Lucknow: A government-run university in Uttar Pradesh has found itself at the center of controversy after banning a professor from all examination duties, following protests by Hindutva student activists over questions related to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in a university exam.

The controversy began at Chaudhary Charan Singh University (CCSU) in Meerut, when the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the RSS’s student wing, objected to two questions in an MA Political Science final-year exam. These questions were seen as critical of the RSS, an influential organization linked to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other right-wing groups.

The contentious questions involved identifying groups considered “anomic” or alienated from society, with options including the RSS, and linking the RSS to the rise of religious and caste identity politics. The ABVP condemned the inclusion of the RSS in this manner and accused Professor Seema Panwar, responsible for the questions, of having “anti-national” views.

The ABVP claimed that the questions tarnished the RSS’s image and demanded action against Professor Panwar, threatening significant protests if their demands were not met. In response, CCSU’s administration debarred Professor Panwar from all examination-related duties permanently. “She has been debarred from setting papers for life,” confirmed Dhirendra Kumar Verma, the university’s registrar.

Critics argue that this incident underscores the growing influence of Hindutva in shaping academic discourse and the autonomy of universities in India. They warn that political pressure from groups like the ABVP is pushing academic institutions to align content with specific ideological narratives.