The document summarizes the findings of a study on campus democracy in India. It surveyed 78 colleges across various disciplines. Key findings include: - Most students support student elections while faculty and administration are less supportive. However, many colleges still use nomination systems. - Awareness of Lyngdoh Committee recommendations on campus politics is low and implementation is uneven. - Many students see value in campus politics when non-violent, but some oppose it due to violence or impacts on academics. - Student councils are not seen as very effective in addressing issues or grievances. Violence during elections also remains a problem in some areas.

1. CAMPUS DEMOCRACY
Centre for Public Policy Research

2. Introduction
 “Democracy is a form of government in which
everyone has a share”, AV Dicey
 Campus Democracy shall be understood as
means to provide freedom of thought and
expression to youth
 Campus Politics is a necessity which can provide
the training ground for youth to be a part of the
political machinery in India
 Student participation and student representation
is imminent for the growth of nation
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3. About the Study
 The study was undertaken by Civitas for LYF India
and supported by FnST
 The Study was conducted in 78 colleges across the
country comprising
Arts, Commerce, Management, Medical, Engineering
and law colleges
 Divided into east, west, north, north-east and south
 Questionnaire based survey (Online and Offline)-
Students, student leaders, faculty and management
 Compendium captured various facets of Campus
Democracy- Campus Politics, student organizations
and groups, activities, opinions and observations
 Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, 2005
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4. Findings and learnings
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5. Support for Students’ Election
Majority Students Support while few faculty and
Administration support Student Elections
 73% students support student elections
 24 % of the faculties and management supported
student elections
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6. Election or Nomination?
Students in favour of Election over nomination
 Nearly half of the colleges surveyed followed
nomination systems
 69 % of the students and 52 % of faculty
preferred elections over nominations
 73% of the respondent students support election
in colleges where nomination systems are in
place.
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7. Perception on campus politics
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Students in favour of campus politics devoid of
violence and aimed at development of campus
Students’ opinion on Campus politics Percentage
Campus sans politics is not democratic 8
Dissatisfied/cynical with it because it does not raise and address campus
issues 5
It creates future leaders 12
It is the right of the student 25
It leads to a vibrant campus 11
Oppose it, as academics should not be combined with politics 19
Oppose it, as it is violent 13
No information 7

8. Awareness about Lyngdoh
Recommendations
Low awareness and Uneven Implementation of
Lyngdoh Committee Recommendations
 39% students have heard of Lyngdoh
committee recommendations
 46% campuses have implemented Lyngdoh
committee recommendations; 5% partially
implemented it
 41% campuses take no action if students violate
Lyngdoh recommendations
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9. Perception of Students’ Union
Students concerned over Effectiveness of
Student Council/ Union
 19% of the respondents felt that the Students
Council/Union were working for the development
of the Campus 16% 4%
1%
12%
21%
13%
19%
14%
Always
Do not have Student
Council
No
Often
Rarely
Sometimes
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10. ….Contd
 Mere 6 % of the students found student council
effective in redressing their grievances
 22 % of the colleges did not have any student
body (100 % in law, 57 % of management and 33
% of Engineering colleges and nil in Medical
colleges).
 Dean of Student Welfare, Proctor, Student
Grievance redressal cell.
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11.  Violence during Student Elections is a Reality
 21% students reported that they had witnessed
violence during Students’ Union elections and
37% linked campus politics with violence
 Incidence of violence reported at Aligarh Muslim
University, Lucknow University, Himachal
University, Kerala University
 60% campuses have an election grievance
redressal cell
Violence inside Campus
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12. Campaigning
Campaigning Efforts are vibrant but restricted
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13. Voting pattern differs and have direct relation to
political awareness
 Campuses like Kerala University and Calcutta
University have turnouts of 80-85% .While
Universities like Delhi University has a mere 25-
30% votes during the elections.
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14. Election expenditure
Violations of Financial Expenditure Limits is
Common
 Nearly 41% of the colleges do not have specific
provisions relating to ceiling of financial
expenditure for student candidates
 Financial expenditure of 18 % of student
candidates is over Rs 5000
 29 % spend less than Rs 1500
 12% candidates get financial support from
political parties
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15. An analysis of student politics in India
64%
25%
11%
Do Students Wish to Become
Student Leaders?
No Information No Yes
Number of youth (between 25- 40) in the present Parliament- 71 (Source
:CSDS Study)
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Source:www.theindiasite.com

16. Factors affecting Campus Democracy
 Lack of management support and an enabling
environment for students to get involved in
democratic processes in the campus
 Academic constrains not helping students
interested in campus politics
 Restrictions for students’ involvement in politics
on campus
 Lack of a platform for developing awareness on
campus democracy and governance processes
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17. …Contd
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 Students’ lack of interest and distrust in political
and governance processes
 Violation of basic principles of non-
violence, democracy, transparency and
accountability in educational institutions
 End result of these dynamics are that student
councils are not effectively concentrating on
addressing students’ issues

18. Learnings
 Reactions towards campus elections are mixed
with students demanding for more representation
 Lyngdoh Committee recommendations are yet to
be taken under serious consideration- The
relevance of the recommendations need to be
understood in the present context
 There is a definite influence of political parties on
the representation system
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19. …Contd
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 Incidents of violence still take place during
elections
 Majority of the private colleges, especially those
that offer professional courses, frown upon
campus elections- Students support a democratic
process
 Majority of the faculty members feel that student
politics dilutes the spirit of academics and it’s
better kept out of the campus.

20. ..Contd
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 Students are dis-interested to become student
leaders or take politics as a career- Increasing
role of youth politicians is encouraging
 Majority of the students feel that student unions
are not the ultimate remedy to their problems-
Revisit the role of student unions with more
participation and transparency
 Faculties and management’s feel that student
elections do not foster democratic practices on
the campus- Focus and priorities have changed
 There is a considerable drop in student interest
towards campus politics and socio-political
issues- A social reality?

21. Thank You
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