Karnataka: VTU hikes exam fees by 25%, students miffed

BENGALURU: Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has announced an increase in exam fees, drawing the ire of students, reports SruthySusan Ullas.
As per the circular issued on December 23, exam fees for UG students is Rs 1,500, up from Rs 1,200 and it's Rs 1,800 for PG students.
Arrear exam fees for UG students is Rs 300 per subject, while revaluation fee of UG answer script is Rs 600 per subject and it's Rs 3,000 per subject for PG answerscripts. Photocopy of answerscripts will cost Rs 400.
Earlier, for UG, the revaluation was Rs 400 and photocopy was Rs 300.
Not right time for VTU to hike fees: Students
The application fee also increased from Rs 20 to Rs 30. As per a circular issued on December 23, the new fees will come into effect from December 26.
"Fees in some areas have been increased by 25%. This is because remuneration of teachers has been increased by so much. So, wherever an intervention of teachers is involved, there has been a hike," said VTU vice-chancellor Vidyashankar S, adding that the decision was made during the term of the previous vice-chancellor.
The increase has not gone down well with the students who have already criticised the government for hiking the government college fees. "This is not the time for the university to hike exam fees. Students are already struggling to pay fees. Hiking fees for the exams and crucial elements like revaluation and photocopying is taking unnecessary advantage of students' helplessness," said Anveeth Kateel, VTU in-charge of National Students Union of India.
"There has been no change in the exam fees for 12 years. This change was brought in after much deliberation. There has been a cost escalation due to various reasons. For instance, paper cost has gone up. However, during the meeting it was decided that only a small cost will be hiked, without burdening students," said an executive council member who was present at the meeting where it was decided to hike the fees.