UGC reverses course from Modi selfie locations at colleges; charges of BJP campaigning in educational establishments

Soon after directing all Indian institutions and universities to designate particular areas for selfies with the backdrops of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the University Grants Commission (UGC) reversed its order. The organizations were asked to support this project, encouraging tourists and students to snap selfies at these spots and post them on other social media sites. However, the directive to set up selfie spots remains in place, and the suggested designs were withdrawn without providing an explanation. There’s a chance that updated drawings may be produced, but it’s unclear whether PM Modi will be included in these new designs if they do.

The action was taken in response to a backlash over the decision, which claimed that it effectively transformed college and university students into unofficial BJP sympathizers. They contend that, especially during an election year, this action equates to recruiting academic institutions to promote the Modi administration. A professor from one of the best universities said, on condition of anonymity, “The UGC is increasingly aligning itself with the governing political party and it is essential for educational institutions to maintain a neutral stance on political matters.”

Experts think that this is a great move by the UGC, however, instead of displaying PM Modi’s name and image, think about putting up a photo of the President or an Indian map. We can preserve the importance of our national identity and steer clear of political issues by doing this. The selfie spots may also function as a forum for highlighting issues that still need attention in addition to commemorating previous successes. A more thorough viewpoint would result from including a list of persistent issues including poverty, corruption, social harmony, unemployment, education, healthcare, and building good relationships with our neighbors, according to Eqbal Ahmad, visiting lecturer at Jamia Hamdard University.

Students have also criticized the justification for trying to support a political person inside of their educational institutions. The university may decide not to fund such efforts if it emphasizes such political positions. Under the condition of anonymity, a student from Sharda University in Greater Noida said, “Universities and colleges are intended to serve as the epicenter of education, fostering a learning environment rather than transforming into election campaigning grounds.”