IIT Bombay defends fee hike, explains the structure

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay students began a hunger strike the following day in protest of the price hike decision. IIT defended the fee hike and rejected accusations of employing physical force against the students or involving the police in the matter. “An institute continues to adapt its rates proportionately to stay alive and thrive, to serve the students of today and tomorrow equally,” IIT Bombay said in a statement.

According to a statement from IIT Bombay, “Police were present as a standard security measure due to the reunion convocation of prior batches, which had over 2200 graduated students visiting campus, but had absolutely no engagement with the protesting students.”

IIT Bombay provided an explanation for the tuition increase by stating that fees only make up 8% of its total revenue and that the majority of its funding comes from the government. The statement made in support of the increase in hostel fees read, “While tuition prices can never cover our overall costs, it is the intention that the hostel-related fees will at least be equal to the hostel-related expenses spent.” According to IIT Bombay, operational costs are higher than the hostel fees it was previously receiving, and even with the higher rates, they are still higher. It said that the capital expense associated with building hostels is not even included in this.

According to the institute, the total cost of a student’s dormitory stay formerly was approximately Rs 2000 per month but is now closer to Rs 2700 per month. This sum comprises rent for the accommodation, costs for power and water, as well as medical expenses. It requested a comparison of the fees with the Rs. 31,000–34,000 per month PhD salary and the Rs. 12,400 per month MTech stipend.

IIT Bombay fee structure

IIT Bombay further stated that new MTech students’ tuition prices went from Rs 5,000 per semester (after a partial tuition fee rebate) to Rs 30,000 per semester, while current PhD students’ tuition fees are Rs 2,500 per semester and Rs 5,000 per semester, respectively. The institute continued, “It may be noted that even these higher costs (which do not affect current students) are relatively minimal).

The higher education institutions must now take out loans to cover the cost of all new hostel and academic building construction. These loans must be repaid in 10 instalments, with interest paid by the Ministry of Education, the institute continued, outlining the hostel fee structure in great detail. According to IIT Bombay, the significant rise in student enrollment necessitates the construction of additional dormitories and academic buildings. “The hostel fee increase is necessary to cover actual expenses, allowing our other sources of income to be used to provide better academic facilities for all of our students and to take the loans that we desperately need for expanding our infrastructure, rather than subsidising operational expenses of hostels,” the university stated.

IIT Bombay also spoke about the administration’s actions to allay students’ worries in the wake of the open house, including the addition of four student members to the fee committee, a deduction from the semester mess advance for the hostel amenities fund, a deferral of fees for students with financial difficulties, the introduction of scholarships for UG and PG students, and more.

It should be noted that IIT Bombay has a priority on serving its students. As a result, at the start of the semester, every needy student received financial assistance for a laptop and data connection thanks to the help of our alumni. IIT Bombay added that it would keep addressing the requirements of the students who are less fortunate financially.