Tackling challenges of student suicide epidemic in India

student suicides high
Tackling challenges of student suicide epidemic in India

By – Tannishtha Chatterjee and Aditya Pratap Singh

Table of Contents

Introduction: A Growing Crisis in Higher Education

India’s higher education system, while striving for academic excellence, is grappling with a deepening crisis with the growing number of student suicides.

Year after year, several young minds lose their lives because of this tragic incident, exposing systemic failures in our educational institutions and society at large. 

While mental health challenges are being acknowledged as a serious concern in our educational institutions, there remains a gap in both understanding and intervention.

In a country as diverse as India, the issue is further compounded by deeply rooted societal hierarchies based on caste, class, gender, and religion.

These stereotypes often dictate the nature of a student’s experience within college campuses, from access to opportunities to the burden of discrimination and exclusion.

Further, the narratives around student suicides are often shaped by quick judgment, stigmatization, and a lack of empathy, with the focus placed more on blaming the victim than on systemic reform.

Despite the critical nature of the problem, discussions around student suicides rarely go beyond surface-level commentary, and solutions remain inadequate.

This epidemic is again in the national spotlight after a landmark judgment by the Supreme Court of India in the case of Amit Kumar & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors1. The case arose following the suicides of two students from IIT Delhi, where the bereaved families alleged caste-based discrimination. However, their complaints were dismissed by the police after a preliminary inquiry, sparking outrage and debate.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court emphasized that an FIR must be mandatorily registered under Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code for cognizable offences, thereby eliminating the option for police to conduct a preliminary inquiry before acting. This judgment marks a crucial step towards accountability and recognizing the seriousness of caste discrimination as a potential contributor to student suicides.

Rising Student Suicides: A National Emergency

Suicide Statistics in India (2018–2024)

It is important to highlight that student suicides have been rising steadily over the past decade.

Even the country’s top institutions which are often seen as centres of academic excellence have not been immune to this growing concern. In Central Universities, including leading institutes like IITs, NITs, and IIMs, there has been a noticeable increase in student suicides due to various reasons.

These range from mental fatigue, anxiety, and substance abuse to more serious social issues such as caste or religion-based discrimination, sexual harassment, and gender-based discrimination.

The data presents a grim picture. According to figures shared by the Minister of State for Education in the Rajya Sabha in 2023, a total of 98 students died by suicide in higher education institutions between 2018 and 2023. These numbers underscore a troubling trend: the student suicide rate in India is steadily climbing, even within the most prestigious academic institutions.

In 2018, there were 21 such deaths, which slightly decreased to 19 in 2019. The number dropped to 7 in both 2020 and 2021, but rose sharply to 24 in 2022. Alarmingly, by July 2023 alone, 20 student suicides had already been reported2. For instance, IIT Delhi reported five student suicides over 2023 and 2024. In response, the institution has formed a panel to investigate the reasons behind this disturbing trend. 

Further strengthening these concerns, a recent report titled “Student Suicides: An Epidemic Sweeping India” was released during the Annual IC3 Conference and Expo 2024 on August 28, 2024. Based on National Crime Records Bureau (“NCRB”) data, the report points to a sharp and consistent rise in student suicides. It notes that over the past two decades, student suicides have increased at an alarming annual rate of 4%, twice the national average. In 2022 alone, male students accounted for 53% of all student suicides. Interestingly, between 2021 and 2022, while male student suicides dropped by 6%, female student suicides rose by 7%, further reflecting the complex and shifting nature of the crisis3.

Root Causes: Pressure, Discrimination, and Systemic Failures

To understand the increasing student suicide trend, it is important to understand the common reasons behind such tragedies. One of the main causes is the growing academic pressure faced by students. In a highly competitive system, students are constantly expected to perform at their best, often with little time for rest or personal development. The pressure to secure top ranks, get into reputed institutions, or meet parental expectations can become overwhelming.

In places like Kota, known for coaching students for tough entrance exams, 26 student suicides were reported in 2023 alone, highlighting how extreme academic pressure can severely affect mental health.

Another major reason behind the causes of suicide among youth is the impact of social and economic inequality. Many students come from families that struggle financially and socially, which puts them at a disadvantage from the start.

Along with the burden of high fees and limited resources, they also face worries about unemployment and uncertain futures. Problems like corruption in the education system and repeated exam paper leaks only increase their frustration and sense of hopelessness. These issues often lead to stress, anxiety, and a feeling of helplessness, especially when students feel they have no support. 

Understanding the Legal Landscape

Section 309 IPC and Decriminalization under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

For many years, attempted suicide was considered a criminal offence under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which may result in jail time or penalties for individuals experiencing a crisis.

Criminalising attempt to suicide penalised people when they were vulnerable and in pain. Even though section 309 of the IPC remained a legal provision even after the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 (MHCA) decriminalised attempted suicide for all intents and purposes, this caused significant confusion among pertinent stakeholders regarding how the MHCA provision and Section 309 interact in day-to-day clinical practice.

But the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 (BNS), which took the place of the IPC, brought about a revolutionary change. Attempt to suicide is no longer criminalised under this new law.

Caste, Discrimination, and Mental Health in Elite Institutions

Case Spotlight: Amit Kumar & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India took a strong stand on student suicides, especially in elite academic institutions like IITs. A two-judge bench, comprising Justice J. B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan, directed the Delhi Police to file First Information Reports (FIRs) based on complaints from the families of two students who had died by suicide while enrolled at IIT Delhi in 2023.

Legal Significance of the Supreme Court Ruling

The Court emphasized that the FIR must be registered immediately, and an officer of no less than Assistant Commissioner of Police rank should lead the investigation.

Institutional Responsibility and Supreme Court’s Directives

The Court recognized a disturbing national pattern of suicides among students in higher education and highlighted the urgent need to address the growing crisis. The Court ordered the creation of a National Task Force (NTF), headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, to investigate the causes of student suicides and recommend actionable solutions. The NTF has been instructed to submit its findings within four months.

Educational Institutions’ Duty of Care

Stressing the moral and legal responsibility of educational institutions, the Court made it clear that the well-being and safety of students are fundamentally the duty of campus administration. In the tragic event of a suicide, colleges and universities must immediately lodge an FIR with the police.

This is not just a procedural formality but a critical step in ensuring accountability and transparency. The bench warned that inaction or negligence by educational institutions during such crises undermines the very foundation of education, which should uplift and empower, not lead to despair and death.

Referencing the 210th report of the Law Commission of India, the Court acknowledged that suicide remains one of the most tragic and preventable causes of early death. It cited NCRB data from 2021, which revealed over 13,000 student suicides that year nearly double the number recorded a decade ago and noted that India is facing an escalating student mental health crisis.

Marginalized Dropouts and Article 15 Violations

In its broader observations, the Court pointed to the serious structural issues in Indian higher education institutions. The judgment identified academic pressure, caste-based discrimination, financial hardship, and sexual harassment as key contributors to student mental health breakdowns.

It highlighted that dropout rates among students from reserved categories remain disproportionately high, with data submitted to the Rajya Sabha in 2021 showing that 60% of dropouts from seven leading IITs belonged to marginalized communities.

The Court reaffirmed that caste-based discrimination, especially in educational settings, is a direct violation of Article 15 of the Constitution, which prohibits discrimination based on caste, among other grounds.

The Supreme Court also acknowledged that a related matter concerning caste-based discrimination in higher education is currently under review in the case of Abeda Salim Tadvi & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors.4. In response to earlier directions from the Court in that case, the University Grants Commission (UGC) released a draft of the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2025. These proposed regulations aim to create a safe, inclusive, and discrimination-free campus environment, protecting students, faculty, and staff from bias based on caste, religion, gender, race, or birthplace.

Faculty Preparedness and Campus Gaps

Lack of Training to Address Student Mental Health

Citing a study by Seena Mary Thankachan from the Pune International Centre, the Court observed that a large majority of faculty in IITs 70% felt unprepared to deal with students’ mental health concerns, and nearly 90% lacked proper training to support students facing such challenges.

Gaps in Anti-Discrimination and Sensitization Mechanisms

The Court emphasized the need for strict anti-discrimination measures, cultural sensitivity training, and support networks for marginalized students to help dismantle the institutional and systemic barriers that prevent participation in campus life.

The Court also examined how India’s highly competitive, exam-driven education system puts immense psychological pressure on students. Another pressing concern raised was the persistence of ragging often concealed by institutions to avoid reputational damage. The Court reaffirmed that ragging violates a student’s right to dignity and education.

Citing Farzana Batool v. Union of India5, the Court reiterated that while the right to higher education is not explicitly defined as a fundamental right, the State has a duty to ensure fair access to it.

Case Study: Seena Mary Thankachan’s Research

Seena Mary Thankachan, a research associate at the Pune International Centre, wrote an article highlighting the mental health crisis and student suicides within the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Drawing on both official data and her own surveys, she elaborated on the academic and social pressures faced by students, especially those from marginalised communities. Her work is based on the urgent need for reforms in student welfare and mental health support across these premier institutions.

In a recent survey conducted by Thankachan among students from IIT Guwahati, IIT Bombay, and IIT Delhi, a striking 37.3% of respondents rated academic stress at the highest level of 4 out of 5, while 58.8% admitted to feeling overwhelmed by the academic pressure. These numbers indicate a high degree of stress among students that is frequently ignored.

According to the study, there were some specific concerns of the students:

  • A student reported that the faculty often assign multiple projects and consultancy work without sufficient guidance, prioritising output over quality.
  • One student said that many IIT entrants come from intense coaching environments like Kota, bringing unresolved mental health challenges with them.
  • A student recalled that two suicides occurred on the same day in April, one batchmate jumped off a bridge, and a first-year student from the same hostel hanged himself.
  • One student described the campus environment as similar to a “labour camp”. Students highlighted issues like 24/7 library access during exams (which indirectly pressures continuous study) and courses designed to be overly difficult, especially those with large enrollments.

The author further proposed that a combination of academic, social, and mental health reforms is required to address the student suicide issue in IITs.  This entails constructing peer support networks, training faculty to assist students in distress, and employing more qualified counsellors.

Flexible classes, ongoing evaluations, and assistance with backlogs can also help to lessen academic stress.  It’s also critical to combat caste prejudice, establish inclusive environments, promote extracurricular activities, and enhance institutional crisis management.  

The Dark Side of Campus Life: Ragging and Its Consequences

Report: “State of Ragging in India 2022–24”

The prevalence of ragging-related suicides in Indian colleges and universities is quite alarming. What many students perceive as a “tradition” soon leads to emotional agony, bullying, and harassment. Several students commit suicides because the mental strain becomes intolerable. 

A new report titled “State of Ragging in India 2022–24”6 by the Society Against Violence in Education revealed that 51 students died due to ragging in colleges and universities between 2020 and 2024. This number is nearly as high as the student suicide cases reported in Kota, a well-known coaching hub, during the same period.

The report also pointed out that medical colleges are among the worst affected, with the highest number of ragging complaints. It analysed 3,156 complaints received through the national anti-ragging helpline from 1,946 colleges, highlighting major patterns, high-risk institutions, and the seriousness of these incidents.

Psychological Impact of Ragging

In Indian colleges, ragging frequently escalates into harassment, bullying, and abuse in addition to innocent fun. Due to social marginalisation, verbal abuse, or physical humiliation, many students experience severe emotional stress. Particularly people who are at risk are from diverse backgrounds or those with less social ties.

Anxiety, depression, and in some unfortunate cases, suicide, can result from the dread, shame, and loneliness that ragging causes. The effects are disastrous, not only for the affected students but also for their families and the community.

Learning from Global Frameworks

UK, US, and Australia: Legal and Policy Models

To strengthen India’s institutional response to the student suicide crisis, valuable insights can be drawn from international legislative frameworks. For example, the United Kingdom’s Suicide Prevention Strategy (2023–2028) emphasizes structured mental health support within educational settings through mandatory training for academic staff, the integration of well-being modules in curricula, and the appointment of mental health leads in universities and schools7.

In Australia, the Suicide Prevention Act, 2021 introduced by South Australia mandates the creation of suicide prevention action plans within public agencies, supported by a centralized suicide register and oversight by a dedicated prevention council8. In the United States, several states have enacted legislation requiring educational institutions to implement suicide prevention protocols, provide accessible mental health resources, and display crisis helpline information prominently across campuses. These examples highlight the importance of embedding institutional accountability, early intervention, and coordinated support systems within education policy components that can inform and reinforce India’s ongoing efforts to build inclusive, responsive, and student-centric campuses.

Adapting International Practices to the Indian Context

In the Indian context, the incorporation of such international practices would require a structured and context-sensitive approach, rooted in both policy reform and institutional accountability.

Recommended Reforms for Indian Universities

At the central level, a dedicated national framework for student mental health and suicide prevention could be developed, mandating higher educational institutions to implement comprehensive mental health policies, regular sensitisation programmes, and mechanisms for early identification of psychological distress. Regulatory bodies such as the University Grants Commission (“UGC”) and the All India Council for Technical Education (“AICTE”) could issue binding regulations requiring the appointment of trained mental health professionals on campuses, compulsory mental health training for faculty and staff, and the integration of well-being and resilience-building modules into academic curricula.

State governments and university administrations must play an active role in operationalising these reforms through adequate funding, institutional partnerships, and robust monitoring systems.

Crucially, these measures must be adapted to address the unique socio-cultural challenges of the Indian higher education landscape, including caste-based discrimination, financial vulnerability, and systemic exclusion. These policy changes represent crucial building blocks toward a more structured approach to suicide prevention in India, particularly within the higher education system.

Only through a holistic and sustained effort can India begin to create educational environments that are not only academically rigorous but also safe, inclusive, and mentally supportive.

Conclusion: From Legal Reform to Campus Transformation

India’s high rate of student suicides draws attention to a significant and persistent problem with the educational system. Every tragedy is the result of a student who, frequently without appropriate help, is overburdened by social exclusion, academic pressure, or discrimination.

Judicial orders and legal reforms are significant steps forward, but institutions must put students’ welfare and academic success first if they want to see substantial improvements.

Action Points for Institutions and Policymakers

Expert research by people like Seena Mary Thankachan and the heartbreaking ragging incidents highlight the critical need for inclusive campus environments and effective mental health treatment.

Indian educational institutions may establish safer, more encouraging environments where students can flourish academically and emotionally by taking inspiration from global models and adopting effective preventative measures into practice. Prioritizing mental health, implementing early interventions, and enforcing anti-discrimination policies are essential to reversing the rising youth suicide rate in India.

FAQs

  1. What is driving the increase in student suicides in India?

    The rise in student suicides in India is driven by a combination of intense academic pressure, socio-economic inequality, systemic neglect, and institutional apathy. Many students face unrealistic performance expectations, financial strain, and a lack of mental health support. These pressures are compounded by discrimination, harassment, and a campus culture that often stigmatizes vulnerability.

  2. How does caste-based discrimination impact student mental health?

    Caste-based discrimination deeply affects students’ sense of belonging, safety, and self-worth within educational institutions. Marginalized students often face exclusion, bias, and unequal access to opportunities, which can lead to chronic stress, isolation, and depression. These experiences erode mental well-being and are a significant factor in many student suicide cases.

  3. What was the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Amit Kumar & Ors. case?

    In Amit Kumar & Ors. v. Union of India, the Supreme Court ruled that FIRs must be registered without preliminary inquiry when allegations of caste discrimination arise in student suicide cases. The Court emphasized institutional accountability and ordered the formation of a National Task Force to examine the broader crisis and recommend reforms.

  4. What are the responsibilities of educational institutions in suicide prevention?

    Educational institutions have a legal and moral duty to create safe, inclusive environments. This includes promptly filing FIRs in suicide cases, offering accessible mental health services, actively preventing discrimination and harassment, and establishing systems for early intervention. Failure to act responsibly undermines the core purpose of education.

  5. What is the role of the National Task Force on student suicides?

    The National Task Force, led by former Supreme Court judge Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, has been mandated to investigate the causes of student suicides and recommend actionable solutions. It will assess systemic issues within institutions and propose structural reforms to address mental health, discrimination, and institutional failures.

  6. How are international models influencing India’s suicide prevention framework?

    International frameworks from the UK, Australia, and the US offer valuable lessons for India, emphasizing mandatory mental health training, campus support structures, centralized suicide data, and proactive crisis planning. These models highlight the importance of coordinated, institution-led strategies that India can adapt to its socio-cultural context.

  7. What are the proposed UGC regulations for equity in higher education?

    The draft UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2025 aim to create discrimination-free campuses by mandating protections against caste, religion, gender, and race-based bias. The regulations emphasize institutional responsibility for inclusive policies, equitable access, and prompt redressal mechanisms.

  8. Why is faculty training on mental health essential?

    Faculty are often the first point of contact for distressed students, yet most lack the training to recognize or respond to mental health concerns. Training helps educators provide informed support, refer students to appropriate services, and contribute to a culture where seeking help is normalized and encouraged.

  9. What structural reforms are needed in India’s higher education system?

    Reforms must address academic overload, social exclusion, and weak institutional safeguards. This includes revising curricula to reduce stress, expanding counselling access, improving grievance mechanisms, ensuring representation of marginalized groups, and integrating well-being into campus policy. A shift from performance-centric to student-centric models is essential.

  10. How can universities create a more inclusive and supportive environment?

    Universities can foster inclusivity by building peer networks, enforcing anti-discrimination norms, providing flexible academic pathways, and supporting students from marginalized communities. A supportive environment also requires faculty sensitization, inclusive pedagogy, and dedicated crisis response units that prioritize student welfare and equity.

References

  1. 2025 INSC 384
  2. Rajya Sabha, Ministry of Education, Unstarred Question No. 2764 Answered  on 07/08/2023, accessible at https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/1712/AU2764.pdf?source=pqals
  3. https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/indias-student-suicide-rate-surpassed-overall-trend-population-growth-rate-report/article68577171.ece
  4. W.P. (C) No. 1149/2019
  5. 2021 SCC OnLine SC 3433
  6. STATE OF RAGGING IN INDIA, 2022-24
  7. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/suicide-prevention-strategy-for-england-2023-to-2028#:~:text=This%20strategy%20sets%20out%20the,for%20people%20bereaved%20by%20suicide
  8. https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/lz?path=/c/a/suicide%20prevention%20act%202021

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