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IIT Suicide Crisis: 65 Students Die in 4 Years
20 Dec
Summary
- Sixty-five students died by suicide across IITs between 2021 and 2025.
- IIT Kharagpur recorded the highest number of suicides, totaling 11 cases.
- Academic stress, job uncertainty, and discrimination contribute to student deaths.
Data revealed that 65 students died by suicide across Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) nationwide between 2021 and 2025. This figure indicates a concerning trend, with a notable increase from nine cases in 2021 to fifteen in 2025. IIT Kharagpur reported the highest number of suicides, with 11 students dying by suicide during this period. The majority of victims, 54 out of 65, were male.
An IIT Kanpur alumnus, Dheeraj Singh, who filed a Right to Information (RTI) query, highlighted that student suicides are linked to academic stress, job uncertainty, family problems, discrimination, and harassment. He emphasized that marginalized students bear a disproportionately higher burden. Most suicides occur around end-of-semester examinations, underscoring the impact of academic pressure within the campus environment.
In response, IITs are enhancing their support systems. IIT Kharagpur appointed a special chief of staff for student wellbeing, increased the number of psychologists to eleven, and established a dedicated dean of wellness. These initiatives aim to address the deeper mental health crisis through holistic efforts, including workshops and community-building activities.
