How a breakaway student movement became a major political force across Indian university campuses

Wars & Conflicts · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Born from the ideological fractures of the 1960s, the Students' Federation of India has evolved into a sprawling national organization. Today, it operates 24 state committees and influences campus life through activism ranging from gender rights and education policy to high-profile protests and controversial political confrontations.

The Students' Federation of India (SFI) traces its origins to the 1964 split within the Communist Party of India. Following the 1962 Sino-Indian War, internal disagreements over Marxist theory and Cold War alignment led to the formation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M). By 1970, student leaders aligned with this new party gathered in Thiruvananthapuram to establish the SFI as their official national student wing. Since its founding, the organization has expanded significantly, maintaining a strong presence in states like Kerala and West Bengal while operating university unions across the country.

Beyond traditional student politics, the SFI has engaged in diverse social and legal advocacy. Its campaigns have addressed issues such as the National Education Policy of 2019, the regulation of private coaching centers, and the implementation of Gender Sensitisation Committees Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) in institutions like Jawaharlal Nehru University and Pondicherry University. The organization has also been a vocal supporter of LGBTQIA+ rights, notably nominating an openly gay candidate for a student union election in 2013 and including an 'others' gender option in its membership forms by 2016.

The organization’s methods, however, have frequently sparked intense debate and legal scrutiny. While SFI members have participated in humanitarian efforts, such as distributing sanitary supplies and launching COVID-19 information campaigns, they have also been involved in numerous contentious incidents. These include protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, rallies regarding the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, and various clashes on campus. Critics have leveled serious allegations against SFI cadres, including reports of vandalism, assault, and the maintenance of unauthorized 'torture rooms' at University College, Thiruvananthapuram, leading to police interventions and public condemnation from political leaders.

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