A new policy implemented at a department within the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru is facing significant backlash from its MTech and first-year PhD students. The policy requires students to log a minimum of 50 hours per week in departmental labs, with senior PhD scholars expected to match their advisors’ demanding schedules of 70-80 hours weekly. This new rule, introduced via an email on October 2 by department chair Mayank Shrivastava, has ignited widespread concern among the student body.
Students from the Department of Electronic Systems Engineering (ESE), who previously had no specified working hours beyond marking attendance twice daily, view this policy as an unwelcome imposition of ‘corporate culture’ into academia. They argue that it raises serious issues regarding health, privacy, and surveillance, impacting their overall well-being and academic focus.
In response to the policy, the IISc Students Council lodged a petition with the IISc director on October 14, calling for its immediate withdrawal. Students expressed that the new requirement of working 14-16 hours daily would leave them with insufficient time for rest or a social life, and they fear it could have dire consequences, potentially leading to an increase in mental health issues.
Despite student concerns, the department began a pilot phase of attendance tracking on October 16, with full implementation planned for November 1. The system employs RFID-based access cards and facial recognition technology at departmental entry points to monitor lab hours. There is growing apprehension among students that this attendance monitoring system may be expanded across the entire institute, particularly after IISc issued a tender for 7,000 access cards on October 9.
Professor Shrivastava, in his initial email, stated that the new attendance and parking system was introduced to provide greater flexibility and to ensure that attendance tracking is ‘transparent, efficient, and fair,’ while also enhancing safety and security within the department. He detailed expected weekly hours: 40 for permanent and project staff, and at least 50 for M.Tech and first-year PhD students. Senior PhD scholars are expected to align with their advisors’ working hours, though a minimum of 50 hours will be officially recorded.
In a departmental note on October 4, Shrivastava defended the policy by citing a lack of accountability among students, observing that many were not utilizing departmental facilities during afternoon and evening hours. He asserted that such disengagement is unsustainable in a research environment.
A survey conducted by the IISc Students’ Council between October 4 and 7 revealed strong opposition to the new policy. Out of 110 ESE students surveyed, 97% found the mandatory working hours unhelpful, while 96% reported that the policy causes stress or negatively impacts their academic progress.