IIT Roorkee Issues Advisory Limiting Political Activity

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee issued an advisory on Monday, July 20, 2026, reminding its students and staff to refrain from political activities and public statements without prior institutional permission. The communication, which cited the institute's existing conduct rules, was released amid a day of major student protests in New Delhi and quickly drew widespread criticism online after screenshots were shared on social media.

The advisory stated that the institute had observed some members of the campus community on platforms like Instagram and Facebook showing affinity with a political movement currently in public discussion. It reiterated that IIT Roorkee's primary mandate is education and research, and its rules prohibit students and employees from joining political discussions or activities without prior approval. The rules also bar statements in any media that could embarrass relations between the institute and the central government or other organizations.

The communication coincided with a large protest march in Delhi led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), an online student movement. On July 20, thousands of demonstrators converged near Parliament,...