Why this 'wonder material' is causing tremors in Kerala’s higher education sector
Graphene is often called a 'wonder material'. Ultra-light, hyper-conductive, and atomically thin, it is expected to bring breakthroughs in energy systems, aerospace, sensors, defense, and AI hardware.
But graphene is no ordinary material. When its properties are manipulated in certain combinations, it can produce explosives that are more dangerous than conventional explosives.
Ironically, graphene is now at the center of a controversy that may trigger political explosions in Kerala. The issue surfaced after Dr Ciza Thomas, Vice Chancellor of Digital University Kerala, raised issues of irregularities in the funding associated with the Graphene Aurora program, which is being implemented by the Digital University.
The program receives joint funding from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Government of Kerala, and industry partners, with a total budget outlay of ₹94.85 crore. When it was launched in August 2023, it was announced that a Section 8 (not-for-profit) company named the India Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre (I-GEIC) would be set up to bridge the gap between R&D and commercialization.
Reportedly, two of I-GEIC’s founders also serve on the board of directors of IIITMK, the 'sponsoring agency' of Digital University.
The VC has raised suspicions over a ₹3.94 crore bill submitted in connection with the Graphene Aurora project. The bill allegedly included numerous unrelated expenses, mostly travel and food.
In a report submitted to Governor Rajendra Arlekar (Chancellor of the University), Dr Thomas highlighted that several high-value bills had been approved, which, at first glance, appeared to be fraudulent. She also demanded a comprehensive audit of the university.
Based on her report, the Governor has directed the DGP to initiate a police investigation and instructed the Controller and Auditor General to conduct an audit.
The VC further noted that the failure to conduct audits—unlike in other universities—was the root cause of these irregularities. One allegation is that funds were transferred to I-GEIC even before official procedures were completed.
Another claim is that a lab space worth ₹2.9 crore, funded by the university, is now being used by private I-GEIC employees, with Digital University Kerala footing the bill.
Of the ₹94.85 crore allocated for the Graphene Aurora project, ₹37.63 crore is to be contributed by the Centre, ₹47.22 crore by the state government, and ₹10 crore is to be raised from private industry partners.
India