By Groundxero

Dec 02, 2023

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has written to colleges and universities across the country to set up selfie points with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image in the background to ‘Foster Pride’.

In a letter sent to colleges and universities, the UGC has suggested that campus authorities should encourage students and visitors to take selfies at these points and share them on social media platforms, to instil a sense of “collective pride” over “India’s achievements in various fields”. UGC says that the aim of ‘Selfie Point’ is to create awareness among the youth about India’s achievements in various fields, particularly the new initiatives under the National Education Policy 2020.

“There is a unique opportunity to harness the energy and enthusiasm of the youth, moulding their minds with inspiration drawn from India’s progress in diverse fields,” says a letter from UGC secretary Manish Joshi.

The images to be used in the selfie point are available in the Google Drive in the notification. In the letter, the UGC has come up with various design themes for the selfie points. The themes include unity in diversity, the Indian knowledge system, research and innovation, and multilingualism, among others.

The UGC’s controversial letter, in the run up to the general elections in a few months, seems aimed at making educational institutions become a part of a full-blown propaganda to build a cult figure around Narendra Modi before the elections, and it is virtually asking educational institutions to turn faculty, staffs, students and visitors into unofficial campaigners of the ruling BJP.