Last Updated:
IIT Guwahati students are protesting a steep and sudden semester fee hike, while the institute says the increase supports welfare and was discussed with students earlier.
IIT Guwahati students protest fee hike, demand rollback; institute cites welfare reasons.
Postgraduate and PhD students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have started a peaceful protest following a recent hike in semester fees announced by the institute on Tuesday. The protest, now in its third day, focuses on what students are calling a sudden and steep increase in their semester dues. Many claim that the decision was made without any prior notice or discussion with the student community.
According to the protesting students, the semester fee for regular PhD scholars has gone up from approximately Rs 34,000 to Rs 48,000. This, they say, is more than the monthly stipend received by Junior Research Fellows (Rs 37,000) and Senior Research Fellows (Rs 42,000). For the incoming batch of PhD students, the fees have risen even more sharply — from Rs 58,000 to Rs 91,000 per semester.
Students are particularly concerned that these changes have come without any visible improvements in campus facilities or an increase in fellowship amounts. They argue that the fee hike includes several new and increased components, such as fest fees, welfare fund charges, higher hostel rent, increased hostel maintenance fees, and an expanded hostel fund. Additionally, some students pointed out that even the medical fees and student brotherhood fund have seen an increase. Many believe these charges are unjustified.
Students Say Fee Hike Unfair And Unexplained
The protesting students are demanding a complete rollback of the revised fee structure, which they say affects not just PhD students but also MTech and BTech students starting from the July–November 2025 semester. Chanting slogans like “Kam karo, came avoid, fee hike came karo” and “Fee hike wapas lo,” they are urging the administration to reconsider the decision.
Despite the student outcry, IIT Guwahati has defended the hike. In a media statement released on Wednesday, the administration said the revision was the first in seven years and amounts to an increase of Rs 8,900 per semester for continuing students. The institute said the additional funds will be used to improve student welfare and extracurricular activities, such as hostel-level events, cultural and sports festivals, and initiatives by the Gymkhana, including participation in events beyond the Inter-IIT competitions.
The institute also said that it had held an open-house meeting with students on July 17, which lasted four hours. During this meeting, detailed explanations were shared about the new fee structure. The administration stated that students were invited to submit their concerns formally, but no official submissions have been received yet.
Students, however, say that these discussions have not brought any solid outcomes. One protester said the administration had initially promised that unpaid fees would not affect registration, but later students with pending payments were denied registration.
Tensions increased further when the institute’s director reportedly declined to meet the protesters on July 23. The protest has involved fee boycotts and suspension of some teaching assistant duties. Students have also been facing challenges due to the humid Guwahati weather, with several falling ill during the ongoing demonstrations.
ALSO READ: Over 1.09 Lakh Vacancies in CAPFs, Recruitment for 72,000 Posts Underway: Govt Tells Rajya Sabha
Administration Says Majority Of Students Not Protesting
The IIT Guwahati administration has downplayed the size of the protest, calling it the effort of a “small group.” According to the institute, most of the 8,400 enrolled students are not part of the protest. It also claimed that the protesting group had bypassed the elected student body, which is currently working on a formal proposal through official channels to address the fee hike.
In its official response, the institute said, “The elected student body is not part of this protest and is working through the proper channel for an amicable solution to the increased components of the fee.”
The administration concluded by stating that it remains committed to student welfare and welcomes feedback and dialogue through constructive and formal means.
Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-…Read More
Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-… Read More
view comments
- First Published:
Source link
[ad_3]
