IIT Guwahati students protest a steep semester fee hike, claiming it exceeds their stipend. Scholars demand rollback and highlight lack of HRA and clarity.
Tension gripped the IIT Guwahati campus on Tuesday as hundreds of students, particularly PhD scholars and MTech students, took to the streets to protest against a steep and sudden hike in semester fees. Holding placards and raising slogans like “Kam karo, kam karo, fee hike kam karo” (Reduce the fee hike) and “Fee hike wapas lo” (Roll back the hike), the students demanded an immediate reversal of the newly revised fee structure for the July–November 2025 semester.
According to reports, the protest follows growing frustration among students who say they were blindsided by the increased fees despite earlier assurances from the institute’s administration. The fee hike does not just affect PhD and MTech students, but BTech students as well, many of whom are expected to join the protests soon.
Broken Promises, Mounting Pressure
The discontent began building after an open house meeting held on July 17 between students and senior members of the administration, including the director and deans. Students had voiced their concerns about the proposed hike, and were reportedly assured that their grievances would be addressed.
However, when the registration window opened on July 22, students found no clarity or revised structure. Instead, they were unable to proceed with registration unless they paid the full hiked amount. This left many feeling cornered and betrayed.
“The administration had assured us they would reconsider the hike. But there was no official update until the registration day. We were practically forced to pay without knowing why or how this happened,” said a PhD scholar, speaking to NDTV.
Some students, under pressure to avoid delays in their academic progress, went ahead and paid the revised fees. However, the majority of research scholars have refused to comply and are continuing their protest until the administration rolls back the hike.
Sharp Spike in Fee Structure
The numbers reveal the root of the anger. For PhD students, the fee has jumped from ₹34,800 in the January-May semester to ₹45,700 — an increase of ₹10,900. The new students entering PhD programs are expected to pay a staggering ₹92,000 upfront, and subsequently around ₹57,000 per semester — a figure students point out is nearly ₹20,000 more than their monthly stipend.
Part-time PhD scholars have also been hit hard. Their semester fee, which was ₹2,500 earlier, has now ballooned to ₹25,000 — a tenfold increase.
“This is simply unaffordable. It’s not just a matter of affordability, but of respect and fairness,” a research scholar commented during the protest. “We dedicate ourselves to research, to national development — and in return, we are asked to pay more than what we earn?”
Double Deductions and Lack of Allowances
Beyond the fee structure, students also highlighted other long-standing issues. They allege that IIT Guwahati does not provide House Rent Allowance (HRA) to research scholars, even though it is a provision under central government guidelines for scholars not living in hostels.
What’s more, students who stay in campus hostels are required to pay additional hostel charges — a move scholars claim amounts to “double charging.”
“We are being denied HRA and at the same time being made to pay hostel fees. That means IIT-G is essentially charging us twice for accommodation,” another protesting scholar explained.
A Call for Accountability
The protest at IIT Guwahati is not just about numbers, but about transparency, trust, and fairness. Students are demanding that the administration engage in open dialogue, offer immediate relief by rolling back the unjustified hike, and ensure that any future fee revisions are done with prior consultation and clarity.
As the unrest continues to grow, students across other IITs are reportedly watching the developments closely — and the coming days may witness solidarity protests if the issue remains unresolved. The ball is now in the administration’s court to restore faith and fairness on campus.
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