IIT Guwahati Faces Student Backlash Over First Fee Hike in Seven Years
In a move that has triggered campus-wide concern and protest, IIT Guwahati recently announced its first fee hike in seven years, leading to mounting frustration among postgraduate and PhD students. The institute claims the increase is aimed at enhancing student welfare, but many students believe the hike is unjustified, sudden, and financially burdensome.
The protest, now entering its third day, is being carried out peacefully by a group of PhD and postgraduate scholars who argue that the revised semester fees were introduced without prior notice or transparent consultation. According to them, this abrupt decision has left students scrambling to meet the increased financial demands, especially when there has been no corresponding improvement in campus facilities or stipend amounts.
For regular PhD scholars, the semester fee has jumped from approximately ₹34,000 to ₹48,000. This amount now overshadows the monthly stipends received by Junior and Senior Research Fellows, which stand at ₹37,000 and ₹42,000, respectively. For the incoming PhD batch, the situation is even more alarming, with fees soaring from ₹58,000 to ₹91,000 per semester.
Students argue that the increase isn’t limited to tuition alone. New components like festival fees and a student welfare fund have been introduced, and there have been steep hikes in hostel rent, maintenance, and even the student brotherhood and medical funds. One student pointed out that the hostel fund alone has risen from ₹600 to ₹2,200 — a more than threefold increase. “We’re being asked to pay for events and facilities we never demanded or directly benefit from,” a protester said.
Another student, speaking anonymously, claimed, “Only one element of the fee structure has seen a marginal rise, while all others have gone up significantly — some more than 50%, others even tripled.”
The administration has defended its decision, stating in a media release that the revised structure translates to an increase of ₹8,900 per semester for continuing students. According to the institute, the additional funds will be used to improve student services, including more support for hostel events, cultural festivals, and Gymkhana-led initiatives that extend beyond the annual Inter-IIT meets.
In its statement, IIT Guwahati said it held a four-hour open house on July 17 to explain the fee changes, and students were invited to submit any concerns or objections formally. However, according to the administration, no official submissions were received following the meeting.
Students, however, paint a different picture. Many claim that conversations with the administration have not resulted in any clear resolutions. One student noted that although the institute initially said fee payment delays would not impact registration, students with outstanding dues were later blocked from registering.
Tensions reportedly heightened when the institute’s director refused to meet protesting students on July 23. In response, the student group has initiated fee boycotts and paused their teaching assistant responsibilities as a form of protest. They also shared that several students have fallen sick due to prolonged exposure to the humid Guwahati weather during demonstrations.
“Everyone is feeling ignored. It’s making students angry, disappointed, and disheartened,” a protestor shared.
Additional grievances revolve around the deteriorating condition of hostel facilities. Students report issues such as poor bathroom hygiene, damaged infrastructure, and malfunctioning air conditioning units in academic buildings. These concerns raise questions about the justification for a fee hike purportedly meant to improve student amenities.
While the administration maintains that only a small fraction of the 8,400-strong student body is actively protesting, it also noted that the dissenting group has bypassed the officially elected student representatives. According to the institute, the student council is working through formal channels to present a proposal addressing concerns around the revised fees.
In its final remarks, the administration reiterated its commitment to student welfare and encouraged all students to engage through “constructive and formal dialogue.”
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