September 21, 07:10Aaj Tak

IIT-B Director Signs 18-Point Charter Including Student Demands for Resignation and Action Against Professor

The conflict between students and the administration at IIT-Bombay reached a significant stage late Sunday evening. The administration agreed to accept and continue working on the students' proposal, which contains 18 demands, following prolonged protests.

After extended negotiations with students who had been camped at the main entrance for three days, Director Professor Shirish Kedare signed the document. This agreement was reached after the suicide of 20-year-old student Sahil Wakode on September 18, after which students demanded accountability and action from the administration.

Among the main demands put forward by the protesting students is the necessity of taking action against Professor Suryanarayan Dulla. He was present as an observer during the exam that preceded Sahil Wakode's death. During a meeting with the students, Director Shirish Kedare stated that the institute would take action in accordance with established rules and procedures. Another institute employee also hinted that this matter would be resolved through proper procedure, clarifying that signing the charter does not mean immediate acceptance of every individual claim.

Prior to this event, there were three hours of negotiations between activists and senior representatives of the IIT-Bombay administration. This proposal includes a demand to investigate Wakode's death, as well as demands for broad changes in the institute's academic, disciplinary, and student welfare systems.

Videos circulating on social media allegedly showing the resignation of the IIT-Bombay director, but there is no official confirmation of this information at the moment.

It is important to note that the 18-point charter is not limited only to the demand for Professor Dulla's removal. Students have put forward many other demands. Key requests include: conducting an independent investigation into the entire case related to Sahil Wakode's death; publishing an interim investigation report by September 30 and a final report by October 15; holding an open session in the presence of the director, dean of student affairs, and other high-ranking officials; and issuing public apologies for defamation against Sahil Wakode.

This 18-point charter covers various student requests, including changes to the functioning of IIT-Bombay. These changes include developing a code of conduct for faculty, training staff and personnel to understand student mental health and adopt more empathetic behavior, improving individual counseling opportunities for students, changing the procedure of the disciplinary committee, and increasing student participation in important institutional decisions.

Students also demanded the creation of a special group to study mental health issues and develop prevention measures. This group should include students, faculty members, mental health specialists, and external experts. Furthermore, they sought improvements in medical care and mental health, including a demand for 24-hour psychiatric presence at the institute's hospital. They insisted on receiving a written plan of these improvements by September 26. Another request was that no action should be taken against students participating in peaceful demonstrations. Another student demand was that if these improvements are not implemented within a month, the director must resign.

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www.aajtak.inSeptember 21, 10:15

IIT Bombay apologizes for comments on student Sahil's death and takes action against professor

Amidst the concern surrounding the death of student Sahil, the IIT Bombay institute publicly apologized on social media for its previous statements. The institution admitted that it was irresponsible and inappropriate to comment on the circumstances or causes of the incident before the police investigation was complete.

Furthermore, according to available information, the institute has met several demands from students. A decision was made to suspend the activities of the professor involved in the case.

IIT Bombay News:

The recent sudden death of student Sahil on the IIT Bombay campus shocked the entire community. Immediately after the incident, the IIT administration released a statement mentioning certain circumstances related to the incident that had not been officially proven.

Questions began to arise regarding this stance of the institute and the hastily made statement while the investigation was ongoing. As a result, the administration found itself in a defensive position and was forced to issue a public apology on X (Twitter).

What was in IIT Bombay's apology?

Posting on the official IIT Bombay account on X, the institute wrote: 'We apologize for the statements made in our previous post regarding the circumstances of Sahil's tragic death.' The administration acknowledged its mistake and added that the details and circumstances leading to this case are currently under investigation by the relevant authorities. They emphasized that it was inappropriate to provide or determine the details of the events before establishing the facts within due investigative procedure, given the ongoing investigation.

Why is this U-turn so important?

After such an unpleasant incident on any campus, the truth is established only through forensic examination and official investigation. Any statement by the institute before receiving a report can influence the direction of the investigation.

Action taken against the professor

While IIT Bombay was forced to publicly apologize for its initial statements regarding the death of student Sahil, the administration also took decisive steps amid growing dissatisfaction and protests on campus. Following disputes and questions on social media related to the case, administrative action was taken against the professor from the relevant department. Students claimed that the situation escalated due to administrative negligence and indifference, after which the institute stated its confidence in an impartial investigation and took these measures.

The institute also officially denied rumors circulating on social media amidst campus unrest and protests that the Director of IIT Bombay had resigned. The institute issued a statement clearly stating that the Director of IIT Bombay had not resigned, and that such reports were completely false.

It should be noted that following Sahil's suicide, students have been holding demonstrations on campus, demanding the resignation of the director along with their '18-point charter'. Local police and investigative agencies are currently conducting a thorough investigation into all aspects of the case. The true cause of Sahil's death will only become clear after the release of the official investigation report.

www.aajtak.inSeptember 9, 16:37

Neha Bora supported TGT-PGT candidates in Prayagraj and warned of fierce protests

In the city of Prayagraj, located at the confluence of rivers, dissatisfaction is growing among TGT-PGT exam candidates due to the requirement to apply old rules. Student protests, which began on Teacher's Day (September 5th) in the form of a prolonged fast, are turning into a significant political platform with the participation of student organizations.

On the fifth day of the hunger strike, Neha Bora, the national president of the All India Students Association (AISA), arrived to the candidates and expressed her full support for their struggle. Earlier, Sanjay Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP from the Aam Aadmi Party and responsible for Uttar Pradesh, also visited the protest site and acknowledged the validity of the students' demands.

At the protest site in Prayagraj, three male and two female students have been on an indefinite hunger strike since September 5th. Due to the multi-day refusal of food and water, the health condition of the candidates is deteriorating, but they insist that they will not back down until the Uttar Pradesh government and relevant commissions provide written guarantees regarding the application of the old regulations.

The candidates and AISA national president Neha Bora sent a stern warning to the government. The fasting students stated that they are currently expressing their protest exclusively through peaceful and Gandhian methods. Nevertheless, if the government continues to ignore their legitimate demands, the movement will move beyond the fasting site and take to the streets of Prayagraj and the entire state.

The students emphasized that neglecting the rights of millions of TGT-PGT candidates will directly affect the government during the upcoming elections. Neha Bora, meeting with the fasters, highly praised their determination and stated that the right to employment and transparent rules is a basic right of students that cannot be suppressed under any circumstances.

The candidates protesting in Prayagraj claim that the new changes made to the TGT-PGT exams have put the future of millions of candidates at risk. They demand that the selection process be completed according to the old transparent rules so that no one suffers from injustice. The unification of the opposition and major student organizations has caused this student movement in Prayagraj to gain momentum in Uttar Pradesh politics.

www.aajtak.inSeptember 8, 14:34

IIT Madras launches 17 new online courses for 9th-12th grade students

The question of what to study after finishing school and in which field to build a career often causes difficulties for students and their parents. Due to a lack of proper guidance or awareness, children often choose from a limited number of options. To solve this problem and link school education with higher education, the prestigious institute of the country, IIT Madras, has initiated a remarkable program.

The Center for Outreach and Digital Education (CODE) at IIT Madras has expanded the scope of its flagship project, the 'School Connect Program,' by launching 17 new online certification courses for students in grades 9-12.

This program is designed specifically for students in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. Its main goal is to introduce students to the practical world and modern career opportunities that go beyond the standard curriculum. Thanks to this initiative by IIT Madras, schoolchildren from remote parts of the country will have the opportunity to receive high-quality education at the IIT level.

Students from partner schools can enroll in any of the 17 courses according to their preferences. Available fields include: 'Data Science and AI' (data science and artificial intelligence basics), 'Electronic Systems' (introduction to electronics and equipment), 'Architecture and Design' (basic principles of design and construction), 'Engineering Biological Systems', 'Fun with Math and Computing', 'Introduction to Law' (fundamentals of law), 'Math Unplugged' (studying mathematics through games and puzzles), 'Fundamentals of Aerospace' (space and aviation technologies), 'Introduction to Ecology' (ecology and environment), 'Humanities Unplugged', 'Chemical Engineering', 'Economics, Finance and Money Matters' (finance and economics management), 'Game Tech Explorers' (game technology and human-machine interaction), 'Product Design', 'Molecular Engineering', 'Cyber Security' (lessons in digital world safety), and 'Digital Humanities'.

Students from partner schools register for these courses. In addition to studying, they must complete assignments and take online exams. Students who successfully complete the course and pass the exam will be issued an official 'e-certificate' from IIT Madras.

The IIT Madras network is rapidly expanding: currently, 4920 schools across the country have joined the program, and over 175,270 students have registered to participate.

The application deadline is set for September 30, 2026, and classes are scheduled to begin on October 5, 2026.

The 'School Connect' program gives children the opportunity to understand their true interests—whether it be aerospace, product design, cybersecurity, or finance—many years before entering college, which helps avoid choosing an unsuitable major after graduating from the 12th grade.