JNU Students’ Union Hunger Strike Enters Fifth Day, Demands Reinstatement of JNUEE for PhD Admissions

JNUSU has condemned university’s decision to rely solely on UGC-NET scores from June 2024 or December 2024, excluding those who took June 2025 exam.

Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) continues its indefinite hunger strike, now in its fifth day, protesting university’s PhD admission policies for 2025-26 academic session.

Strike which began on June 26, demands reinstatement of JNU Entrance Examination (JNUEE) for PhD admissions and inclusion of candidates who appeared for June 2025 UGC-NET exam, among other grievances.

JNUSU has condemned university’s decision to rely only on UGC-NET scores from June 2024 or December 2024, excluding those who took June 2025 exam. This move, according to the union, unfairly disqualifies many prospective applicants, particularly recent MA graduates from the 2023 batch. “Many students had been preparing with the assumption that the June 2025 NET would be valid. The administration made this decision without informing anyone in advance,” said JNUSU Vice-President Manisha, who has lost 2.5 kg during the strike.

Student union has argued that shift to UGC-NET, with its percentile based filtering and heavy reliance on viva-voce, is exclusionary and less transparent than JNUEE. A referendum was held on May 24 which showed 93% student support for reinstating the JNUEE. Additional demands include halting the eviction of PhD scholars from hostels before thesis submission, revoking proctorial inquiries against protesting students, and increasing the Merit-cum-Means (MCM) scholarship to Rs 5,000.

Eight students, including JNUSU President Nitish Kumar, Vice-President Manisha, General Secretary Munteha Fatima, and councillors like Abhishek from SFI, are participating in strike near the Administrative Block.Tensions have escalated as Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit has refused to meet union unless all four office bearers, including ABVP-affiliated Joint Secretary Vaibhav Meena, are present. Meena has not joined strike, as ABVP supports UGC-NET system, citing its wider reach and diversity in admissions. JNU VC has also stated that deans and chairpersons declined to organize JNUEE last year due to financial constraints, though JNUSU disputes this, claiming many academic units supported its reinstatement.

JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) has criticized admission process, noting that exclusion of June 2025 UGC-NET candidates and delays in academic calendar create inequities. Meanwhile, JNU has proceeded with PhD applications (open until July 7), with viva-voce exams scheduled for July 25–31 and first merit list due on August 11.

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