BJP Leader Rakesh Jamwal Criticises Fee Hike at Horticulture University, Seeks Rollback.
Shimla:
BJP Chief Spokesperson and Sundernagar MLA Rakesh Jamwal has criticised the recent increase in tuition and other academic fees for the 2026–27 session at Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, describing it as a financial burden on students from farming and middle-income families. He urged the Himachal Pradesh government to reconsider the revised fee structure.
Addressing the issue, Jamwal said the university had significantly increased fees for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. According to him, the total fee for B.Sc. (Hons.) general category seats has been revised from around Rs. 43,000 to Rs. 68,000, while self-financing seats have increased from approximately Rs. 83,000 to Rs. 1.27 lakh. He also stated that M.Sc. general category fees have risen from about Rs. 47,000 to Rs. 87,000, with self-financing seats reaching nearly Rs. 1.42 lakh. He further claimed that additional charges had also been introduced.
Jamwal said Himachal Pradesh is predominantly an agriculture and horticulture-based state, and many students enrolled at the university belong to farming and horticulture families. He argued that rising educational expenses could make higher education less affordable for economically weaker and middle-income households.
The BJP leader questioned the rationale behind the fee revision at a time when, according to him, many young people are facing employment challenges and families are dealing with financial pressures. He suggested that if the university requires additional resources, alternative funding mechanisms should be explored instead of increasing the financial burden on students.
Jamwal appealed to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to withdraw the revised fee structure and restore the previous rates. He also said that the BJP would raise the issue through democratic means in coordination with students, parents, farmers, and horticulturists if the fee revision is not reconsidered.
