On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, Hyderabad witnessed intense clashes as activists from the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Students’ Federation (AISF) attempted to lay siege to the Telangana Assembly during its ongoing budget session.
The ‘Chalo Assembly’ call was met with a heavy police crackdown, leading to the detention of dozens of student leaders and activists. The protestors are demanding the immediate release of pending scholarships and fee reimbursement dues, a 20% increase in the education budget, and the withdrawal of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
While students highlight that mounting arrears are forcing many from marginalised communities to drop out, the state government faces criticism for a recent ₹109 crore cut in scholarship allocations despite claims of fiscal constraints.
Escalating Tensions and Police Action
The protest turned volatile as students tried to breach police barricades near the Assembly, resulting in scuffles that saw several activists sustained minor injuries. Police personnel eventually moved in to clear the area, shifting the detainees to various police stations across the city.
Speaking from the protest site, SFI Telangana State General Secretary T. Nagaraju criticised the government’s priorities, stating, “While the administration finds funds for large-scale infrastructure, the education of nearly 25 lakh students is being jeopardised by a ₹12,000 crore backlog in fee reimbursements.”
The student bodies also voiced strong opposition to the “corporatisation” of education under the NEP 2020 and demanded permanent buildings for welfare residential schools currently operating out of rented premises.
A Growing Crisis in Higher Education
The unrest follows a series of demonstrations by both student groups and opposition parties, including the BRS, who allege that the Congress-led government has neglected student welfare since taking office.
According to recent budget data, the state has allocated ₹4,343 crore for scholarships this year a decrease from the previous year’s ₹4,452 crore leaving private college managements and students in a lurch.
Institutional heads under the Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Education Institutions (FATHI) have warned that without the release of at least a significant portion of the arrears, they may be forced to withhold student certificates or halt operations entirely.
This financial deadlock has created a “deadlock of destiny” for students from SC, ST, and BC communities who rely entirely on state support to access higher education.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that education is the bedrock of a progressive society and should never be treated as a secondary budgetary concern. The scenes of students being dragged and detained for demanding their rightful financial aid are deeply unsettling. While we advocate for peaceful dialogue over street clashes, the onus lies on the government to ensure that the promises made to the youth are not lost in bureaucratic delays.
Denying scholarships to the most vulnerable sections is not just a fiscal lapse; it is a systemic barrier to social mobility.We urge the Telangana government to engage in an empathetic and transparent discussion with student representatives to resolve these dues. After all, a state that invests in its students today secures its peace and prosperity for tomorrow.
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