IIM Jammu students face fines for skipping PM Modi birthday event

Students at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu reportedly faced a Rs 500 fine or were required to provide written justifications for missing a lamp-lighting ceremony held on September 17 to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.

A purported notice from the IIM Jammu Student Council stated that exemptions for absence would only be granted on medical grounds, supported by official documentation. The event, described as a ‘Deepak Prakashan’ ceremony, was intended to reflect on India’s growth journey toward ‘ViksitBharat2047’ and was attended by BJP MLA Yudhvir Sethi and IIM Jammu Director Prof. B. S. Sahay.

Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain criticized the move, questioning why attendance at a political leader’s birthday celebration should be mandatory at a premier academic institution. He argued that educational institutions should nurture independent minds rather than compelling students to participate in political publicity exercises.