Overview On December 15, 2025 , students and staff of Tezpur University staged a nine-hour hunger strike. The primary demand was a response from the Ministry of Education (MoE) regarding issues raised by the university community, most notably the immediate removal of Vice-Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh due to alleged financial irregularities. This protest underscores ongoing tensions and governance challenges within the university. Key Developments University Shutdown Tezpur University has been under a shutdown enforced by agitators since the end of November 2025 . Limited relaxation has been granted to allow term-end examinations to proceed since last week. This prolonged shutdown has significantly disrupted academic activities. Protest Actions Hunger Strike: Organized by the Tezpur University United Forum (TUUF) , a joint platform of students, teachers, and non-teaching staff. Demand: Swift action from the MoE against Mr. Singh . MoE's Response: The TUUF criticized the MoE's prolonged silence despite sustained agitation and repeated appeals. MoE Delegation Visit A top delegation from the MoE , led by secretary Vineet Joshi , visited the university on December 6, 2025 . The delegation was initially blocked inside the campus by protesting students. They were allowed to leave only after a handwritten assurance was provided by Saumya Gupta , Joint Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, stating that Mr. Singh would not be allowed to carry out any duty pending inquiry. Demands Reiterated The TUUF reiterated their demands, emphasizing that the responsibility for restoring academic and administrative normalcy lies with the MoE . They warned that protests would intensify if decisive action is not taken promptly. Their specific demands include: Removal of Mr. Singh Fair and unbiased high-level inquiry against him Placing him on official administrative leave Background Tensions The situation at Tezpur University has been tense since mid-September, with students accusing the V-C and university authorities of disrespect towards cultural icon Zubeen Garg . In addition to fiscal irregularities, protesters are also alleging deforestation under Mr. Singh's administration. Acting Vice-Chancellor The senior-most faculty member, Dhruba Kumar Bhattacharyya , assumed charge as acting vice-chancellor suo motu on December 5, 2025 , citing the Tezpur University Act, 1993 . At his request, students agreed to sit for term-end examinations from December 11 , though other activities remained under shutdown. VC's Absence Mr. Singh has stayed away from the campus since September 22 , following heated exchanges with students. He convened a virtual meeting of the Board of Management (BOM) on December 4 and appointed Professor Joya Chakraborty as pro-VC, a role she declined. UPSC Relevance This news article is relevant to the UPSC syllabus, particularly GS2 (Governance, Education) and GS3 (Economy) . It highlights issues related to governance in educational institutions, the role of the Ministry of Education, and potential financial irregularities. Understanding such events is crucial for Mains answers on governance and education-related topics. Important Facts Date of Hunger Strike: December 15, 2025 Main Demand: Removal of Vice-Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh Allegations: Financial irregularities and disrespect towards cultural icon Zubeen Garg MoE Delegation Visit: December 6, 2025 Acting VC: Dhruba Kumar Bhattacharyya (from December 5, 2025)