IIT Bombay To Suspend MoUs With Turkish Universities Amid Tensions

IIT Bombay has suspended its MoUs with Turkish universities due to geopolitical tensions, following similar actions by other Indian institutions amid strained India-Turkey relations.

IIT Bombay To Suspend MoUs With Turkish Universities Amid Tensions

Source : X

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has decided to suspend all its academic agreements with universities in Turkey, citing ongoing geopolitical tensions. The institute announced this on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, stating, “Due to the current geopolitical situation involving Turkey, IIT Bombay is processing suspension of its agreements with Turkish universities until further notice.”

This decision affects various student and faculty exchange programs that IIT Bombay currently has with Turkish institutions. These agreements, which often include collaborative research, academic exchanges, and joint projects, are now on hold until further notice.

This move by IIT Bombay comes in the wake of similar actions by other major Indian universities. For instance, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi was one of the first to act, suspending its MoU with Inonu University, Türkiye, on May 14. JNU said, “Due to National Security considerations, the MoU between JNU and Inonu University, Türkiye stands suspended until further notice. JNU stands with the Nation. #NationFirst.”

Kanpur University, formally known as Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU), also recently terminated its MoU with Istanbul University. According to university officials, the decision was made in response to Turkey’s perceived alignment with nations viewed as hostile to India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab ended six academic partnerships with institutions in Türkiye and Azerbaijan, citing recent geopolitical developments that it deemed contrary to India’s national interest. Meanwhile, Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) cancelled its MoU with the Yunus Emre Institute, Turkey, in protest against Turkey’s support for Pakistan's actions in ongoing regional disputes. MANUU said, “This decision is taken in protest against Turkey's support for Pakistan's terrorist activities in the backdrop of Indo-Pak tensions.”

These actions follow Turkey’s criticism of India’s military operations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under "Operation Sindoor" and reports of Turkish drones being used by Pakistan during the conflict.

The impact of these decisions is also being felt in the travel industry. MakeMyTrip recently reported a 60% drop in bookings and a 250% surge in cancellations for trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan, reflecting the strong public sentiment over the recent geopolitical tensions.