Rs 0 fee at IIT Bombay? What the viral claim says about Rs 11 lakh costs and fee waivers

There is one recurring concern about studying in colleges in India that affects almost everyone, the fee structure. Adding to the ongoing debate around rising education costs, IIT Bombay has now come into focus after a viral post on X brought attention to its fee details.

A user named @Naliniskitchen highlighted that the total cost of studying a four-year programme at IIT Bombay can go up to around 12 lakh, paying 1.25 lakh approx per semester for a student from the general category.

The user also pointed out that students from reserved categories may pay zero tuition fees and pay only around 41,900 for components such as registration, gymkhana, medical, and hostel seat rent.

This comparison quickly drew attention online, with many users raising concerns and questioning whether such differences reflect discrimination in education, while others stepped in to defend the policy.

To verify the claims, we checked the official website of IIT Bombay and examined the fee structure across categories.

IS THE VIRAL CLAIM TRUE?

The debate around reservation in India had already gained momentum earlier this year after new University Grants Commission (UGC) norms aimed at reducing discrimination in campuses were introduced.

Now, with this viral post, the issue has resurfaced, with many users again discussing whether discrimination exists in reverse.

According to IIT Bombay’s official data, students from the General, EWS, and OBC-NCL categories pay around 1,22,650 per semester, which includes academic, hostel, and other charges.

Compared to private colleges, this amount is often considered reasonable, especially given IIT Bombay’s position among the top institutions in India.

For students from SC and ST categories, the structure is different. The academic fee is 28,250, hostel charges are 19,400, and other processing fees are 10,000, bringing the total to 37,650 per semester. This is significantly lower than the fee for general category students.

This difference is due to the existing reservation and fee waiver policies, which aim to provide support to certain groups.

HOW X USERS REACTED

The criticism has been witnessed at many levels, and on social media it prevails widely. Many often regard this as one big reason India does not succeed in the way the West often does.

One user typed, "Reservation should be banned!"

One individual presented a very different perspective: "In today's world, we need reservation only for these three groups of people: 1. #Poor 2. #Disabled and 3. #ProjectAffected." He further added that reservation at all levels must be scrapped as soon as possible.

One user defended the move, calling the post bogus while adding his views: "Calling it a General vs. SC/ST issue is a classic way to spark a debate while hiding the truth. IIT Bombay’s fee structure is based on income, not just identity."

Another user defended the policy, stating that IIT Bombay’s fee structure is influenced by income levels as well, and that the debate is often oversimplified.

Such discussions show how deeply divided opinions remain on reservation in education. While social media amplify these debates, the larger question continues to remain, how should access, affordability, and fairness be balanced in India’s education system.