PRENEETA SHARMA
July 30
In a move that is likely to trigger widespread resentment among students and parents, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni, has imposed a steep fee hike across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with costs increasing by as much as 83% in some courses.
The revised fee structure, approved by the Vice-Chancellor and notified on July 29, comes into effect immediately for the 2026-27 academic session, substantially raising the financial burden on aspiring students.
For thousands of families already grappling with rising living costs, the increase could make admission to one of Himachal Pradesh’s premier universities significantly less affordable.
The biggest jump has been recorded in Master’s programmes on normal seats, where the total annual fee has climbed from ₹47,550 to ₹87,000—an increase of nearly 83%. Self-finance postgraduate courses will now cost ₹1.42 lakh, up from ₹87,550, while undergraduate self-finance fees have risen from ₹83,350 to ₹1.27 lakh.
Even students securing regular undergraduate seats have not been spared. Their annual fee has increased from ₹43,350 to ₹68,700, representing a jump of almost 59%.
Beyond tuition, the university has sharply increased admission, registration, examination, infrastructure, sports, placement and medical charges. It has also introduced new mandatory levies, including a ₹5,000 Research and Project Fund and a ₹5,000 Course Exposure/Industrial Visit charge for postgraduate students.
The cumulative effect is a substantial rise in the cost of obtaining a degree, raising fresh concerns over the affordability of higher education for middle-class and rural families.
The notification offers only one major relief: girl students belonging to Himachal Pradesh BPL families will continue to receive tuition fee exemption, while all other revised charges will apply.
The fee revision is expected to spark criticism from student bodies, who have repeatedly argued that public universities should expand access to education rather than make it more expensive.
Sharp Increase Across Programmes
| Programme | Earlier Fee | Revised Fee | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| UG (Regular) | ₹43,350 | ₹68,700 | 58.5% |
| UG (Self-Finance) | ₹83,350 | ₹1,27,200 | 52.6% |
| PG (Regular) | ₹47,550 | ₹87,000 | 83% |
| PG (Self-Finance) | ₹87,550 | ₹1,42,000 | 62.2% |
