“Delhi Govt Institute Sends 2,200 Students Home Amid Gas Shortage, Moves Classes Online”

Gas Crisis Forces 2,200 IARI Students Home; Classes to Go Online

The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Delhi, popularly known as the Pusa Institute, has asked around 2,200 students to leave campus and continue classes online from April 6, citing the ongoing fuel and energy crisis linked to the US-Iran conflict in West Asia.

A notice issued on March 25 by Senior Registrar Suresh Kumar said the move was necessary due to the strain on hostel facilities, particularly mess services. It applies to all undergraduates, first-year master’s, and first-year PhD students for the 2025–26 academic year. Attendance on campus for these batches will be suspended until further notice.

Students in higher years of master’s, MTech, and PhD programmes will continue on-campus classes and research as usual. Faculty members have been asked to plan practical sessions for when students return.

The decision was taken after internal consultations and aligns with directions from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).