Students Lock College Gates in Karauli Over Sudden NCC Seat Reduction

KARAULI. Students at Government College Karauli staged a spirited protest on Saturday, locking the main entrance of the institution to voice their frustration over a sudden reduction in National Cadet Corps (NCC) vacancies. The demonstration, led by student activists, erupted after candidates discovered that the intake capacity had been slashed from 80 to 40 seats after the recruitment process had already concluded.

The controversy stems from the recruitment drive held on July 20, 2026, where participants underwent rigorous physical and selection trials under the impression that 80 positions were available. Many students who had prepared extensively for these spots found themselves excluded from the final list once the college administration announced the halved quota, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among the applicant pool.

Student representatives Piyush Sharma and Tushar Sharma argued that changing the rules mid-process is unfair to those who invested significant effort based on the original vacancy count. They have demanded transparency from both the college administration and the NCC battalion, questioning why the capacity was altered after the selection trials were finalized. The students have also escalated the matter by submitting a formal memorandum to the District Collector.

Acting Principal Rafiq Ahmed clarified that the college typically maintains 160 NCC seats. He explained that the institution received a directive from the 14 Raj Battalion on August 23, 2026, mandating a reduction of 40 seats. Following this instruction, the college proceeded with selections based on merit for the remaining slots. The administration has since written to the battalion requesting that the original seat count be restored.

The protest brought college operations to a standstill for approximately two hours as the main gate remained locked. Normal activities resumed only after the acting principal engaged with the students, promising to advocate for their cause and pursue the matter with higher authorities. The college administration remains in communication with the battalion to resolve the discrepancy and address the concerns of the affected candidates.