Politics & Policy

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu has issued disciplinary notices to students who missed a mandatory lamp-lighting ceremony held on September 17, 2026, to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday. The student council mandated attendance and threatened a fine of ₹500 for those absent without medical justification supported by the campus dispensary, Sanjeevni. Read More Congress Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain publicly criticized the move, questioning whether educational institutions should compel participation in political celebrations. Brigadier Neeraj Soni, chairperson of student affairs at IIM Jammu, denied that any fines were actually imposed, describing the initiative as a standard measure for holistic student participation similar to Independence Day or Gandhi Jayanti events. He stated that no students were penalized despite the initial notice. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders who argue that such actions politicize premier academic institutions and undermine independent thought