asked to the first-year (second semester) Master in History students who were taking their exam in the subject ‘Freedom Movement of Tamil Nadu: From 1800 to 1947’.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (AIADMK) Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) criticized the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government on Friday, July 15. 

They questioned why it was acceptable to mock Periyar's philosophy and encourage caste inequality among students by sharing a picture of the hotly contested exam question.

First-year Masters in History students at Tamil Nadu’s Periyar University in Salem were asked this question in an examination: "Which one is the lower caste belongs to Tamil Nadu (sic)?"

(With inputs from agencies)