New Delhi, Jul 29 (IANS): Minister of State Shashi Tharoor, a product of St. Stephen's College, Monday visited Delhi University and voiced concern over the steadily rising cut-off percentages for admissions.

This, he said, was damaging the "spirituality and ethos" of the colleges in the university, reputedly one of the best in the country.

"Cut-offs are something I am very worried about. I am not a fan of it. The cut-offs to select students have damaged the spirituality and ethos of colleges," said Tharoor, who studied history in Delhi University.

The minister of state for human resource and development was speaking at an event organised by the National Students Union of India and the Delhi University Students Union.

Recalling his college days, the London-born said: "During my times, students used to be selected depending on their all-round quality. Marks were not much of a criteria."

The former UN official admitted, however, that the cut-offs were neither in the hands of his ministry nor the universities as they flowed from Supreme Court directives.

Stressing on educational reforms, Tharoor, an MP, said one of the bills pending in parliament related to the setting up of 14 new universities driven towards research and innovation.