Tensions Soar at Pune University: Students Clash With Police, Break Barricades and Storm VC Office Over Exam Results and ‘Carry-On’ Demand
Tensions Soar at Pune University: Students Clash With Police, Break Barricades and Storm VC Office Over Exam Results and ‘Carry-On’ Demand
A wave of unrest swept across the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) campus today as hundreds of students, primarily from engineering and third-year undergraduate streams, launched a powerful protest against what they claim is an unfair evaluation system and sudden academic changes. The student-led agitation quickly escalated, resulting in an intense standoff between the protestors and security personnel.
Early in the day, large groups of students assembled near the university’s main administrative building. Their primary grievances revolved around the demand for re-evaluation of recent engineering exam results, the reinstatement of the carry-on system (which allows students to move forward despite failing a subject), and the rollback of a newly introduced examination pattern.
The situation turned tense when some students, feeling ignored, attempted to breach barricades to reach the Vice-Chancellor’s office. Police forces rushed to the spot to control the situation. Despite the heavy security presence, the students stood their ground, chanting slogans and calling for the university’s top official to personally address their concerns.
पुणे विद्यापीठाच्या कुलगुरू कार्यालयाबाहेर हजारो विद्यार्थी एनएसयूआयच्या नेतृत्वाखाली Carry On किंवा पुन्हा सुरू करावी या मागणीसाठी निदर्शने करत आहेत, परंतु कुलगुरू या विद्यार्थ्यांना भेटण्यासाठी खाली येऊ इच्छित नाहीत. जर विद्यापीठ काही चुकीचे करत नसेल तर कुलगुरू विद्यार्थ्यांना… pic.twitter.com/isYFBKgfE3
— Adv Amir Shaikh (@amirshaikh_INC) July 14, 2025
According to students, their frustration has been brewing ever since the university released the latest engineering exam results. They allege serious discrepancies, with one protester stating, “Our entire academic year shouldn’t be wasted over one subject. We’re not asking for shortcuts, just a fair chance to move forward.”
As emotions ran high, a group of students managed to enter the administrative building, demanding an immediate audience with the Vice-Chancellor. They claimed that he had earlier assured them he would meet within ten minutes — a promise that remained unfulfilled. This delay reportedly triggered the aggressive move towards his office.
Meanwhile, representatives from the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) joined the protest, voicing strong opposition to the university’s implementation of a new exam format this academic year. Students say the change came without warning or consultation and left many struggling to adapt. “This sudden shift has only added confusion and pressure. We want the university to reverse the decision and conduct re-examinations under the previous format,” said a third-year student from the engineering department.
Protesters also pointed out glaring inconsistencies in the grading system. One case highlighted during the protest involved a student initially scoring 9 out of 50 but mysteriously receiving 20 after grace marks. “This kind of arbitrary scoring is completely unjust. If grace is capped at 10%, how can a student get 11 extra marks? It raises serious doubts about the entire process,” another student remarked.
Amid the growing unrest, a small delegation of students was finally allowed to meet a university official on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor. After a detailed discussion, the university administration asked for two days to address the students’ concerns. In response, student leaders announced a temporary suspension of the protest for the same period.
However, the student community remains vigilant. Many said the next course of action will depend entirely on the university’s response in the next 48 hours. If their demands are not met, they warn, the protests could intensify further and expand across other departments.
For now, the campus remains calm but alert — a brief pause in what could turn into a larger movement if the administration fails to act decisively. The students, unified across disciplines, say they are not merely fighting for marks, but for academic fairness, transparency, and respect.
