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Teachers’ Report Says JNU Has Shifted to VC‑Centric Control as Diversity and Research Decline

The study links the slide to admissions changes alongside shrinking academic budgets.

Overview

  • The JNUTA released its "JNU: The State of the University" report on October 8 alleging a vice chancellor‑centric model with discretionary appointments and weakened deliberation in statutory bodies.
  • Women’s share of the student body fell from 51.1% in 2016–17 to 43.1% in 2024–25, while SC and ST counts dropped to 1,143 and 545 respectively, which the report ties to NTA/CUET admissions and the scrapping of deprivation points.
  • Total academic expenses excluding examination costs declined 36% from Rs 30.28 crore in 2015–16 to Rs 19.29 crore in 2024–25, with steep cuts to seminars, laboratories and fieldwork.
  • Research enrolments fell from 5,432 in 2016–17 to about 3,286 in 2024–25, marking a sharp erosion of the university’s research base.
  • Of 326 faculty vacancies taken up between February 2022 and August 2025, 184 resulted in appointments while 133 were marked "no suitable candidate"; the university has not issued a substantive response and student union elections are expected in November.