Academic expenses at JNU have fallen almost by half between 2014-15 and 2023-24, data from the university’s annual accounts show, reflecting the devastation caused to higher studies by the Centre’s tightfistedness.

Among academic areas to have suffered the most are fieldwork by research scholars, scholarship support for students and PhD scholars, the purchase of journals, running of laboratories and the conduct of seminars. (See chart)

The university awards a Merit-Cum-Means Scholarship to undergraduate and postgraduate students of straitened means, the amount of ₹2,000 a month unchanged for nearly a decade. Many PhD students receive a Non-NET fellowship of ₹8,000 a month.

Overall, spending on academic activities — which also include convocations, teaching aids, exams and student welfare, among others — has fallen from ₹37,34,73,951 in 2014-15 to ₹20,30,61,308 in 2023-24.

Surajit Mazumdar, economics professor at JNU, said the funds requirement kept rising every year but the increase in government grants had not kept pace. This had forced deep spending cuts in key academic areas so that the varsity could continue paying salaries and pensions and look after its running costs.

“Research and teaching have suffered significantly because of the lack of adequate funds for fieldwork or the conduct of seminars for academic debates and the presentation of research work,” Mazumdar said.

“The JNU administration and the government are responsible for the present condition of the university.”

Mazumdar said there was no clarity whether the JNU administration had ever taken up the funds crunch with the education ministry.

Vice-chancellor Santishri D. Pandit had last week said she planned to redevelop two prime university properties — the Gomti Guest House and the City Centre — in collaboration with private bodies to raise resources.

Twelve government institutions run their offices from JNU’s main campus but pay no rent to the university. Pandit has said she plans to seek rent from these offices.

“To the best of my knowledge, there has been no formal decision at the university’s statutory bodies on the commercial redevelopment of any property or seeking rent from offices running from the JNU campus,” Mazumdar said.

“The Gomti Guest House and the City Centre were created for certain purposes. They cannot be used for financing the university. Instead, the university must ask the government to increase funding.”

Mazumdar said the amounts paid under the MCM and Non-NET fellowships were insufficient.

“It’s a merit-cum-means scholarship; it’s by definition given to those without adequate means. The amount must therefore be enhanced keeping in view the growing expenses. But there’s been no change to the amount for a long time,” he said.

An email has been sent to the VC for her perspective on the spending cuts. Her response is awaited.