New Delhi: Nearly 60 students of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Nagpur boycotted their mid-term exams after more than 40 students were barred from appearing for the tests over an alleged violation of campus rules.
The protest followed disciplinary action taken by the institute after a group of students reportedly stayed off campus overnight without prior approval. While students termed the action excessive, the administration said rules had been violated and safety protocols ignored.
What triggered the action
The controversy began on the night of February 21 when nearly 75 MBA students stepped off campus for dinner. According to students, two campus clubs had informed the authorities that they would be returning late. However, when the group came back which included both first-year and senior students they were stopped at the gate.
The following day, several students received an email titled, ‘IIMN MBA Barred from appearing in Mid Term Examinations 24th and 25th Feb 2026.’
‘We have barely seven to eight days left. It was our last class of the MBA. Some students had informed the institution about the outing. However, everyone was stopped at the gate in the morning,’ a student said.
‘The parents of girls were called and spoken to in a very rude manner,’ a student claimed.
What the institute has to say
Students said first-year students were told they would not be allowed to sit for the exams. In response, senior students decided to extend support. Eventually, more than 60 students skipped their mid-term exams in solidarity.
Highlighting the academic impact, a student said, ‘We are not kids anymore; we are students of a professional course. This is not how we should be treated. Sometimes classes end at 11 PM and we step outside the campus for a short walk.’
It later emerged that over 40 first-year students were formally barred from writing the mid-term exams. Senior students staged a protest within the campus premises. Students further alleged that some of those involved were suspended from the MBA programme and removed from their Positions of Responsibility. Some also took to social media questioning whether ‘moral policing’ of MBA students was warranted in 2026.
Responding to the allegations, institute authorities maintained that the students had stayed out the entire night without prior approval. Officials said the students had entered ‘going home’ in the outing register instead of seeking permission from hostel authorities or the administration.
‘As per institutional rules and safety regulations, all students are required to inform and obtain proper approval from the concerned authorities before leaving the campus. Such regulations are in place to ensure the safety, well-being and accountability of students residing on campus. Failure to comply with these procedures constitutes a violation of institutional rules and is treated as a matter of serious concern,’ an official said.
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