The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) intensified its campaign for gender-sensitive academic policies on August 13 staging a protest at Delhi University’s Arts Faculty to demand 12 days of menstrual leave per semester for female students.

NSUI National President Varun Chaudhary vowed the fight would continue until the university adopted the policy, noting that several institutions in India and abroad already grant such leave.

“We will continue the fight until Delhi University implements this rule,” Chaudhary told the crowd, adding that the union had successfully advocated for the measure at Punjab University.

The protest, held under police watch, also marked the launch of a signature campaign aimed at mobilizing campus-wide support. Organizers argued that menstrual health directly affects academic performance, mental well-being, and participation in university life.

Without a formal provision, many female students are forced either to miss classes—risking attendance shortfalls—or to attend in discomfort, they said. The proposed policy, they argued, would ensure no academic penalties for availing menstrual leave and would promote fairness in the education system.

“Menstrual health is intrinsically linked to education. Recognizing it in policy is not just compassionate—it’s essential for equal opportunity,” an NSUI representative said.

Citing examples from universities across the country and overseas that already have menstrual leave provisions, the NSUI described its demand as both practical and overdue.

The group pledged to take the campaign beyond Delhi University, pressing for nationwide adoption of gender-sensitive reforms across higher education institutions.