Syllabus: GS-II: Government Policies and Interventions for Human Resources

Why in the News?

In September 2025, the Supreme Court of India took suo motu cognisance of rising student suicides in India’s premier higher education institutions, including IITs, NITs, and central universities, following several tragic deaths reported over the past year.

More About the News

• According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2022, 7.6% of all suicides in India were by students — translating to 13,089 deaths, a sharp increase from 12,526 in 2021.
• The Court called for systemic reforms, recognising the crisis as a symptom of deep-rooted institutional, social, and psychological pressures in India’s academic spaces.

Statistics of Student Suicides in India

• As per NCRB 2022, India recorded 13,089 student suicides, marking a 4.5% increase from the previous year.
  
• Gender distribution:
  
  • Male: 56.5%
    
  • Female: 43.5%
    
• Most affected states:
  
  • Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh accounted for the highest numbers.
    
• Age group: Predominantly students aged 18–25 years, i.e., college and university-going youth.
  
• Over 122 student suicides were reported from IITs, NITs, and central universities between 2018–2024 (Ministry of Education data).
  
• According to WHO, India accounts for nearly one-fourth of global youth suicides, making it a public health emergency.
  

Reasons for Rising Student Suicides

The causes are multi-layered, spanning psychological, institutional, social, and economic factors.

1. Academic Pressure and Performance Anxiety

• Competitive environments in IITs, AIIMS, NEET, UPSC and similar spaces create extreme fear of failure.
  
• A survey by IIT Bombay (2024) found over 60% of students experience chronic stress related to academic performance.
  

2. Institutional Alienation and Lack of Support Systems

• Many campuses lack trained counsellors — the UGC mandates one per 500 students, but compliance remains weak.
  
• Rigid attendance, punitive evaluation, and lack of mental health infrastructure compound feelings of isolation.
  

3. Social and Identity-Based Discrimination

• Discrimination based on caste, gender, language, or region continues to haunt elite institutions.
  
• The suicides of Rohith Vemula (2016) and Darshan Solanki (2023) became symbols of systemic exclusion in Indian academia.
  

4. Economic Stress and Financial Burden

• Rising tuition and hostel fees, coupled with family pressure for employability, heighten anxiety.
  
• Students from marginalised and low-income groups face compounded psychological distress.
  

5. Stigma and Lack of Mental Health Literacy

• Cultural stigma around mental illness prevents early help-seeking.
  
• Many students — and faculty — lack awareness about depression, anxiety, and burnout.
  

6. Social Media and Comparison Culture

• Constant exposure to curated success stories and peer comparison intensifies self-doubt.
  
• The “achievement trap” has replaced curiosity with chronic competition.
  

Initiatives Taken to Curb Student Suicides

1. Government and Institutional Measures

• Manodarpan Initiative (MoE, 2020):
  Provides psychological support to students, teachers, and families through online counselling.
  
• KIRAN Helpline (MoSJE, 2021):
  24×7 toll-free helpline (1800-599-0019) for mental health crisis intervention.
  
• National Suicide Prevention Strategy (MoHFW, 2022):
  India’s first national plan to reduce suicide mortality by 10% by 2030, with student mental health as a key focus area.
  
• UGC Guidelines (2023):
  Mandate appointment of trained counsellors, creation of mental health cells, and inclusion of life skills and emotional resilience courses.
  
• IITs & AIIMS Initiatives:
  Peer support programmes like “Saathi” (IIT Bombay) and “Mitr” (IIT Madras) focus on student mentorship and stress management.
  

2. Judicial and Policy Interventions

• The Supreme Court’s 2025 Suo Motu Case directed the Centre to:
  
  • Audit counselling mechanisms in all higher institutions.
    
  • Ensure presence of mental health professionals.
    
  • Create a National University Mental Health Policy.
    

3. Civil Society and Technological Efforts

• NGOs such as The Live Love Laugh Foundation, YourDOST, and Mann Talks provide digital counselling and outreach.
  
• AI-based apps like Youper and Moodpath are being tested for mood tracking and early intervention.
  
• Universities like Ashoka, TISS, and IIT Hyderabad are experimenting with mental health sabbaticals, art therapy, and peer support networks.
  

Innovative Solutions and Best Practices

1. Mental Health Literacy and Gamified Education

• Introducing interactive learning tools like “SPARX” (used in New Zealand) that deliver CBT via gamified formats.
  
• Integrating such modules in freshers’ orientation programmes.
  

2. Peer Support Networks

• Training select students as Mental Health Navigators (MHNs) to provide first-response emotional support.
  
• Encouraging student-led empathy groups in collaboration with faculty.
  

3. Tech-Based Interventions

• Developing AI-driven platforms integrated with university portals for mood check-ins and alert systems.
  
• Using VR therapy for anxiety reduction and mindfulness sessions.
  

4. Campus Design and Wellness Infrastructure

• Creating “Emotional Wellness Zones” with green spaces, creative hubs, and meditation areas.
  
• Promoting body-mind wellness labs focusing on sleep, nutrition, and mental clarity.
  

5. Institutional Empathy and Policy Reform

• Adopting “Radical Listening” training for faculty and administrators to respond sensitively.
  
• Introducing mental health sabbaticals and grace periods for students under distress, without academic penalty.
  

Way Forward

1. Policy and Governance

• Establish a National Framework for Campus Mental Health with measurable indicators.
  
• Mandate mental health audits in NAAC and NIRF assessments.
  

2. Infrastructure and Human Resources

• Ensure one counsellor per 500 students, as per UGC standards.
  
• Encourage public-private partnerships for funding university mental health centres.
  

3. Academic and Cultural Reform

• Shift from marks-based evaluation to holistic learning assessment.
  
• Foster inclusive classrooms that celebrate diversity and empathy.
  

4. Early Identification and Prevention

• Use predictive analytics and behavioural data (attendance, academic performance) to detect distress early.
  
• Train faculty to recognise and respond to warning signs of depression.
  

5. Reducing Stigma and Promoting Dialogue

• National campaigns akin to “Swachh Bharat for Mental Health” to normalise seeking help.
  
• Promote mental health discussions in schools and families.
  

Conclusion

The rising tide of student suicides in India’s higher education system is not a collection of isolated tragedies — it is a systemic failure of empathy, inclusion, and institutional design.

India’s demographic dividend cannot turn into a demographic distress. Reforming our universities to treat mental health as central to education — not peripheral — is vital. The way forward lies in creating campuses that listen, heal, and empower.

If the future belongs to India’s youth, protecting their mental well-being must be our most urgent national priority.

Mains Practice Question

1. “The rising incidence of student suicides in India’s higher education institutions reflects deep structural and psychological challenges.” Discuss the reasons behind this crisis and suggest multi-dimensional reforms to promote mental well-being among students.

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