AIU said prolonged protests could cause loss of academic time, disrupt preparation and create avoidable stress (representative image)
NEW DELHI: The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has asked universities and higher education institutions to counsel students against staying away from classes to join protests over recent examination controversies, saying prolonged agitation comes at a “considerable cost” to their studies.In a letter to vice-chancellors and directors of member institutions, AIU president Vinay Kumar Pathak urged them to engage with students with empathy but ensure that their energies were not “diverted by calls to protest”.The July 21 letter comes amid continuing protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. Students and other protesters have demanded examination reforms, accountability for the leak and the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.“In the wake of recent concerns surrounding the conduct of certain national-level examinations, a section of students on several campuses has been staying away from classes to take part in protests and agitations — at considerable cost to their own studies,” Pathak said.While acknowledging that students’ concerns deserved to be heard “with empathy and respect”, the AIU said prolonged protests could cause loss of academic time, disrupt preparation and create avoidable stress. “Prolonged agitation exacts its heaviest price from the students themselves — in lost academic time, disrupted preparation and avoidable stress,” the letter said.The AIU argued that this cost was unnecessary as the government was committed to resolving the concerns and had conducted the recent NEET examination in a “transparent and error-free manner”. The June 21 examination was held after the original May 3 test was cancelled following a question-paper leak.“I would, therefore, earnestly appeal to you to counsel our students — with patience, sensitivity and care for their future — to remain focused on their academic pursuits and not to allow their energies to be diverted by calls to protest,” Pathak said.The association also asked students to repose faith in the government’s efforts to strengthen the examination system rather than be influenced by “rumour and speculation”.“The Hon’ble Prime Minister has himself appealed to students and has assured the nation that all possible steps will be taken to ensure that future examinations are conducted in a completely fair, transparent and secure manner,” the letter said.Pathak asked university heads to personally engage with students, mentor them and keep campuses “calm and focused”.“I am confident that, with your personal attention and compassionate leadership, our campuses will remain calm and focused, and our students will devote their full energies to their studies and to nation-building,” he said.
