Jamia Millia Islamia to resume offline classes from Nov 10 as student protest ends
Synopsis
A two-week hunger strike at Jamia Millia Islamia has forced the administration to reverse its online-only class policy and commit to restoring the students' union after nearly 20 years — with elections promised within weeks of the July 2027 academic session. All disciplinary action against protesters will also be dropped.
Key Takeaways
Jamia Millia Islamia will resume offline classes from 10 November 2026 , reversing the online-only mode imposed on 24 October 2026 .
The 2nd Mid-term Examinations will be held offline from 16 to 21 November 2026 .
The university committed to approving and implementing the JMISU constitution by 15 May 2027 , with elections roughly six weeks after the new academic session begins around 16 July 2027 .
All show-cause notices, expulsions, suspensions, and campus-entry restrictions against protesting students will be withdrawn .
The protest, which lasted over two weeks , ended after students declared it a 'victory for our rights' .
Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) on Friday, 30 October 2026 ordered the resumption of offline classes from 10 November 2026, a day after students declared a resounding 'victory' following the university's commitment to restore its long-suspended students' union. The order, issued by the Registrar's Office, also switched the upcoming mid-term examinations back to in-person mode after a brief shift to virtual formats.
Key Developments in the Offline Resumption Order
The Registrar's Office stated clearly: 'Online classes shall be conducted till 9th November, 2026 only. Offline classes shall be conducted w.e.f. 10th November, 2026.' Alongside this, the 2nd Mid-term Examinations, originally slated for virtual mode, will now be held offline from 16 November 2026 to 21 November 2026.
All Deans, Heads, and Directors of the university have been directed to ensure compliance with the orders and facilitate smooth conduct of offline classes, mid-term examinations, End-Semester Examinations, and regular maintenance of student attendance records. The order applies across all academic activities as per the notified calendar for the 2026–2027 academic session.
Why Classes Were Suspended in the First Place
The crisis at Jamia Millia Islamia had begun when the university shifted all academic activities to online mode on 24 October 2026 as a 'precautionary measure' amid a hunger strike on campus. Students were demanding the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union (JMISU), which has been absent from the university for nearly two decades. The protest stretched over two weeks before the administration blinked.
The Timeline for Restoring the Students' Union
On Thursday, 29 October 2026, the university administration announced a formal timeline for reinstating the students' union — the central demand that had fuelled the agitation. According to the Registrar's Office order, the JMISU constitution will be approved and implemented by 15 May 2027. Elections will subsequently be held within approximately six weeks of the commencement of the new academic session, expected to begin around 16 July 2027.
Notably, the absence of specific dates had been a sticking point in an earlier failed settlement attempt, making this timeline a significant concession by the administration.
Disciplinary Actions to Be Withdrawn
In a significant step, the university also committed to withdrawing all show-cause notices and disciplinary proceedings initiated against students involved in the protest. Orders related to expulsion, suspension, and restrictions on campus entry will be revoked — a move that protesters had insisted upon as a non-negotiable condition for ending the agitation.
What Comes Next for Jamia Students
With the two-week-old protest finally called off, the university must now translate its commitments into action. The JMISU, if restored on the announced timeline, would mark the return of democratic student representation to Jamia Millia Islamia after nearly 20 years — a development that could reshape campus politics and set a precedent for other central universities where student unions remain suspended. Students and civil society groups will likely monitor whether the administration adheres to the stated dates.
Point of View
And the hunger strike forcing a written timeline exposes how normalised that suspension had become. The promised dates — May 2027 for the constitution, July 2027 for elections — push the actual outcome well into the future, leaving room for delay. Whether JMI follows through, or whether this joins a list of administrative commitments that quietly lapsed, will be the real story to watch.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Jamia Millia Islamia resume offline classes?
Jamia Millia Islamia will resume offline classes from 10 November 2026. Online classes will continue until 9 November 2026, after which all academic activities shift back to in-person mode as per the Registrar's Office order issued on 30 October 2026.
Why did Jamia shift to online classes in the first place?
The university moved all classes to online mode on 24 October 2026 as a precautionary measure amid a student hunger strike on campus. The students were demanding the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union (JMISU), which has not been active for nearly two decades.
What is the timeline for restoring the Jamia students' union?
The JMISU constitution is to be approved and implemented by 15 May 2027. Student union elections will follow within approximately six weeks of the start of the new academic session, expected around 16 July 2027.
What happens to students who were disciplined for participating in the protest?
The university has committed to withdrawing all show-cause notices and disciplinary proceedings against students involved in the protest. Orders on expulsion, suspension, and campus-entry restrictions will also be revoked.
When are Jamia's mid-term examinations scheduled?
The 2nd Mid-term Examinations at Jamia Millia Islamia will be conducted in offline mode from 16 November 2026 to 21 November 2026, reversing an earlier decision to hold them virtually.
