A 22-year-old M Tech student was found dead in his hostel room at IIT Kharagpur, marking the second such incident in 10 days and raising concerns about mental health support for students.
The Supreme Court has directed all states and Union Territories to report on the implementation of guidelines for addressing mental health issues and suicide among students in educational institutions. The Centre has also been asked to file a compliance affidavit.
A nationwide survey by a Supreme Court-appointed panel reveals that 15% of higher education students felt overwhelmed or distressed, and 9% experienced suicidal thoughts in the past six months. The findings, part of an upcoming report, highlight deep-rooted social discrimination, academic pressures, and inadequate counselling services contributing to mental health concerns and rising student suicides in Indian Higher Educational Institutions.
A 22-year-old B.Tech student, Manish Kumar, was found dead by suicide in his rented room in Ranchi on Wednesday. Police are investigating the incident, noting that the room was locked from inside and no suicide note was found.
171 IIT student deaths by suicide or other unnatural causes have been recorded between January 2006 and September 2026. Of these, 120 were recorded between 2016 and September 2026, compared with 51 in the preceding decade.
Vaikhari Sonawane tells us how she went from writing blogs about her therapy sessions to creating a nationwide student-led mental health network.
IIT Bombay has begun replacing ceiling fans with wall-mounted fans in its hostels following the recent death by suicide of a second-year B Tech student, Sahil Wakode. This move, which has drawn criticism from an NCP (SP) spokesperson, comes after a previous student suicide in July and aims to address the broader issue of student mental health and suicide prevention on campus.
Indian educational institutions are adopting physical modifications like "anti-suicide" fans and barriers to prevent student suicides, drawing parallels with measures taken by foreign universities such as Houston, Cornell, Harvard, and NYU. While these measures are seen as "bandaid solutions" by some, experts suggest restricting access to lethal means is a valid part of a comprehensive suicide prevention strategy, alongside crucial mental health support.
IIT Bombay has removed Suryanarayana Doolla, Dean of Administrative Affairs, from his post and issued a public apology following the death by suicide of 22-year-old student Sahil Wakode, who his parents allege faced caste-based discrimination.
An Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) undergraduate student, Krishna Sharma, 22, allegedly committed suicide at his rented accommodation, leaving a note describing himself as a "loser" unable to cope with personal issues. This marks the second such incident involving an AMU student in four weeks, prompting questions about student well-being and support systems.
A 26-year-old PhD student from Kerala allegedly died by suicide at his rented flat near the BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus in Vasco, marking the seventh such incident in the last one-and-a-half years.
A third-year BTech student at IIT Guwahati died after allegedly falling from the fifth floor of a hostel building, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances of his death.
A first-year BTech student at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Kurukshetra, allegedly attempted suicide, police said. This incident follows the death of another student by suicide on the same campus, marking the fourth such incident in recent months. The student is currently stable and under medical care.
As many as 171 students of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) died by suicide or unnatural death over the last two decades, with around 70 percent of the deaths recorded in the last 10 years, according to an IIT alumni group.
'Cyberbullying has become extremely worrisome now, with several complaints being received from schools.'
The Karnataka government has introduced a draft policy to address the growing concerns surrounding excessive and unsafe digital technology use among students, focusing on mental health, cyber safety, and responsible digital behaviour.
And the way to a cure begins with conversation.
A 21-year-old college student allegedly died by suicide after jumping from the 28th floor of her residential society in Noida's Sector 32. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death, with family citing mental health concerns.
A Mumbai court has granted bail to Rohan Parikh, a 24-year-old student, and his bodyguard, Dilip Kunde, who were arrested for entering Jio World Plaza with a firearm and a fake PMO identity card. The court cited the lack of "overt malicious act" and the potential prejudice to the student's future as reasons for bail, setting a cash bond of Rs 50,000 each.
A 17-year-old NEET aspirant in Lucknow allegedly died by suicide, reportedly due to depression following the cancellation of the NEET-UG examination and the pressure of the upcoming re-exam. Her family stated she was hopeful after the initial exam but became distressed after its cancellation.
The Karnataka School Education Department has banned children from dancing to obscene songs in educational and cultural programmes, citing negative impacts on mental health and moral values.
Police in Kota, Rajasthan, have confirmed that the death of a NEET aspirant from Uttarakhand was a suicide. The student, who had been preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, was found to be depressed and stressed about his upcoming exams. The Kota administration has issued guidelines to coaching institutes to prioritise students' mental health.
While AI can help automate routine, repetitive tasks, jobs that require high emotional intelligence, communication skills, creativity and the ability to work in unpredictable situations are likely to withstand the rise of AI, says Kumar Rajagopalan, vice president (strategic initiatives) and country head (India), at Dexian, a global provider of IT consulting, digital transformation and workforce solutions.
A second-year student at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Kurukshetra, was found dead in her hostel room, marking the fourth suspected student suicide in two months, triggering protests on campus.
India has strongly rejected a report by a UN human rights expert, Gina Romero, which claimed that young people in India face retaliation or stigmatisation for discussing mental health or gender justice. India's First Secretary Anuj Swarup labelled the report as "hearsay" based on "anonymous and unverified claims," asserting that it does a disservice to the expert's mandate. Swarup highlighted India's constitutional freedoms, independent judiciary, and government's proactive engagement with youth, citing examples like the amendment to the Public Examinations Act and the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue.
Mumbai police rescued a 25-year-old medical student from Nanded who had been missing for 47 days and was found begging on the streets due to mental health issues.
A postgraduate medical student allegedly died by suicide in his hostel room at Osmania General Hospital in Hyderabad, prompting a police investigation and protests over work pressure.
A 20-year-old BAMS student in Meerut was found dead by suicide, with police and family suspecting exam-related stress as the cause. Aariba, who had recently returned from annual examinations, was reportedly disturbed about her results. Police are investigating the incident.
The Rajasthan high court, Jodhpur, has taken suo motu cognisance of issues concerning Gen Z, Gen Alpha and Gen Beta, expressing concern over junk food, excessive screen time, paper leaks, inadequate infrastructure in rural schools and the possible erosion of basic learning skills in the age of artificial intelligence.
Nearly 600 tribal students abandoned a government-run hostel in Amravati, Maharashtra, after some girls exhibited strange behaviour, leading to claims of spirit possession. Officials suspect mental stress or selective hysteria, while local beliefs attribute the incidents to angry spirits from a cut 'mahua' tree or an encroached temple. Counselling efforts are underway to bring students back.
Deepshikha, the woman who saw the school student last time, before he headed to the Rajendra Place Metro Station in New Delhi and allegedly died by suicide, said that he looked disturbed and told her that the teachers 'tortured' him.
Tanvi Sardesai, clinical psychologist at Masina Hospital, Mumbai, lists simple habits that will help you improve your overall mental health.
A Class 10 student in Gurugram allegedly died by suicide after being upset with his CBSE exam results. Police are investigating the incident, which occurred at the student's residence.
A 30-year-old medical student was found dead in his room in a paying guest accommodation in Gurugram. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death, which is suspected to be a suicide.
'Yoga is magic!' 'Other than keeping me physically fit, it helps me be calm and emotionally balanced. It gives me a lot of energy that keeps me productive throughout the day.'
A 20-year-old NEET aspirant in Kota, Madhya Pradesh, died by suicide, reportedly due to stress over her previous exam score. This incident marks the eighth student suicide in Kota this year, raising concerns about the immense pressure faced by coaching students.
A 21-year-old B Tech student in Hyderabad allegedly committed suicide after being harassed by a college official for demanding money for a hall ticket due to low attendance.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan urged 22 lakh students appearing for the NEET re-exam to do so "fearlessly and free of anxiety," while the National Testing Agency (NTA) reminded candidates to download fresh admit cards and adhere to entry guidelines.
The young are most vulnerable to self-harm and suicidal ideas at this time.
Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has condemned the alleged suicide of a BDS student following accusations of caste-based harassment. An investigation has been launched, and support pledged to the victim's family.
