IISER Pune Students Protest on August 27 to Seek Mental Health Reforms, End to Disciplinary Action Against Student Representative

Pune, 26th August 2026: Students of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune will hold a peaceful sit-in on Thursday to raise concerns over the mental health crisis on campus, administrative response to student grievances and disciplinary action against student representatives.

The demonstration will be held at 11am on August 27 at the Baner Gate of the IISER Pune campus. According to the students, protest follows the death of a BS-MS student on August 16 and comes amid concerns over the institution’s mental health infrastructure and what students describe as a lack of adequate institutional support.

Students have alleged that the campus mental health infrastructure has failed to meet their needs, with months-long waiting periods for psychiatric care. They have also raised concerns about the lack of meaningful academic accommodations for students dealing with grief and mental health difficulties.

The students have also objected to disciplinary action against the general secretary of the student council following concerns raised by the council over student safety. They have alleged that changes to due process and action against student representatives have created an atmosphere in which students fear retaliation for raising grievances.

Among their key demands is the immediate revocation of the suspension and hostel expulsion of the student council general secretary. Students have also demanded an end to what they describe as stringent disciplinary action against student representatives.

On academics, they are seeking relaxation of pre-mid-semester examination attendance requirements, a halt to excessive short-term quizzes and clear policies providing support to grieving students.

The students have demanded an overhaul of mental health services, including increasing the number of counsellors, maintaining transparent counsellor appointment waitlists, ensuring confidentiality and restoring on-campus psychiatric services.

They have also sought the rollback of gender-based restrictions on hostel mobility and restoration of common spaces for student interaction and study. Another key demand is a guarantee that students participating in peaceful protests or advocating for institutional reforms will not face disciplinary or administrative retaliation.

The students said the protest seeks accountability, reforms to the campus mental health system, restoration of student representation and protection of students’ right to raise concerns without fear of retaliation.