Pune, 24 April 2026: An indefinite hunger strike has been launched at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) by the National Students Union of India (NSUI) from April 22, protesting against repeated fee hikes and the administration’s alleged neglect of long-pending student demands.
The protest comes at a time when the number of admission applications to the university has seen a sharp decline, intensifying student dissatisfaction.
According to data presented by the protesting students, applications have dropped significantly from 32,913 in the 2021–22 academic year to just 15,676 in 2025–26. During the same period, the university’s intake capacity has also reduced from 8,724 to 7,771 seats.
Students argue that instead of offering financial relief in response to falling admissions, the university has increased fees, worsening the situation.
The students further claim that entrance examination fees have nearly doubled over the past two years. The fee for candidates in the open category has risen from ₹600 in 2023–24 to ₹1,000 for the 2026–27 cycle.
They also pointed to a major gap between revenue and expenditure, stating that the university earned ₹71.88 lakh from entrance exams in 2025–26 but spent only ₹8.57 lakh, alleging that students are being financially exploited.
Concerns have also been raised over online 'extra credit' courses, for which students are charged ₹1,510. Protesters claim these credits are not reflected in academic records, and have demanded that such courses be made optional rather than mandatory.
Additionally, the 'Earn and Learn' scheme remains a key issue, with students demanding an increase in daily wages from ₹55 to ₹80, a demand that has remained unresolved despite earlier protests.
Student leaders Siddhant Jambhulkar, Vikas Avchar, and Rahul Guradhe are leading the hunger strike, stating that the protest will continue until the university administration takes a positive decision.
They emphasized that the entrance exam fee should be reduced to ₹300, the current admission process should be paused and revised with new fees, and pending student welfare demands must be addressed.
The ongoing protest has drawn attention to the university administration’s stance, with growing pressure to respond to student concerns amid declining admissions and rising discontent on campus.
