National Students' Union of India

The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) is the student wing of the Indian National Congress (INC or Congress). It was established on the 9th of April, 1971, founded by Indira Gandhi after merging the Kerala Students Union and the West Bengal State Chhatra Parishad to form a national students' organisation. Varun Choudhary is current National President of NSUI.

Membership
In order to become a member of NSUI, one must be under 27 years of age, must be a student, must be a citizen of India, must not be part of any other political organisation and must not have been convicted of any criminal activity in past. NSUI categorizes its members into "Primary Members" and "Active Members". An aspiring member who applies for NSUI Membership, becomes a Primary member after the organisation's scrutiny process.

'Burn the chaddi' campaign
In June 2022 during the Karnataka textbook controversy the Congress students' wing NSUI (National Students Union of India) protested against the saffronisation of school textbooks. As a symbolic protest they burnt an underwear outside the Home of Education Minister BC Nagesh. They set fire to a pair of khaki shorts similar to the short in the uniform of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members.

The BJP complained to the police accusing the NSUI activists of trying to burn the minister's house down. Siddaramaiah said, "During a protest, we symbolically burnt one underwear - just one underwear. But the police and government made it a big issue and said we are trying to burn the house... So let's start a chaddi-burning campaign,". The Congress launched a "burn-the-chaddi" campaign and Siddaramaiah announced that, as a sign of protest against RSS ‘chaddis’ would be burnt.

Controversies
In November 2013, two members of the NSUI were injured by police as they attempted to submit a memorandum to the district magistrate. In late November, the NSUI filed a complain with the police against Madhu Kishwar, a writer who ousted the journalist that had been allegedly sexually assaulted by Tarun Tejpal. NSUI national secretary Akshay Kumar, who was also elected as the joint secretary of Delhi University Students' Union in 2010, allegedly submitted fake documents to secure admission in the Department of Buddhist Studies. An FIR (first information report) was filed against him by the Department of Buddhist Studies. In 2018, NSUI president Fairoz Khan stepped down from the post following the charges of sexual harassment against him.

JNU attack : Nikhil Savani, Gujarat NSUI general Secretary, among over 10 injured as student body clashes with ABVP during protest against campus violence.

Prayagraj arresting : On 26 July 2022, NSUI workers protested vehemently at University of Allahabad after the ED again called out Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald issue. Police arrested 15 protesters during the march. Those arrested are mainly Akhilesh Yadav, Himanshu Pachauri & Ajay Pandey Baagi.

Funeral Procession of Democracy : On April 20, 2023, a 'Funeral Procession of Democracy' was taken out under the leadership of Ajay Pandey Baagi and Himanshu Pachauri in protest against the cancellation of Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership. During Funeral Procession Himanshu Pachauri said: 'Two laws are applicable in this country. But we don't accept it, the government will pay the price for this act by losing power.'

Membership Drive : In December 2022, at University of Allahabad a membership drive was launched under the leadership of Himanshu Pachauri, in which thousands of students took membership of NSUI.

Varanasi attack : Valay Dutt Bajpai, NSUI Uttar Pradesh East General Secretary, ABVP students attacked the hostel of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth because the ABVP was wiped out in the student union of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth.