A number of top Indian institutions have stopped or ended academic partnerships with Turkish universities in a major step that highlights increasing worries about national sovereignty and territorial integrity. India’s academic and diplomatic communities are concerned by this collective choice, which comes after Turkey’s public alignment with Pakistan in the face of recent cross-border conflicts. 

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay was among the first to respond, announcing that it is in the process of terminating all currently operative agreements with Turkish institutions. This involves, among other things, the momentary suspension of faculty exchange programs and other academic collaborations until further notice. The institute listed the national interest as the main factor supporting its choice, noting the importance of matching international alliances with India’s strategic and diplomatic objectives. 

Following IIT Bombay’s announcement, other well-known universities followed suit. The suspension of their Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Inonu University and other Turkish government-affiliated academic institutions was publicly announced by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI). “The MoU between JNU and Inonu University, Turkey remains suspended until further notice due to national security considerations. JNU stands with the Nation,” JNU said in a statement on the social media site X. 

In a similar vein, Professor Saima Saeed, Public Relations Officer at Jamia Millia Islamia, reaffirmed the university’s choice to ANI by saying, “We have suspended all MoUs with institutions affiliated with Turkey. Jamia stands with the nation and the Government of India.” The remarks indicate a rising consensus among Indian academics that academic involvement must be based on national loyalty, especially during periods of increased geopolitical unrest. 

After that, IIT Roorkee joined the boycott and formally ended its agreement with Inonu University. The institute emphasized in its statement that, although it is still committed to international academic collaboration, these initiatives must be consistent with the national interest. The statement read, “The Institute remains committed to fostering global collaborations that reflect its academic priorities and uphold national interest.” 

Not just central universities were affected by the wave of suspensions. The Yunus Emre Institute, a Turkish academic and cultural institution, and the Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) in Hyderabad had been collaborating on a diploma course that was now canceled. The seriousness with which the situation is being handled is shown by the university’s administration’s assertion that the dismissal was immediate and irreversible. 

In addition, Kanpur’s Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU) terminated its memorandum of understanding with Istanbul University. Prof. Vinay Pathak, the vice chancellor of CSJMU and the president of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), led the initiative, stressing that academic achievement should never be gained at the cost of national independence. The institution’s prompt response demonstrated the need to harmonize educational values with nationalistic ideals. 

Notably, the private education industry has not remained silent amid rising tensions. Lovely Professional University (LPU), a leading private institution, was the first among its peers to break ties with Turkish and Azerbaijani universities. LPU stated that it could not maintain partnerships with universities from nations that support narratives undermining India’s sovereignty and severed connections with 23 such institutions. The university’s position was clearly stated by its Founder Chancellor and Rajya Sabha member Ashok Kumar Mittal: “We, as an institution, cannot remain indifferent when our brave armed forces are risking their lives, whether in covert operations, air defense, or patrolling our borders. The goal of LPU has always been in line with the expansion and integrity of India. 

The University of Chandigarh followed suit by terminating its current academic arrangements with Turkish universities. The universities stressed the need for national unity in the face of outside pressures, noting that, despite their dedication to international learning, educational institutions must place the nation’s broader strategic goals first. 

One of the oldest and most renowned universities in India, the University of Delhi (DU), announced that it is now analyzing its international collaborations. On May 14, a top official from DU informed the Press Trust of India (PTI) that the university is now reviewing all current MoUs and will make a final choice after due consideration. This cautious attitude implies that more universities may follow the trend after finishing their internal assessments. 

These advancements demonstrate a rare but determined stance by India’s academic institutions, indicating a united front when it comes to issues of national importance. Educational institutions nationwide seem committed to making sure their global interactions are both academically valuable and diplomatically accountable as geopolitical developments change.