Rashtriya Raksha University Hikes Back-Exam Fees from ₹200 to ₹5,000 — a 2400% Jump
Students at Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), Gandhinagar are now paying twenty-five times more to reappear for back examinations than they were just a few months ago. The decision, taken in the 32nd meeting of the university's Academic Council, raised the back examination fee from ₹200 to ₹5,000 — irrespective of the number of subjects — an increase of 2400%.
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The change was communicated to students through a Promotion Policy issued for all academic programmes (RRU/SSAB/Promotion Policy/2025/357). Clause P.5 of the new policy mandates a flat fee of ₹5,000 for students enrolled across all campuses. Previously, students paid a nominal ₹200 per subject to appear in back examinations. Students say the financial burden is significant, particularly for those from economically modest backgrounds.
What is Rashtriya Raksha University?
Rashtriya Raksha University is a Central University under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, established under the Rashtriya Raksha University Act, 2020. It is an Institution of National Importance that draws students from diverse backgrounds across the country. The university now operates 6 campuses across India, including a new campus in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to information subsequently disclosed by the university under the Right to Information Act, 2005, the decision was approved during the 32nd Meeting of the Academic Council. However, the university did not provide any cost analysis or financial justification explaining the basis of the revised fee structure.
Why students are concerned
Students contend that while universities possess statutory authority to prescribe fees, such authority must be exercised reasonably and in furtherance of educational objectives — rather than as a punitive financial measure. One of the principal concerns is that the revised fee structure appears inconsistent with prevailing practices across Central Universities in India. The absence of any publicly disclosed cost analysis explaining the basis of such a substantial increase has further intensified concerns about the proportionality of the measure.
The issue extends beyond the amount of ₹5,000. Universities designated as Institutions of National Importance enjoy considerable autonomy in academic administration. Equally, that autonomy carries a corresponding obligation to exercise statutory powers fairly, transparently and in accordance with constitutional principles. As an Institution of National Importance established by an Act of Parliament and funded through the public exchequer, RRU is expected to adhere to constitutional standards of fairness, transparency and reasoned decision-making.
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Under Indian public law, a fee is ordinarily expected to bear a reasonable relationship with the services rendered or the administrative purpose for which it is imposed. Students argue that a flat ₹5,000 charge, imposed irrespective of the number of backlog papers, resembles a financial deterrent rather than a cost-recovery mechanism.
Representations to the university
Students submitted representations to the university administration — including the Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Dean, and the Student Support & Alumni Branch — requesting reconsideration of the revised examination fee. The representations raised concerns about the financial impact of the policy, the absence of publicly available cost justification, and the need for greater transparency in decision-making. According to the students, no substantive response was received.
Students also submitted a detailed representation to the Governing Body of Rashtriya Raksha University, invoking its powers under Section 15 of the Rashtriya Raksha University Act, 2020 to review decisions of the university's Academic Council. Copies of the representation were dispatched by Speed Post to members of the Governing Body, in addition to being sent electronically. According to the student representatives, no response has yet been received from the Governing Body.
The legal principles at stake
The issue is not whether universities possess the statutory authority to revise fees. Academic institutions must periodically revise fee structures to account for inflation, improved infrastructure, technological advancements and rising operational costs. However, in publicly funded institutions — particularly those established by Parliament and designated as Institutions of National Importance — the exercise of such power carries a corresponding obligation to ensure that revisions are rational, proportionate and supported by objective considerations.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasised that educational institutions are not commercial enterprises. In Modern Dental College & Research Centre v. State of Madhya Pradesh (2016) 7 SCC 353, the Court observed that educational institutions cannot indulge in profiteering and that fee structures must remain connected with legitimate educational objectives. While that judgment arose in a different statutory context, the underlying principles concerning fairness in educational fee regulation continue to inform judicial scrutiny of administrative action in higher education.
Students and parents constitute the primary stakeholders in any educational institution. Decisions that substantially increase the financial obligations of students inevitably affect educational accessibility — particularly for families from middle-income and economically weaker sections.
Public universities are expected not only to act within the scope of their statutory powers, but also to demonstrate that important policy decisions are supported by relevant material, objective financial considerations and a discernible public interest. This expectation stems from broader constitutional principles governing administrative authorities, rather than from any single statutory provision.
The bigger question
Ultimately, disputes relating to educational fees extend beyond questions of economics. They concern the relationship between universities and their students, institutional accountability, and the manner in which autonomous public institutions exercise their powers.
RRU's revised back examination fee raises a larger question that extends beyond a single institution or a single policy: what standards of transparency and accountability should govern public universities in India?
At a time when access to quality higher education remains a national challenge, public universities are expected not merely to impart education but to inspire confidence in institutional governance. Transparency should not be viewed as an administrative burden, but as an essential attribute of public institutions operating within a constitutional democracy. Institutions that aspire to set national standards in education must equally aspire to set national standards in public governance.
This article was written by Prasann Makhija and co-authored by Aditya Kumar Mishra. The facts described are based on the university's Promotion Policy (RRU/SSAB/Promotion Policy/2025/357) and information disclosed under the Right to Information Act, 2005.