The online admission process for undergraduate programs at Lucknow University (LU) began recently, featuring a 50% increase in admission form fees. For general, OBC, and EWS category candidates, the fee for conventional courses is now ₹1,200, up from ₹800 last year. Candidates from SC, ST, and persons with benchmark disabilities (PwBD) will pay ₹600, previously ₹400. In professional courses like BBA and BCA, the fees have also risen to ₹1,500 for general category students and ₹750 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates. The university's spokesperson, Mukul Srivastava, stated that this is the first fee increase in 16 years, citing rising operational costs and the need to enhance academic resources. However, this decision has faced backlash from student leaders who argue that education should be more affordable. They plan to protest if the fee is not reconsidered. Last year, LU recorded its highest enrollment in five years, with 183,350 students admitted across various programs.