The JNU community has expressed deep concern over these budget cuts, with some describing them as a systematic “devastation” of higher education
Piyush Gautam
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), once hailed as one of India’s most prestigious institutions of higher education, is facing a troubling decline in its academic expenditure, a trend that has raised alarms within the academic community. According to data from the university’s annual accounts, the expenditure on academic activities has nearly halved over the past decade, a period that coincides with the tenure of the Modi government. This decline has sparked concerns about the impact on the quality of education, research, and student welfare at the university.
In 2014–15, JNU allocated Rs 37.34 crore towards academic activities, which included funding for teaching aids, examinations, convocations, and various student welfare initiatives. However, by 2023–24, this expenditure had dropped to just Rs 20.30 crore. This significant reduction in funding has raised questions about the university’s ability to maintain its academic standards and provide adequate support to its students and faculty.
The decline in academic expenditure has affected several critical areas within the university. Research scholars, who rely on funding for fieldwork and other research-related activities, have been hit particularly hard. The purchase of academic journals, which are essential for keeping faculty and students up-to-date with the latest developments in their fields, has also seen cuts. Laboratory operations, which are crucial for students in the sciences, have been scaled back due to the lack of funds. Additionally, the organisation of seminars and conferences, which play a vital role in fostering intellectual exchange and collaboration, has suffered due to budget constraints.
The reduction in funding has not only affected academic activities but also student welfare initiatives. For instance, the merit-cum-means scholarships, which are intended to support financially disadvantaged undergraduate and postgraduate students, have remained stagnant at Rs 2,000 per month for nearly a decade. This amount is woefully inadequate given the rising cost of living and education in the national capital. Similarly, the non-NET fellowship, which provides Rs 8,000 per month to PhD students, has not seen an increase in years, leaving many scholars struggling to cover their basic expenses.
The JNU community has expressed deep concern over these budget cuts, with some describing them as a systematic “devastation” of higher education. Critics argue that the Centre’s financial policies for JNU have been detrimental to the university’s ability to fulfill its academic mission. The stagnation in scholarship and fellowship amounts, coupled with the decline in funding for academic activities, has created a challenging environment for students and faculty alike.
In response to these financial constraints, JNU’s vice-chancellor, Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, has announced plans to generate additional resources by redeveloping two prime university properties — the Gomti Guest House and the City Centre — in collaboration with private entities. These redevelopment projects are intended to provide the university with much-needed funds, but they have also raised concerns about the potential commercialization of the university’s assets.
Additionally, Pandit has indicated plans to seek rent from the 12 government institutions that currently operate rent-free offices on JNU’s main campus. This move is seen as a way to increase revenue for the university, but it also highlights the financial challenges that JNU is facing.
The financial struggles at JNU have coincided with what some perceive as an increasingly strict and adversarial stance from the university’s administration towards its students. An RTI inquiry in July revealed that there has been a notable rise in FIRs filed against JNU students in recent years. Since 2016, 35 FIRs have been filed by the JNU administration itself against its own students, the highest number recorded in the university’s history. This development has fueled concerns about the administration’s approach to student discipline and dissent.
The situation at JNU raises broader questions about the state of higher education in India. As one of the country’s premier state universities, JNU has long been a symbol of academic excellence and intellectual freedom. However, the decline in academic expenditure and the increasing tensions between the administration and students suggest that the university is at a crossroads. The challenges facing JNU are not just about numbers on a balance sheet; they are about the future of higher education in India and the role that institutions like JNU will play in shaping the country’s intellectual and cultural landscape.
As the debate over JNU’s financial policies and administrative practices continues, one thing is clear: the university’s future is uncertain. The decline in academic expenditure is a troubling sign that JNU’s ability to maintain its standards of excellence may be at risk. For a university that has produced some of India’s most prominent intellectuals, policymakers, and leaders, the stakes could not be higher.
