Guwahati: IIT Guwahati authorities on Wednesday said a fee hike was imminent to support the cause of the students, even as PhD students at the institute continued their second day of protests on Wednesday against substantial fee increase across various heads. The students conducted a protest march on the campus on Tuesday night, while the IIT Guwahati administration maintained that the hike in fee has been made ‘to support enhanced student welfare and activities’.‘IIT Guwahati revised the fee after seven years, and the increase for continuing students is Rs 8,900 per semester. This was made to support enhanced student welfare and activities, including increased allocations for hostel-level events, cultural and sports festivals, and Gymkhana-led initiatives beyond just Inter-IIT participation,’ IIT Guwahati authority said in a statement on Wednesday.Following the fee increase announcement last month, PG and PhD students requested an open discussion to understand the fee component increases. The administration stated they held a four-hour discussion on July 17, explaining the fee increase details. “The students were also informed that the institute made provisions for loans through the Students’ Welfare Fund to support the needy ones. At the conclusion of the meeting, with the clarifications in hand, the student body was asked to submit their representation if they had any further concerns. No submission has been received so far,” the IIT Guwahati authority claimed on Wednesday.The administration noted that the protest outside the administrative building that started on Tuesday was unexpected, occurring without prior notice or formal representation of concerns. “While a small group of students is protesting, the majority of the 8,400-strong student body is not participating in the protest,” the administration claimed, although protesting PhD students asserted support from others unable to join.“This small group of protesting students bypassed the elected student body,” the administration added, noting the elected student body statement: “Despite the ongoing dialogue within the elected student body to put up a proposal for consideration of fee revision, this small group of protesting students disobeyed the student representatives, jeopardising their efforts at reconciliation. The elected student body is not part of this protest and is also working through the proper channel for an amicable solution to the increased components of the fee.“The protesters highlight that PhD students’ fee increased by Rs 10,900 for the July-Nov semester 2025, rising from Rs 34,800 in Jan-May 2025 to Rs 45,700.
