Members of the Student Congress staged a large-scale protest at Gandhi Marg on Tuesday, expressing strong opposition to the new University Grants Commission (UGC) policy regarding the selection of university vice-chancellors.
The demonstration, led by Student Congress president Udit Pradhan, turned heated as protestors clashed with police while attempting to breach barricades and surround the Odisha Assembly. Reports suggest that hundreds of Student Congress workers have been detained.
Protesters condemned the UGC’s proposal to allow bureaucrats or industrialists to be appointed as vice-chancellors, a move they believe undermines the traditional academic system. “Only a professor with years of experience in academia should become a vice-chancellor. Commercializing educational institutions by appointing bureaucrats or industrialists is unacceptable,” said Udit Pradhan.
The protest also included criticism of the National Education Policy (NEP), introduced in 2020, which protesters claim centralizes education and diminishes academic standards. Citing recent changes, they highlighted that postgraduate teachers without PhDs are now eligible to become professors, a system they argue undermines the integrity of education.
Pradhan, supported by Congress leader Yasir Nawaz, stated that the Student Congress and affiliated organizations would intensify their opposition in the coming days. A memorandum addressing these concerns is set to be submitted to both the state government and the Union Education Minister.
Amid heightened tensions, the Odisha government’s decision to implement the NEP in the state has also come under fire. The protesters reiterated that education should remain in the hands of academics and not be subjected to administrative or industrial control.
The clash highlights growing dissatisfaction among students and educators toward the evolving educational policies in India. Further demonstrations are expected as the Student Congress seeks to safeguard the academic tradition.
