The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a circular to all universities asking them to observe September 29 as “Surgical Strike Day”. This is yet another instance of the UGC being used as a post office to serve the ruling party's political ends. Since the Narendra Modi-led government assumed power in May 2014, the UGC has been used in an unbridled manner as a conduit for imposing the government’s political programmes. Universities and colleges are now bound to celebrate certain days, telecast the Prime Minister’s speeches, and submit a report with photographs to the UGC. The government has diminished the

