In February 2026, protests broke out at Jawaharlal Nehru University following remarks made by Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit in a podcast interview. The demonstrations led to detentions, arrests and a police presence on campus.
The Podcast Remarks
In an interview with The Sunday Guardian, Pandit spoke about what she described as “wokeism” creating an artificial enemy. She said there was a sense of “permanent victimhood” and stated that progress could not happen by “playing the victim card”. She referred to Blacks in the United States and Dalits in India while making these remarks.
She also commented on University Grants Commission regulations introduced in January 2026. These regulations focused on protections for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes against discrimination. Pandit criticised the rules and described them as unnecessary.
In the same interview, she addressed the rustication of JNU Students Union office bearers. The student leaders had earlier been rusticated after they were allegedly involved in vandalism during protests against facial recognition surveillance and privacy concerns on campus. Pandit said dissent was acceptable but vandalism and violence were not.
Following the circulation of clips from the interview, the JNU Students Union announced a protest march.
The Planned March And Police Action
Students said they planned to march from the campus to the Ministry of Education on 26 February 2026. Their demands included the resignation of the Vice Chancellor, restoration of earlier UGC equity rules, implementation of the proposed Rohith Act for protection of Dalit and Adivasi students, release of detained students, withdrawal of FIRs and proctorial actions, and action against police personnel whom they alleged had damaged a portrait of B R Ambedkar during the protests.
According to police, students attempted to move out of campus without permission to hold a protest outside university grounds. Police said barricades were broken during the attempt.
The Delhi Police stated that around 25 personnel were injured during the clashes, alleging that sticks and other objects were thrown and that some officers were bitten.
Students alleged that police used excessive force. They said several students were detained in undisclosed locations. The JNU Teachers Association issued a statement alleging “brutal use of force” and said police action restricted students’ right to protest.
Reports described a heavy police presence on campus between 21 and 26 February. Media coverage referred to the campus as resembling a conflict zone during the peak of the protests.
Police detained 51 students and arrested at least 14 people in connection with the protests.
Background To The Dispute
The University Grants Commission regulations introduced in January 2026 aimed to provide safeguards against discrimination for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes in higher education institutions.
Critics of the regulations argued that they did not extend similar protections to general category students and could create division. The Supreme Court later stayed the new rules, describing them as sweeping and potentially divisive.
Separately, the rustication of JNU Students Union office bearers followed earlier protests on campus against facial recognition surveillance measures. University authorities had alleged vandalism during those demonstrations.
Pandit later said her remarks in the podcast had been taken out of context. She stated that she came from an OBC background.
Earlier Protests At JNU
JNU has seen multiple student protests over the years. In 2019, demonstrations against a hostel fee hike led to clashes in which police used water cannons. Police have also entered campus in previous instances during confrontations between student groups and during large-scale protests.
The February 2026 protests followed this history of student demonstrations at the university.
What is Happening Right Now
Following the clashes, legal proceedings related to arrests and FIRs were initiated. Student groups continued to press their demands through statements and campus meetings.
The UGC regulations remain stayed by the Supreme Court. Discussions around equity rules and their scope are ongoing.
The February protests at JNU centred on remarks made in a podcast, the interpretation of UGC regulations and disciplinary action against student leaders. The matter involved both administrative decisions and police intervention, resulting in detentions, arrests and competing accounts of events from students and authorities.
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