On the seventh day of student protests at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Pune, the administration announced on Tuesday that they are actively exploring ways to address many of the protesters’ demands.

Since August 27, students have been staging a sit-in outside the dean’s office in response to a student’s death on campus and the unrelated suspension of the students’ council general secretary.

In a communication, the institute’s director, Professor Sunil Bhagwat, informed the campus community—students, faculty, and staff—that the administration is working to accommodate most of the expressed demands while ensuring the safety of all students and respecting the broader student body, including those who have not participated in the demonstration.

The statement revealed that the institute will increase its counseling resources by adding two full-time and two part-time counselors. Furthermore, it announced a temporary relaxation of attendance requirements for lectures and labs for the period from August 17 to 31.

Additionally, discussions are underway regarding adjustments to the mobility rules for PhD students living in hostels, along with plans to open more communal spaces for student use.

IISER clarified that as long as the sit-in remains peaceful and lawful, no retaliatory measures will be taken against the protesting students. However, it also noted that the director does not possess the authority to overturn the appellate body’s decision regarding the suspension of Bagwe.

On August 31, students submitted a detailed list of demands to Professor Bhagwat, which included the reinstatement of general secretary Raj Bagwe’s hostel access and the reversal of his academic suspension. The demands also called for the hiring of six permanent counselors and three permanent psychiatrists by October 31, a complete attendance exemption until mid-semester exams, the removal of gender and time restrictions on movement between specific hostels, the establishment of additional communal areas for students, guarantees against retaliation for participating in protests, and a formal acknowledgment of these demands by August 31.

A student representative expressed to The Indian Express, “We delivered our list of demands both physically and via email yesterday morning. It has been over 24 hours since our submission, and while we received acknowledgment, we are still awaiting a formal response.”

The protests were sparked by the tragic death of a student on August 16, after which many students criticized the institution’s inadequate response, citing a lack of meaningful support for mental health and institutional care. Concerns were also raised regarding Bagwe’s suspension, which the institute attributed to an incident of “misconduct” from May 5, 2026, related to an email concerning an alleged strip search of students. Details surrounding the circumstances of the student’s death have not been disclosed by either the institute or law enforcement authorities.